How do you use professional hair shears?

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."

How do you use hair shears to cut bangs?

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 2023

Best Professional Hair Sheers — 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. According to stylist and Raw salon owner Anthony Nader, at-home haircuts are a slippery slope, but totally possible if you take the approach that less is more and use the best shears for the job.

To find the best hair-cutting shears on the market, we conducted hours of research—evaluating our options based on their sharpness, material, and how long-lasting they were. After consulting an expert and considering dozens of models, we landed on these top-rated picks,

Keep scrolling to find the best professional hair-cutting shears whether you're a novice cutter or a pro.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Matsui Aichei Mountain Offset Shear at Scissortec.com

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Best Budget:

Coolala Stainless Steel Hair Cutting Scissors 6.5" at Amazon

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Best Drugstore:

Tweezerman Spirit 2000 Styling Shears at Amazon

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Best Adjustable:

Equinox International Professional Razor Edge Series Hair Cutting Scissors at Amazon

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Best Ergonomic:

ULG Hair Cutting Scissors at Amazon

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Best Kit:

Sirabe Hair Cutting Scissors Set at Amazon

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Best for Wet and Dry Cuts:

Fromm Explore 5.75" Hair Cutting Shears

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Best for Touch-Ups:

JAVENPROLIU Professional Hair Cutting Shears at Amazon

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Best for Short Hair:

Diane Home Cut Kit

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Best for Left-Handers:

Pacinos Styling Shears at Barbersalon.com

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In This Article

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

2022 MATSUI MATTE BLACK AICHEI MOUNTAIN OFFSET PROFESSIONAL SHEAR

Scissortech

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

Reviewers note that they can get blunt quickly

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.

Price at time of publish: $249

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

COOLALA Stainless Steel Hair Cutting Scissors

Amazon

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.

Price at time of publish: $8

Size: 6.5" | Materials: Stainless steel

Walmart

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).

Price at time of publish: $22

Size: 5.5" | Materials: Stainless steel

Amazon

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.

Price at time of publish: $10

Size: 6.5" | Materials: Stainless steel

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Sears.com

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.

Price at time of publish: $16

Size: 6.5" | Materials: Stainless steel

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Walmart

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.

Price at time of publish: $22

Size: 6.7" | Materials: Stainless steel

Fromm

View on Ulta View On Frommpro.com 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

Price at time of publish: $34

Size: 5.75" | Materials: Steel

Amazon

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.

Price at time of publish: $8

Size: 6" | Materials: Steel

Amazon

View on Ulta View On Amazon

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.

Price at time of publish: $22

Size: 7.5" | Materials: Steel

Barber salon

View On Barbersalon.com

What We Like

Comfortable to grip
Easy to adjust
Chic design

What We Don't Like

Could be a bit sharper

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.

Price at time of publish: $55

Size: 5.5" | Materials: Stainless steel

Amazon

View On Amazon

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.

Price at time of publish: $12

Size: 6.6" | Materials: Alloy and stainless steel

Hattori Hanzo Shears

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

Somewhat heavy

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.

Price at time of publish: $607

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. We love the Matsui Matte Black Aichei Mountain Offset Shear the most for their sharpness, longevity, and the fact you can tweak the finger grips to suit you. We also love the more budget-friendly Coolala Stainless Steel Hair Cutting Scissors 6.5" because they hit a sweet spot between quality, ease of use, and affordability.

Meet the Expert

Anthony Nader is a professional hairstylist and owner of RAW Salon. He is based in Sydney, Australia.

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?

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."
How do you use hair shears to cut bangs?

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.

In Need of a Trim? Here are 8 Professional Hair Clippers to Use

Updated by Shannon Stubbs