inexpensive vs. expensive hair shears

[Rebeccalaurenxx]

So, im looking around different forums. Im trying to figure out the price range I should be looking into for.. you guessed it

HAIR SHEARS

Right now, im using a cheap conair pair I got maybe a year ago from walmart for like 6$
Nowadays im wondering if I should invest in a better pair. Im thinking about heading over to sallys before I grab dinner tonight.

How much did yours cost?
Under 20$?
Exactly 20$?
More than 20$?

Also: Are you using tradition shears? Some people are using embroidery shears or craft scissors and suggested I try the same - I find these to be cheaper than regular hair shears, but I wonder if they are as good for hair or if the metal is different etc.

How did they fare for you?
Gimme the deets!

[Aredhel]

I have a pair made by Goody and they're decent. I'm pretty sure I got them for $15. I'd like to upgrade them at some point though, they're quite uncomfortable to hold.

[Cherriezzzzz]

Any pair at sallys that are all metal. I've had pretty rainbow ones. Plain metal ones. Anything without a plastic handle! Mine are usually around$25. My hairdressing scissors I used in a chop shop style salon were $75, but you don't need to ever spend that much.

[mira-chan]

I think mine were about $25 to $30 range.

[divinedobbie]

Mine are a Fromm pair I got at Sally's, they were $18.99 so with tax they would've come in right at $20. They are doing a good job as far as I can tell and have stayed sharp (not as sharp as when I have run my thumb over japanese knives but sharp enough!).

[Sarahlabyrinth]

I paid $20 for my hair shears and they haven't given me any trouble.

[Chromis]

Mine were over 20, but less than 30 USD. Sally's has constant sales and often had coupons, so I waited for a good sale and got a pair that would have been more expensive otherwise.

[Rowdy]

Mine were $18.99 but I think I got them on sale. They work great! The serrated edge is so far the only one that cuts my hair instead of pushing it around unless I want to up my price point by quite a bit.

http://www.sallybeauty.com/edge-ahead-gripz-shear-6-25-inch/SBS-525022,default,pd.html?list=Home%7cHair%7cShears%2 0%26%20Shapers

[divinedobbie]

Mine were $18.99 but I think I got them on sale. They work great! The serrated edge is so far the only one that cuts my hair instead of pushing it around unless I want to up my price point by quite a bit.

http://www.sallybeauty.com/edge-ahead-gripz-shear-6-25-inch/SBS-525022,default,pd.html?list=Home%7cHair%7cShears%2 0%26%20Shapers

These are the ones I got/have :D

[Rebeccalaurenxx]

So far it looks like 20$ is the average price point for you guys.

[Dendra]

I use my parents' old haircutting scissors which were probably about $10, I just make sure to keep them very sharp. Maybe a high quality steel would be a better investment, but things like comfort or the ability to use lots of cutting techniques don't bother me.

[lapushka]

If you have iii and over, I would get at least a $50 pair with Japanese steel blades (starting pro shears). I would not just go with a regular drugstore pair!

I used to have regular drugstore shears and my mom would always need to "saw through" my hair, and that means the shears aren't sharp enough if you have to do that. The €50 starting pro shears from Ultron that I have had for over 10 years (:!:) and are still as sharp as ever never "sawed through" my hair one bit. Always sharp snips, like a hot knife through butter. And after 10 years they have not had to be sharpened once. I have long had my money's worth from them!!!

[AZDesertRose]

I bought a pair of mid-price-range professional hair shears from Sally Beauty Supply probably at least a decade ago, and I believe I spent somewhere in the neighborhood of US$30 on them, but I decided to go with a reasonably nice set since I wanted them to last.

I figured that two professional haircuts would run me more than $30, especially since they like to charge more for longer hair (which, wut?!? especially since I only ever wanted a blunt or U-shaped trim). The stylist I trust charges $20 for a shampoo, cut, and style; I could go to someplace like Hair Cuttery or Supercuts and pay less (~US$15 for a trim), but I also might end up with more length cut off than I wanted and/or layers cut in that I didn't want and/or something other done to my hair than what I requested.

