Kotaro Hair Cutting Shears/Scissors
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Curator’s note — A steady mid-line workhorse, the Kotaro cutter is what I recommend when a stylist outgrows student steel and wants proven reliability.
Shear Size Guide
A shear is a lifetime tool. Thirty seconds of measuring saves you ten years of the wrong one.
Measure against your hand
Hold a shear (or a ruler) against your open palm. The blade should roughly match the length of your middle finger, and the whole shear should be about the length of your palm from crease to fingertip. If the blade runs well past your finger, size down; if it disappears against it, size up.
What each length is for
5.0"–5.5" — Precision and detail work: point cutting, texturizing around the face, close control. The choice for smaller hands and exacting layer work.
5.75"–6.0" — The all-rounder. Most working stylists live here: enough blade for full sections, still nimble for detail. If you own one shear, this is the length.
6.5"–7.0" — Scissor-over-comb, barbering, and heavy section work. The longer blade covers a comb in one pass and powers through dense hair — a barber's daily driver.
The 30-second balance test
When your shears arrive, run this test: hold them with only your thumb and ring finger in the rings, open and close them slowly ten times at eye level. The blades should move without your wrist tensing, and the tips shouldn’t dip or wander. That’s balance — it matters more than any spec on the page.
Still unsure?
Order the length that tests best on your hand — every shear ships free with free returns, so if it doesn’t feel right in your hand, send it back and try the next size. And every blade we sell is backed by our lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects.
Routine sharpening & normal wear are part of shear care
Both ways, every order
Usually arrives in 2–5 business days
Every working stylist needs one shear they never second-guess, and for many that shear is the Saki Kotaro. It is a study in getting the fundamentals right: Japanese 440C stainless steel, a hand-finished Japanese-style convex edge at 60–61 HRC, and an offset handle with removable finger rest that keeps hand, wrist, and elbow aligned through a full day of clients.
The convex edge is the detail to appreciate. Its polished, gradually curved bevel lets the blades glide through hair rather than push it—which is why the Kotaro slide cuts so cleanly on both wet and dry hair. Two-piece welded construction keeps the blade steel where it matters and the balance where you want it. Available in 5.5", 6", and a 6" left-handed version, so nearly every stylist can find their fit. Backed by a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects, with a leather carrying case included.
Who this shear suits
Stylists at every level who want a handmade Japanese-steel daily cutter—equally at home doing precision work or slide cutting.
Specifications
- Steel: Japanese 440C stainless steel
- Edge: Japanese-style convex blade, 60–61 HRC
- Sizes: 5.5 inch, 6 inch, 6 inch left-handed
- Handle: Offset with removable finger rest
- Construction: Handmade, two-piece welded
- Warranty: Backed by a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects
- Includes: Leather carrying case
The blade should roughly match your middle finger; the whole shear, your palm. 6.0" is the all-round choice; 6.5"–7.0" for scissor-over-comb and barbering. Shear Size Guide — find your length in 30 seconds.
Free shipping on every order. Free returns — if it doesn’t feel right in your hand, send it back at no charge. Start your return in under a minute from the Start a Return page linked in the menu at the top of every page.
Backed by a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects — if we find a defect in materials or workmanship, we repair or replace it. Routine sharpening, oiling, and tension adjustment are part of normal professional care and keep your edge in top shape.
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Complete the Set
This is a cutting shear — a master pairs it with a thinning shear.
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Lifetime Warranty
Every shear is covered for life against manufacturing defects.
Free Shipping & Returns
Both ways, every order, every day.
Hand-Finished Japanese Steel
Forged in Japan. Finished by hand. Tested before it ships.
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