Buy Authentic, Not Hype!
The most important thing we could ever tell ANY hairstylist or barber is to BUY AUTHENTIC!!!
What makes a scissor or shear Authentic? The answer is very simple, they should have their country of origin, where they were made, clearly marked on every scissor and shear. If they don't have a country of origin marked on them, then they are not authentic in any manner, including the steel they are claiming to be made from. If the scissor or shear company you’re willing to trust and spend your hard earned money with won't even give you the common courtesy of informing you of where your scissors or shears are being made (which by law they are supposed to do), then that should be the first red flag that you may not want to trust that company in being honest about any or all of aspects of your purchase.
Most of the scissor and shear companies today claim that their scissors and shears are “handmade”or made from "High quality Japanese steel," "Japanese cobalt steel,” “High Carbon steel," "Molybdenum steel,"Japanese cobalt alloy" and many other deceiving names. The reality is, many scissors said to be made out of Japanese Steel or "Made in Japan" simply are not. Instead, most scissor companies have their scissors made in China and charge incredibly marked up prices trying to pass them off as Japanese or “Japanese quality”. The comparison is not even close. Sure all new scissors cut hair, but the overall performance, longevity, and its ability to stay sharp are incomparable to that of a true handmade Japanese Scissor. The difference is vast in quality and performance, in the same way as comparing a Chevy Cavalier to a Ferrari. They are both cars that can drive and get you from point A to point B, but after that, almost everyone would agree they aren’t even comparable in performance and quality. One is just simply better than the other. Some companies will even use false steel names as a tactic to cover up that the steel is not actually coming from Japan, nor is it actually true Japanese Steel. Authentic Japanese Steels have specific names and are able to be traced back to the factory in which they come from, such as VG1, VG10, and SG-2 from The Takefu Special Steel Factory in Fukui, Japan. Takefu owns these private label steels and no other company is allowed to claim or use the name (V1-V10), (VG1-VG10), or (SG-2).
The same goes for Hitachi Steel, they have 3 private labels with ATS314 being the most popular for scissors and shears. No other company can claim or use the name Hitachi ATS314 unless it is actually that steel, so you will find deceiving tactics such as "Hitachi "or "ATS314" or "Japanese ATS" printed as a deceiving claim to mislead you into buying unauthentic steel.
Another common authentic steel is the 440 series with 440A being the lowest quality, 440B being higher quality, and 440C being the best quality of the series. Unlike Takefu and Hitachi the 440 series are "official steels" that anyone can make. It's like a cake recipe; as long as you follow the list of ingredients you can call it that type of cake or in this case (440A,B,C Steel). So it is very important to know where this type of Steel is being made. If it is made in Japan, it falls under the Japanese Industrial Standards or (JIS), and is overseen that only the highest quality ingredients are being used in the recipe. However other countries have been known to follow the recipe in order to call the steel 440 but may use lower quality ingredients during the process causing the steel to be lower quality than when it's made in Japan and overseen by the (JIS).
When purchasing a professional scissor or shear for your career you should always do your research first. Japanese Shears are regarded the highest in quality and subsequently will cost the most. Korean Shears are regarded the second best, and then German Shears coming in third place, although a true German Shear is very hard to find in todays market place. Analytics around the world still show that The Haircutting Scissor is the most important and longest lasting tool for any professional in the beauty hair industry, so it is worth getting an Authentic piece. Tools such a as hairdryers, curling irons, clippers, trimmers, brushes, and combs, will all wear and tear and often need to be replaced within a 1-5 year period or less. The most important tool and the backbone of the industry, The Haircutting Scissor or Shear, can and should last longer than all of these other tools combined! Especially if you buy a true Authentic Japanese Shear. So remember when it comes time to invest in your next professional scissor or shear, don't just buy Hype or Popularity from a well known brand just because they have paid a Platform Artist to endorse it. Instead focus on whether the shear is Authentic or not. Make sure you know where it was made, and exactly what authentic steel it was made from. Make sure that the country of origin is marked clearly on the steel. These are just a few helpful things to look for that can protect you from being taking advantage of and overpaying for a cheap Chinese product that won't last you a long time. A serious investment in your next scissors or shears will give you the highest return for that investment.
Whether you buy your next scissor or shear from us or somewhere else, here is a short list of other reputable scissor and shear companies that sell Authentic pieces.
5. BMAC Pro
6. Kasho Shears