Hair Shears, Whether You're a Novice Cutter or a Pro

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!

• Our Picks
• Final Verdict
• What to Look For
• Why Trust ishonest?

Best Overall: Matsui Matte Black Aichei Mountain Offset Shear

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.

Best Budget: Coolala Stainless Steel Hair Cutting Scissors 6.5"

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.

Best Drugstore: Tweezerman Spirit 2000 Styling Shears

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).

Best Ergonomic: ULG Hair Cutting Scissors

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.

Best Kit: Sirabe 10 Piece Hair Cutting Scissors Set

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.

Best for Wet and Dry Cuts: Fromm Explore 5.75" Hair Cutting Shears

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.

Best for Touch-Ups: JAVENPROLIU Professional Hair Cutting Shears

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.

Best for Short Hair: Diane Home Cut Kit

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.

Best for Left-Handers: Pacinos Styling Shears

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.

Best for Beginners: Tecto Professional Stainless Steel Barber Scissors 6.6"

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.

Best Splurge: Hattori Hanzo Shears HH8 Talon

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.

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 ishonest 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.

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.”

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

Why Trust ishonest?

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