Hairdressing Scissors FAQ

The most common questions we get from hairdressers, answered honestly by Matt Grumley — founder, scissorsmith, and the only hairdresser-scissorsmith-designer-educator in Australia. 35+ years in the chair and at the stone. Est. 2007.

If your question is not answered here, the fastest way to get a real answer is to call us — you will speak to Matt or a stylist Matt trained personally.

Steel, Quality and Manufacturing

What steel are ShearGenius scissors made from?

Most premium ShearGenius scissors use Japanese Hitachi ATS-314 cobalt-molybdenum steel. Some models use Japanese Cobalt Alloy. Both are genuine premium Japanese steels with excellent edge retention and corrosion resistance.

Who actually runs ShearGenius?

Matt Grumley — founder, hairdresser, scissorsmith, designer and educator. Matt is the only person in Australia who holds all four of those roles. He has been behind the chair and at the sharpening stone for more than 35 years and has personally owned and operated ShearGenius continuously since 2007.

How is ShearGenius different from Excellent Edges, Matsui/Scissor Tec or other Japanese-style brands?

Most of our closest competitors are marketer-owned brands bought from the previous owners within the last seven years. At ShearGenius, the person who designs the range, inspects every scissor, sharpens every edge, tensions every pivot, writes every warranty and answers the phone is the same person — Matt Grumley — and has been continuously since 2007.

Sharpening and Service

How much does scissor sharpening cost?

Flat $70 per scissor for ShearGenius hairdressing and barber scissors. Flat $80 per scissor for every other brand. Same-day turnaround. No upcharges for brand, condition, steel grade or pivot service. See the full 2026 cost report for market comparisons.

Do you offer mobile sharpening?

Yes — mobile scissor sharpening routes across Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. Three or more scissors in one salon means no call-out fee. On-site service while you keep cutting.

Can I post my scissors in for sharpening?

Yes. Our Australia-wide mail-in service runs at the same flat $70/$80 rate with insured return post. Same-day turnaround on arrival — we sharpen, tension, oil and post the scissor back the same day.

Buying, Payment and Warranty

What is SlicePay?

Our in-house zero-interest weekly payment plan, designed specifically for hairdressers. Own a genuine Japanese scissor from $15 a week with no interest, no credit check and no hidden fees. Built by us because no BNPL provider in the market was willing to offer fair terms to apprentices.

Do your scissors come with a warranty?

Yes — a genuine lifetime warranty on the steel, the pivot and the handle. Not conditional, not 12-month limited. The warranty is backed personally by the scissorsmith who built the tool.

How often should I sharpen my scissors?

Every 8-12 months for a busy stylist cutting 25-40 heads a week. More often if you cut a lot of chemically treated or coarse hair. A scissor that feels dull has usually been dull for weeks already — book proactively.

Maintenance and Care

Can I sharpen my scissors myself?

Not if they are premium Japanese shears. A true convex edge cannot be maintained on a flat grinder, a belt sander or a home stone kit. DIY destroys convex permanently. See our professional-vs-DIY guide for the full case.

What oil should I use on my scissors?

Purpose-made scissor oil (or clipper oil in a pinch). Never WD-40 — it strips existing oil out of the pivot and leaves the bearing dry. Never household oils, cooking oils or baby oil. One drop on the pivot at the end of every shift.

How do I know if my scissors need replacing or just sharpening?

If the steel is healthy and the pivot still holds tension, sharpening will bring it back. If the blades are chipped beyond recovery, the pivot is worn flat, or the scissor has been damaged by a previous grinder, replacement is the honest answer. We tell you the truth before we start work.

Size, Handle and Fit

Are all your scissors left-hand compatible?

No — a true left-handed scissor has the blade positions reversed, not just the finger rings swapped. We make genuine left-handed models where the geometry is built for a left-hander from the first sketch. See our left-handed collection.

What size scissor should I buy?

6.0 inch offset handle is the all-round starting point for most working hairdressers. 5.5 inch for precision and fine detail. 6.5-7.0 inch for long hair and barbering. See our full blade length guide.

What handle shape should I choose?

Offset is the modern default and suits 80% of working stylists. Crane if you already have shoulder or neck strain. Swivel thumb if you have chronic wrist RSI. Even handle only if you are doing primarily scissor-over-comb barbering. See our handle types guide.

Shipping and Trust

Do you ship Australia-wide?

Yes — free Australia-wide shipping on scissor orders, and Australia-wide mail-in sharpening with insured return post.

Can I try before I buy?

If you are on the mobile route or can visit us in Ballarat, yes. Otherwise, our lifetime warranty and returns policy means you can buy with confidence.

Are the scissors real Japanese steel or marketing?

Real Japanese steel. If a scissor brand will not state the specific steel grade and the mill it came from, treat that as a red flag. We will happily answer both questions — for every model in the range — on the phone or by email.

Related Reading

Further Reading

More expert guides from Matt Grumley — 35+ years behind the chair.