And the ~$30 shears I bought about a decade ago are still sharp and still working beautifully, after way more than two self-trims. So I'm not sorry I "splurged" a bit on them; it actually works out to be a far lower expenditure in the end, IMO, to buy a nicer set of shears (and of course, never ever use them on anything but hair and threaten dire consequences to anyone else who might have access to your hair shears and be tempted to use them for some non-hair cutting use). :justy: :whip: :laugh:

[Dendra]

If you have iii and over, I would get at least a $50 pair with Japanese steel blades (starting pro shears). I would not just go with a regular drugstore pair!

I used to have regular drugstore shears and my mom would always need to "saw through" my hair, and that means the shears aren't sharp enough if you have to do that. The €50 starting pro shears from Ultron that I have had for over 10 years (:!:) and are still as sharp as ever never "sawed through" my hair one bit. Always sharp snips, like a hot knife through butter. And after 10 years they have not had to be sharpened once. I have long had my money's worth from them!!!

I think I will upgrade at some point, although I never notice my scissors 'sawing' through my hair. Do you think that means the ones I'm using are OK?

[lapushka]

I think I will upgrade at some point, although I never notice my scissors 'sawing' through my hair. Do you think that means the ones I'm using are OK?

I guess so. If scissors start that sawing motion, it's time to get them sharpened or you're propping too much hair in to be cut at once. I have a lot of hair, so sometimes that can happen. Although the difference for me between the drugstore set and the pro shears was like day and night!

[Chromis]

I use my parents' old haircutting scissors which were probably about $10, I just make sure to keep them very sharp. Maybe a high quality steel would be a better investment, but things like comfort or the ability to use lots of cutting techniques don't bother me.

$10 shears likely would have been a lot nicer when your parents bought them!

For that matter my $25-ish on sale shears would likely be more expensive now as well.

[OhSuzi]

these seem crazy cheap! Id be lucky to find a basic cheap pair for under £20 in UK (bout $25??)
Basic decent pairs for non professionals seem to start about £50 something UK pounds - going up to crazy £300 pairs for pros or you could spend even more if you were a millionaire hairdresser who wants diamond encrusted ones)

I keep meaning to get some but am too scared to spend lots of money and end up with something rubbish - or spend not enough money & end up with something rubbish & then when I finally have hair long enough to trim for myself end up cutting in lots of split ends!

[Dendra]

$10 shears likely would have been a lot nicer when your parents bought them!

For that matter my $25-ish on sale shears would likely be more expensive now as well.

That is true! I hadn't thought about it like that. I wonder when they bought them. Probably at least twenty years ago :hmm:


I guess so. If scissors start that sawing motion, it's time to get them sharpened or you're propping too much hair in to be cut at once. I have a lot of hair, so sometimes that can happen. Although the difference for me between the drugstore set and the pro shears was like day and night!

One day....:)


these seem crazy cheap! Id be lucky to find a basic cheap pair for under £20 in UK (bout $25??)
Basic decent pairs for non professionals seem to start about £50 something UK pounds - going up to crazy £300 pairs for pros or you could spend even more if you were a millionaire hairdresser who wants diamond encrusted ones)

I keep meaning to get some but am too scared to spend lots of money and end up with something rubbish - or spend not enough money & end up with something rubbish & then when I finally have hair long enough to trim for myself end up cutting in lots of split ends!

Sally's have some for about £25 that seemed okay, they have most of them out in the shop so you can try them in your hand and see how they feel.

[Rebeccalaurenxx]

Im surprised by all the 20$ and under!

[MoonRabbit]

I got a pair of shark fin pro around $300. My partner got them for me as a gift, or else I never would have spent that much for myself. But they are a lifetime investment. I must say they are the best shears I ever used and I never have issues with splits from a dull cut now.

[lapushka]

I got a pair of shark fin pro around $300. My partner got them for me as a gift, or else I never would have spent that much for myself. But they are a lifetime investment. I must say they are the best shears I ever used and I never have issues with splits from a dull cut now.

Yes, something I definitely noticed, ever since getting the pro shears (and -damage), I have yet to find a split or white dot in my hair!

