14 Quality Hair Shears Stylists Say Are Best for At-Home Cuts

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, whether youre a novice cutter or a pro, it’s important to have the right tools, namely a pair of quality hair shears.

“At-home haircuts are a slippery slope, but totally possible,” according to stylist and Raw salon owner Anthony Nader, “if you take the approach that less is more and use the best shears for the job.”

We agree this can be tricky territory if you’ve never cut your hair at home, which is why we’ve done the hard work for you and found thebest professional hair-cutting shearson the market for all hair types, skill sets, and style preferences. To land on these pro-approved shears, we conducted hours of research,evaluating our options based on their sharpness, material, and how long-lasting they were. Our team then combined these results with customer reviews and top-rated picks recommended by stylists Nader, Karen Miller, and Edward Tricomi, the co-founder of Warren Tricomi Salons, to create this vetted list—and ahead, were sharing which ones outperformed their competition.

Best Overall

Matsui Matte Black Aichei Mountain Offset Shear

Scissortech

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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 andcome with finger insertsto get your best fit. Plus, the fine point means you canfeather or add texture to the hair.

• Size: 5.5, 6, 7"
• Style: Right or left hand
• Materials: Cobalt-infused steel

Best Lightweight Shears

Joewell New Era Cutting Shear

JP Scissors

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Fun fact: Tim Burton was inspired to write Edward Scissorhands after getting his hair cut by master stylist Edward Tricomi—so who better to weigh in on the best shears for an at-home dusting than the man himself? Tricomi is partial to Joewell’ssuper lightweight scissors, which he calls the ‘Porsche’ of hair shears because they are small at about five inches long and not heavy in your hands.

• Size: 5, 5.5"
• Materials:Japanese Stainless Alloy Steel

Best Budget

Coolala Stainless Steel Hair Cutting Scissors 6.5"

Amazon

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Its 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

Best Drugstore

Tweezerman Spirit 2000 Styling Shears

Walmart

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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 per an Amazon customer).

• Size: 5.5"
• Materials: Stainless steel

Best Adjustable

Equinox International Professional Razor Edge Series Hair Cutting Scissors

Amazon

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These handy shears allow you to easily change the tension settingto 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

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Best Blending

Sam Villa Reversible Blending Shears

Sam Villa

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When it comes to bulk hair removal or blending strong layers, Miller reaches for Sam Villa’s reversible shears. “What I like about them is their ability to make achieving a good haircut easy,” she shares, while another review praised their ability to make quick work when thinning or texturizing.

• Size: 6.5"
• Style: Right or left hand
• Materials: Stainless steel

Best Ergonomic

ULG Hair Cutting Scissors

Amazon

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

• Size: 6.5"
• Materials: Stainless steel

Best Kit

Sirabe 10 Piece Hair Cutting Scissors Set

Amazon

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Feeling confident? Try expanding your DIY haircutting repertoire to include this 10-piece kit from Sirabe. Complete withthinning 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

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Best for Wet and Dry Cuts

Fromm Explore 5.75" Hair Cutting Shears

Amazon

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

• Size: 5.75"
• Materials: Steel

Best for Touch-Ups

JAVENPROLIU Professional Hair Cutting Shears

Amazon

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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, Nader says 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.

• Size: 6"
• Materials: Steel

Best for Short Hair

Diane Home Cut Kit

Amazon

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If you’re looking for ashorter 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

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Best for Left Handers

Jaguar White Line JP38 Left Offset Thinner

Beauty Supply 123

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Jaguar gets that not everyone cuts hair the same way, so they offer an offset left-handed variation of their stylish thinning shears. Thirty-eight thinning teeth with fine V-teeth serration ensuresmooth, precise cuts every time.

• Size: 5.25"
• Materials: Stainless steel

Best for Beginners

Tecto Professional Stainless Steel Barber Scissors 6.6"

Amazon

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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

Best Splurge

Hattori Hanzo Shears HH8 Talon

Hattori Hanzo Shears

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Okay, these are really 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. Theyfeature 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

Where We Stand

Overall, our top pick for best hair shears is theMatsui Matte Black Aichei Mountain Offset Shearfor its sharpness, longevity, and the fact you can tweak the finger grips to suit you. We also love the more budget-friendlyCoolala Stainless Steel Hair Cutting Scissors 6.5"because they hit a sweet spot between quality, ease of use, and affordability.

How We Researched

To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best shearson the market, evaluating their key features in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources.We also consulted experts

for their opinions. We then used this research to choose the best picks to inform this article.

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. Many of our picks were stainless steel, including the ULG Professional Hair Scissors and the Sam Villa Signature Series Reversible Blending Shears. 

Length:

While this is more 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 clean professional hair shears?

Nader suggests using a cloth soaked with rubbing alcohol to clean your shears in between each use, but oiling your shears is just as important so they don’t rust. “Once a month, open the shears as wide as possible and place one to two drops of oil in the pivot area,” instructs Miller. Twice a month if you use them every day. (Our Equinox Hair Cutting Scissors pick even comes oiled to ensure premium sharpness upon first use.)

Should you sharpen hair shears?

Maybe you don’t want to. Tricomi, for example, says he is not a fan of sharpening his shears, and instead, when they start to dull, he moves on to a new pair. “I’ve learned that if you have someone sharpen them, it tends to fully change the shear, making it unable to slide along the hair,” he explains.

On the flip side, Miller can understand not wanting to part with a pricey pair of shears. “If you spend a good amount of money on shears, you can definitely have them maintained with a proper sharpening,” she says. While she doesn’t recommend doing that yourself per se, she does cosign sending them to a specialist. In New York City, she takes hers to ShearWorld for a tune-up.

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