Best Hairdressing Scissors for Apprentices in Australia
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Written by Matt Grumley, Australia's only combined Hairdresser, Scissorsmith, Designer and Educator. Founder of ShearGenius, est. 2007. 35+ years behind the chair and at the sharpening stone.
Most apprentice hairdressers in Australia are sold the wrong scissor twice before they finish their qualification. The first one is the $80 Amazon pair the kit-list says to buy. The second is the $300 "Japanese steel" private-label when the first one goes dull after six months. Both are a waste of money, and neither is a career scissor.
Why Apprentices Get Sold Junk
The trade supply industry has worked out that apprentices are cost-sensitive, time-poor and rarely ask hard questions about steel grades. So it sells them the cheapest thing with a Japanese-sounding name and moves on. The problem is that your scissor is the single tool you will touch more than any other for your entire career. Starting on junk trains your hand on a broken instrument and costs you more over the first three years than one genuine Japanese scissor would have cost in the first place.
The Apprentice Scissor Playbook
- One scissor, not three. A 6.0" offset-handle straight scissor in Japanese ATS-314 or Japanese Cobalt Alloy. Do not buy a texturiser yet — you will get more out of learning proper scissor-over-comb technique first.
- Japanese steel, not "Japanese style". Most premium ShearGenius scissors are forged from Hitachi ATS-314 and some use Japanese Cobalt Alloy. Both are genuine premium Japanese steels. "Japanese style" means nothing and usually means 440C.
- Convex edge, not bevel. You cannot learn slide cutting or point cutting on a bevel edge. The edge geometry has to match the technique you will be learning in your second and third year.
- Offset or crane handle. Your wrist has decades of cutting ahead of it. A symmetric handle is a one-way ticket to RSI by year five.
- SlicePay, not Afterpay. Our in-house zero-interest weekly plan from $15 a week was built for apprentices. No credit check, no interest, no hidden fees. One genuine Japanese scissor on a payment plan is cheaper per year than two imports.
Our Apprentice Picks
- Under $500 — ShearGenius Japanese Cobalt Alloy, 6.0" offset. Genuine Japanese steel, dual-bearing pivot, convex edge, lifetime warranty. The scissor most apprentices should own on day one. SlicePay from about $15/week.
- $500-$700 — ShearGenius ATS-314 Standard, 6.0" offset. Same hand-finished convex edge, same pivot, same warranty, but the steel steps up to Hitachi ATS-314 at 58-60 HRC. Worth it if you are cutting 20+ heads a week already.
- Apprentice bundle. Straight scissor plus texturiser from our bundle collection once you are ready to start removing weight.
What To Avoid
- Any scissor that does not state a specific steel grade (ATS-314, VG10, Cobalt, 440C).
- Any scissor sold as "Damascus" without a named core steel.
- Any "left-handed" scissor that is just a right-hander with the finger rings swapped. See the left-handed guide.
- Any brand that will not quote a flat sharpening price. If they charge by the brand or by the "condition of the scissor", walk away.
Daily Care From Day One
Oil your scissor every night. Use proper scissor oil, not WD-40. Store it closed in a leather case. Book your first professional sharpen at 8-12 months. These four habits will double the life of any scissor you own.