[Hairkay]

I got around to getting some shears at a local shop. They only had the one type for £5.00, they turned out to be heavy clunky and didn't seem sharp with tips that were a bit blunt. I eventually got one via Amazon that was £7.00, they're light, sharp, pointed and perfect for s & d and occasional trims. That suits me fine. I've no need for professional scissors since I'm not doing major hair cuts neither would I spend hundreds on this.

[lapushka]

I got around to getting some shears at a local shop. They only had the one type for £5.00, they turned out to be heavy clunky and didn't seem sharp with tips that were a bit blunt. I eventually got one via Amazon that was £7.00, they're light, sharp, pointed and perfect for s & d and occasional trims. That suits me fine. I've no need for professional scissors since I'm not doing major hair cuts neither would I spend hundreds on this.

Yes, I invested because they are necessary to cut my hair and my mom's hair. So we definitely got our money's worth out of it, as we have had these €50 shears for over a decade now. If they broke now, no biggie (I would be absolutely sad), but they have served their purpose well!!!

[Rebeccalaurenxx]

Im still trying to decide if my 6$ conair shears are so bad then. Im thinking about getting some mid range (15-25$) shears from sallys.
But it seems a lot of people here seem to actually use pretty inexpensive shears. So maybe my cheap ones are ok then!

[TatsuOni]

I payed more than 20$ for mine and for me it was worth the money.

[lapushka]

I think basically with shears you get what you pay for. :shrug:

I think there is going to be zero difference between a $6 pair and a $12-$15 dollar pair. I'd just buy a good pair that you can be confident in using for quite a while. It's like an investment. I'd go with the cheapest pro shears (at least you'll get Japanese steel blades then (excruciatingly sharp), I don't think drugstore ones have that).

[Rebeccalaurenxx]

Today I purchased 14$ Oster shears. I can see a difference between my 6$ conair shears and these.

[Suze]

Mine where €59. I just got them. I think it is a very good investment because that's about the price of two haircuts. And with tools I tend to go more high end because you get what you pay for. Simple as that. And when someone mentioned Japanese steel to me, I was done. At work we also work with tools made from Japanese steel and they last forever, opposed to another brand we use.

[lapushka]

Mine where €59. I just got them. I think it is a very good investment because that's about the price of two haircuts. And with tools I tend to go more high end because you get what you pay for. Simple as that. And when someone mentioned Japanese steel to me, I was done. At work we also work with tools made from Japanese steel and they last forever, opposed to another brand we use.

Yep, they are really sturdy. Mine are 10+ years old and as good as new! My mom this week just cut her hair with them; as sharp as in the beginning, and they have not needed sharpening yet. Not that I would ever sharpen these. I think I would then just replace them. I have bad experiences with sharpening (blades that refused to align and close).

[Rockin' Gramma]

Last year I bought a pair of Equinox Professional Razor Edge Series 6.5" length on Amazon for $12.95 USD. They state they're made with 440C Japanese cobalt steel, but you have to wonder at that price. It also has a tension screw adjustment, although I haven't used it.

I love them though after using Conair and Oster 5" scissors for years, which dulled pretty quickly on thick hair.

[QueenMab]

I got some $12 ones from Amazon, it's been a year and they're still great, never given my hair any trouble.

[JadedByEntropy]

tmi..I'm over here chewing off split ends i find xD
But i really am looking to improve my really sharp pocket knife scissors xD and my $3 walmart 'hair' scissors. Had some $5 walmart paper scissors for awhile till they broke. xD But i just haven't thought about it being a tool to invest in until now. I'll definitely find me a really nice pair after reading some of your reasons.

[Gem]

I spent $40 at Sally's on a pair that was on sale (Fromm Precise, usually $50). For years I thought I was just really bad at trimming my hair, but turns out, the problem was the $10 embroidery scissors.
My justification for spending that much was the same as a lot of other people in this thread: It's the same price as one professional trim. I don't trust other people to trim my hair, and I'm microtrimming this year anyway. Also frankly, I'm doing a better job at getting my hair even than the last salon I went to.

