Choosing a scissor
There's no single best hair scissor. There's the one that suits your hand, your work and your budget. Four questions get you most of the way there, and you can answer them standing at your station.
- Which hand do you cut with? A left-handed scissor isn't a right-handed one turned over. The blades are reversed, so the cutting line stays where you can see it and the blades close properly in your left hand. If you cut left-handed, only look at models offered in a left-handed version. Left-handed scissors in NZ explains what we offer.
- What length do you use now? If your current scissor feels right, measure it and stay close to that length.
- Where does your thumb sit? This tells you which handle suits you. More on that below.
- What's the main job? Lines and layers, blending and texture, or barbering with scissor-over-comb.
Here's the catch with most buying advice: it skips the first question and goes straight to steel and price. Fit comes first. A beautifully made scissor that's the wrong length for your hand will tire your wrist and slow you down.
Sizes and lengths
Scissor length is measured in inches, from the tip of the blade to the end of the longest finger ring. Here's how the common lengths tend to be used:
| Length | Good for |
|---|---|
| 4.5 to 5.0 inches | Fine detail, fringes, around the ears, point cutting. Easy to control in small hands. |
| 5.5 inches | The most common salon length. Controlled enough for detail, long enough for layers. |
| 6.0 inches | A great all-rounder, and a common choice for thinners. |
| 6.5 to 7.0 inches | Scissor-over-comb, long straight sections and barbering. |
A quick way to check without a ruler: lay the scissor along your open palm with the finger ring at the base of your palm. A blade that reaches about the middle of your middle finger is usually a comfortable everyday length. It's a rough guide, not a rule, and your current scissor is the better test.
Several scissors in our range come in more than one length. You choose the length in the options on the product page before adding it to your cart. Scissor sizes, sorted lists every length each model comes in.
Handles and edges
Offset or classic?
An offset handle sets the thumb ring lower than the finger ring. Your thumb sits closer to your palm, so you can keep your elbow down while you cut. A classic handle has both rings level, which suits hairdressers who cut with an open, upright hand. Every scissor in our current range is offset.
The honest truth: neither is better. If you trained on a classic handle, an offset will feel odd for a few days. Give it a week before deciding.
Flat, slice or convex edge?
The edge is how the blade is ground at the cutting line, and it changes how the scissor feels as it closes.
- Flat (bevel) edge: meets at a firmer angle. It grips the hair a little and is forgiving to use, which suits blunt lines and newer hairdressers.
- Slice or convex edge: curves gently to a very fine line, so it slices smoothly. Lovely for slide cutting and soft texture, but it asks for more care and a specialist to sharpen it.
Each product page lists the edge, so you can tell which you're getting.
Cutting, thinning or a set
A cutting scissor is your everyday tool for lines, layers and detail. A thinning scissor (or texturiser) has teeth on one blade, so it only cuts some of the hair with each close. Use it to blend, soften lines and take out bulk.
With thinners, the teeth matter. More, finer teeth take out a little hair at a time and blend gently. Fewer, wider teeth take out more and add texture. If you're not sure, start with finer teeth; it's harder to overdo it.
A set gives you a cutter and a thinner from one design, so they feel the same in your hand. That's handy when you're setting up your first station or replacing a worn kit. The catch: check the length of both pieces. A set is only good value if both suit you.
Care and tension
A few minutes a day keeps a good scissor cutting well for a long time.
- Wipe after each client. Use a soft, lint-free cloth, wiping from the pivot towards the tip with the blades open.
- Clean the pivot. Open the scissor fully and wipe the inside faces near the screw, where hair collects.
- Oil daily. One drop of scissor oil at the pivot, open and close a few times, wipe off the extra.
- Check the tension. Hold the scissor by the thumb ring, blades up. Lift the finger ring until the blades are open at about a right angle, then let go. If it falls shut on its own, it's too loose; if it barely moves, it's too tight. Adjust a little at a time with the tension key, if your model has one.
- Case it. Keep it in its case between jobs and when you travel. A drop onto a hard floor is the quickest way to damage the tips.
When the scissor starts folding or pushing hair instead of cutting it cleanly, it's time for a sharpen. Use a specialist who works on hair scissors, and tell them whether the edge is flat or convex.
For weekly and monthly checks, and how to treat each edge and finish, read Scissor care, sorted.
Delivery in New Zealand
We ship to every New Zealand address by FedEx. We pack each order within one to two business days and send it from Japan. Checkout shows the delivery charge and an estimated arrival before you pay, so there are no surprises. Duties and import charges, if any, are paid by the buyer.
Prices on this store are in New Zealand dollars. Change-of-mind returns are available within 30 days of delivery; faulty items are covered as the returns page explains. The shipping page has the details.
Where our range fits
Our range is small: 5 scissors and sets. Here's how they line up with the questions above.
| Scissors | Type | Sizes and hand | The catch | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 MinaMina Black Diamond Hairdressing Scissor Kit | Cutter and thinner set | 5.5–7.0″ | The thinner comes in 6.0″ only, whichever cutter length you pick. | NZ$194.95 | View Mina Black Diamond Hairdressing Scissor Kit |
 MinaMina Sakura Hairdressing Scissor Set | Cutter and thinner set | 5.0–7.0″ | The thinner comes in 6.0″ only, whichever cutter length you pick. | NZ$214.95 | View Mina Sakura Hairdressing Scissor Set |
 MinaMina Umi Hair Cutting Scissors | Cutting scissor | 4.5–7.0″ · right or left hand | Left-handed in 5.5″, 6.0″ and 7.0″ only. | NZ$119.00 | View Mina Umi Hair Cutting Scissors |
 MinaMina Timeless Hairdressing Matte Black Scissor Set & Kit | Cutter and thinner set | 5.5–6.5″ | The thinner comes in 6.0″ only, whichever cutter length you pick. | NZ$179.00 | View Mina Timeless Hairdressing Matte Black Scissor Set & Kit |
 YasakaYasaka Offset Hair Cutting Scissors | Cutting scissor | 4.5–6.0″ | A slice edge asks for a bit more care: wipe it after each client and keep it in its case. | NZ$379.00 | View Yasaka Offset Hair Cutting Scissors |
Each product page lists the handle, steel, edge, sizes and what comes in the box. If you're stuck between two, email us with both names and the work you do most, and we'll give you a straight answer. The address is on the contact page.
Go deeper
Three topics come up again and again, so each has its own page.
- Scissor sizes, sorted: How to measure your scissor, what each length in our range suits, which sizes each model comes in, and the honest catches to check first.
- Scissor care, sorted: A daily, weekly and monthly care routine for hair scissors, how to look after flat and slice edges, coated finishes, and when to get them sharpened.
- Left-handed scissors in NZ: Why left-handed hairdressers need a true left-handed scissor, how to check one, what our range offers left-handed today, and the honest catch.