How do you use professional hair shears?

According to stylist and Raw salon owner Anthony Nader , at-home haircuts are a slippery slope, but possible if you take the approach that less is more. When it comes to serious style overhauls or technical shapes, Nader suggests waiting it out until you can see a professional. But for trims and freshen-ups, he swears by a technique called “twisting and slicing”. "Take one-inch sections of dry hair (never wet). Starting around the hairline, twist each section before you point and snip the very ends using your shears. Only take the tiniest amount before you unravel and see how it’s sitting. If you want to lose more length, twist again and repeat the process. Use this method all over your head, putting the focus on the longest, thickest sections until you’re finished. I love this method because it’s difficult to stuff up and leaves you with a soft line. Cutting blunt, horizontal lines in the hair at home is dangerous and difficult to get right without proper training." When it comes to bangs, Nader suggests the following: “Always trim your bangs when dry to avoid shrinkage. Use a comb to section your bangs and separate into sections. Hold the sections between your fingers and use the same “point and snip” method as before. Take tiny amounts of hair off and work slowly. You can always remove more, but once it's gone, it’s gone.”

How do you clean professional hair shears?

Nader suggests using a cloth soaked with rubbing alcohol to clean your shears in between each use.

The 12 Best Professional Hair Shears of 2022

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Commerce Photo Composite — Byrdie / Chloe Jeong

Once upon a time, we would have shuddered at the thought of an at-home haircut. But nowadays, it doesn’t feel so foreign (global pandemic, we see you). However, if you’re going down the DIY path, it’s so important to have the right tools, namely a pair of quality hair shears.

While shears aren’t our usual go-to topic of choice, it’s still an important sub-section of beauty, so we’ve done the hard yards and found the best shears on the market for all hair types, skill sets, and style preferences. And nary a tear, tantrum, or tiny set of micro bangs in sight!

Keep scrolling to find the best professional hair-cutting shears out there.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Matsui Aichei Mountain Offset Shear at Scissortec.com

Don't let the price deter you—these shears are made with professional-grade Aichei Japanese Steel.

Best Budget:

Coolala Stainless Steel Hair Cutting Scissors 6.5" at Amazon

If you're on a tight budget, this kit is the thing you need to get started cutting at home.

Best Drugstore:

Tweezerman Spirit 2000 Styling Shears at Amazon

The micro-serrated edge makes for sharp and long-lasting shears.

Best Adjustable:

Equinox International Professional Razor Edge Series Hair Cutting Scissors at Amazon

Featuring an adjustment screw, these shears allow you to quickly change the tension setting to your liking.

Best Ergonomic:

ULG Hair Cutting Scissors at Amazon

The ergonomic shape of these scissors allows the user to move around and snip without holding excess tension in their fingers.

Best Kit:

Sirabe Hair Cutting Scissors Set at Amazon

This all-in-one kit features everything you could need for the ultimate DIY cut at home.

Best for Wet and Dry Cuts:

Fromm Explore 5.75" Hair Cutting Shears at Ulta

Cut hair easily and precisely whether it's wet or dry.

Best for Touch-Ups:

JAVENPROLIU Professional Hair Cutting Shears at Amazon

High quality and comfortable to use, they’re everything you need to touch up split ends, layers, or bangs.

Best for Short Hair:

Diane Home Cut Kit at Amazon

This shorter blade makes good work at cutting and styling shorter hair.

Best for Left-Handers:

Pacinos Styling Shears at Pacinosproducts.com

Whether you're right-handed or left-handed, these shears will adjust to you.

In This Article

Our Picks
Final Verdict
What to Look For
Why Trust Byrdie?

Matsui Matte Black Aichei Mountain Offset Shear

View On Scissortec.com

What We Like

Great for adding texture
Comes with a sleek case and other accessories
Super sharp

What We Don't Like

Expensive

Fancy yourself a bit of a semi-pro at-home hairdresser? Invest in a great pair of shears like these from Matsui. They’re made from Aichei Japanese Steel and come with finger inserts so you get your best fit, plus the fine point means you can feather or add texture to the hair.

Size: 5.5, 6" | Materials: Cobalt-infused steel

Coolala Stainless Steel Hair Cutting Scissors 6.5 Inch

View On Amazon

What We Like

Includes comb and adjustable screw
Helps create versatile cuts
Comfortable to hold

What We Don't Like

Could be sharper

It's kind of hard to believe this shear and comb kit comes in at about the same cost as a lox bagel, but such is the wonder of affordable beauty. Made from high-quality steel and with an adjustable screw for customized tension, these work well on all hair types and styles, from crops to long layers.

Size: 6.5" | Materials: Stainless steel

View On Amazon View On Walmart

What We Like

Great for precision cuts
Easy to trim bangs
Comfortable to grip

What We Don't Like

Could be sharper

With a plastic handle and stainless steel blades, these shears from Tweezerman are simple and user-friendly. According to online reviews, they last forever as well (up to 25 years, according to one Amazon customer).

Size: 5.5" | Materials: Stainless steel

Equinox Professional Razor Edge Hair Cutting Scissors

View On Amazon View On Walmart

What We Like

Ergonomic design
Very sharp
Won't rust

What We Don't Like

Must be washed before first use

These handy shears allow you to easily change the tension setting to suit your hair type and style preference. They also come coated in a thin layer of oil to ensure the blades are fresh, so be sure to wash them thoroughly before use.

Size: 6.5" | Materials: Stainless steel

View On Amazon View On Sears.com View On Walmart

What We Like

Comfortable to grip
Won't slip
Very sharp

What We Don't Like

Metal can get scratches over time

No one wants crampy, uncomfortable fingers when snipping away. Enter the ULG Hair Cutting Scissors. The ergonomic shape is designed to facilitate easy movement with an inner silicone finger grip to prevent slipping.

Size: 6.5" | Materials: Stainless steel

Sirabe 10 Piece Hair Cutting Scissors Set

View On Amazon

What We Like

Comprehensive kit
Great value
Includes adjustable screw and other accessories

What We Don't Like

Scissors could be sharper

Feeling confident? Try expanding your DIY haircutting repertoire to include this 10-piece kit from Sirabe. Complete with thinning scissors, regular shears, clips, a comb, and a cape, you’ll have everything on hand to give yourself (or someone else) a professional-ish job from the comforts of home.

Size: 6.7" | Materials: Stainless steel

View On Ulta View On Sallybeauty.com

What We Like

Easy to adjust
Great for precision cuts
Comfortable to grip

What We Don't Like

Must be washed before first use

Size: 5.75" | Materials: Steel

JAVENPROLIU Professional Hair Cutting Shears

View On Amazon

What We Like

Fun design
Lifetime warranty
Great for beginners

What We Don't Like

Could be sharper

Handmade from steel, these colored shears are not only fun to look at but work a treat on all hair types. High quality and comfortable to use, they’re everything you need to touch up split ends, layers, or bangs. One Amazon customer mentioned that should you ever find the joint jams up, try adding a drop of baby oil.

View On Amazon View On Ulta

What We Like

Ideal for quick trims
Includes clips, comb, and a cape
Good value

What We Don't Like

Comb could be better

If you’re looking for a shorter blade for more specialized work, this kit from Diane is a great option. Sharp, easy to use, and comfortable to grip, they work well on crops and bobs. The inclusion of clips and a comb is a nice touch, too.

Size: 7.5" | Materials: Steel

View On Pacinosproducts.com

What We Like

Comfortable to grip
Easy to adjust
Chic design

What We Don't Like

Expensive

Panicos get that not everyone cuts hair in the same way, so they offer both a right/left and specialized left-handed variation of its Stylish Shears. The forged blade is made from stainless steel, and the adjustable screw set means you can customize it to your preferred tension.

Size: 5.5" | Materials: Stainless steel

Professional Stainless Steel Barber Scissors 6.6"

View On Amazon View On Walmart

What We Like

Comes with a case
Comfortable to grip
Inexpensive

What We Don't Like

Scissors must be closed gently
Could be sharper

These sleek black shears are high quality and a great choice for beginners. With a long, razor-sharp cutting edge, they move freely and have a comfortable handle for a clean cut at home.

Size: 6.6" | Materials: Alloy and stainless steel

View On Hanzo.com

What We Like

Lifetime warranty
Comfortable to grip
Works equally well wet or dry
Range of sizes available

What We Don't Like

Very expensive

Okay, these are not cheap, but if you’re happy going your own way in the hair department and want the tools to match, these HH8 shears are gold glass. They feature a permanent finger rest, tension control, even balance, and a screw-in bumper for a precise cut every single time. While a splurge, they come with a lifetime warranty as well.

Size: 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5" | Materials: Cobalt and molybdenum alloys

Final Verdict

The shears you go for will more or less depend on your hair and skill set, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a few team Byrdie favorites. First up, we love the Matsui Matte Black Aichei Mountain Offset Shear (view at Scissor Tech) for their sharpness, longevity, and the fact you can tweak the finger grips to suit you. We also love the Fromm Explore 5.75" Hair Cutting Shears (view at Ulta) because they hit a sweet spot between quality, ease of use, and affordability.

What to Look for When Buying Professional Hair Shears

Material

When looking to buy hair shears, stainless steel is by far the best material to go for as it retains a sharp edge, won’t rust, and will last forever.

Length

While this is more so important for professional stylists than at-home stylists, you can still consider the length of your shear. First of all, choose something that aligns with the size of your hands. If they’re bigger (and your fingers are longer) go for a longer shear and vice versa.

Your hairstyle matters as well. Longer shears are better at cutting curves and long layers, whereas shorter shears are great for ends, bangs, short choppy styles, and crops.

FAQ

How do you use professional hair shears?

According to stylist and Raw salon owner Anthony Nader, at-home haircuts are a slippery slope, but possible if you take the approach that less is more.
When it comes to serious style overhauls or technical shapes, Nader suggests waiting it out until you can see a professional. But for trims and freshen-ups, he swears by a technique called “twisting and slicing”.
"Take one-inch sections of dry hair (never wet). Starting around the hairline, twist each section before you point and snip the very ends using your shears. Only take the tiniest amount before you unravel and see how it’s sitting. If you want to lose more length, twist again and repeat the process. Use this method all over your head, putting the focus on the longest, thickest sections until you’re finished. I love this method because it’s difficult to stuff up and leaves you with a soft line. Cutting blunt, horizontal lines in the hair at home is dangerous and difficult to get right without proper training."
When it comes to bangs, Nader suggests the following: “Always trim your bangs when dry to avoid shrinkage. Use a comb to section your bangs and separate into sections. Hold the sections between your fingers and use the same “point and snip” method as before. Take tiny amounts of hair off and work slowly. You can always remove more, but once it's gone, it’s gone.”
How do you clean professional hair shears?

Nader suggests using a cloth soaked with rubbing alcohol to clean your shears in between each use.

Why Trust Byrdie?

Emily Algar is an experienced freelance journalist who covers all things beauty. She has written for various publications such as Allure, Who What Wear, MyDomaine, and, of course, Byrdie.

According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find any professional hair shears from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com and we will evaluate the product ASAP.

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