[Dendra]

Since I voted under $20 I have got a pair of much more pricey stainless steel shears. They were £60 :bigeyes: but they were a gift. They felt sharper when I ran my finger across the blade (does this dull the blade..? I hope not) and seem to cut through my hair differently.

[Groovy Granny]

Under $20 : One of mine came with a Wahl clipper set, and the other was from Conair; both are still pretty sharp.

But seeing I cut my own hair now, my silver is very fine, and I am unsure of the age/sharpness of my shears.... I bought these (https://www.amazon.com/Equinox-Professional-Cutting-Scissors-Silver/dp/B00LH2PSE8/ref=sr_1_5_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1514492165&sr=8-5&keywords=equinox+hair+shears)

I have not tried them yet because I am waiting to trim :popcorn:

ETA: I dusted on the 31st and they are perfect for my fine silver :thumbsup:

[lapushka]

Since I voted under $20 I have got a pair of much more pricey stainless steel shears. They were £60 :bigeyes: but they were a gift. They felt sharper when I ran my finger across the blade (does this dull the blade..? I hope not) and seem to cut through my hair differently.

No it won't dull from doing that just once, just don't do it all the time (you don't want your fingers cut either). Mine are Japanese steel and it is razor sharp. I once got the webbing cut in between my fingers - how I managed to do that I quite forgot. LOL!

[Zesty]

Mine were expensive, but I think they've dulled now because I was going to S&D in the late afternoon sunlight and it looked like the very ends of my hair alllll ended in a white dot, and when I snipped a hair the end looked like a white dot too. For a while I kind of chalked it up to light reflecting off the blunt end. (Is that a thing? Does anyone know?) But I got more suspicious and ran my finger over them and couldn't get them to cut me or even feel especially sharp, even if I pressed down.

Moral of the story is, I wanted to be safe so I bought a new pair on Amazon and made sure people specifically mentioned how very sharp they are in the comments. :p I will say, the pair I have is *not* Japanese steel (new pair is), though they were advertised as stainless steel. I think they were expensive for the fancy features. Shame on me.

[Dendra]

No it won't dull from doing that just once, just don't do it all the time (you don't want your fingers cut either). Mine are Japanese steel and it is razor sharp. I once got the webbing cut in between my fingers - how I managed to do that I quite forgot. LOL!

Ok good I'm glad that wouldn't have dulled them! By the way that sounds so painful, cutting the webbing between your fingers - ouch!!!

Zesty I'm slightly concerned that mine were expensive because of fancy features too. I hope they are properly sharp and not just a scam...

[Rebeccalaurenxx]

Mine were expensive, but I think they've dulled now because I was going to S&D in the late afternoon sunlight and it looked like the very ends of my hair alllll ended in a white dot, and when I snipped a hair the end looked like a white dot too. For a while I kind of chalked it up to light reflecting off the blunt end. (Is that a thing? Does anyone know?) But I got more suspicious and ran my finger over them and couldn't get them to cut me or even feel especially sharp, even if I pressed down.

Moral of the story is, I wanted to be safe so I bought a new pair on Amazon and made sure people specifically mentioned how very sharp they are in the comments. :p I will say, the pair I have is *not* Japanese steel (new pair is), though they were advertised as stainless steel. I think they were expensive for the fancy features. Shame on me.

That was my problem with my cheap (6$) conair shears, then i got the sort of more expensive oster shears from sallys ($14) and was STILL having that issue for months.
I finally bit the bullet today, sallys is having a sale, some 60$ shears are on clearance, and then theyre doing 50% off clearance, so i got 60$ shears for 20$. Japanese steel.
I cant wait to get them, when I do, I am doing a biggger trim and then not trimming the rest of 2018. But I will know once I get them, once and for all, if more expensive shears are better or not.

I would be too afraid to buy shears off amazon in general, you never really know the quality til you get them.

[Zesty]

That was my problem with my cheap (6$) conair shears, then i got the sort of more expensive oster shears from sallys ($14) and was STILL having that issue for months.
I finally bit the bullet today, sallys is having a sale, some 60$ shears are on clearance, and then theyre doing 50% off clearance, so i got 60$ shears for 20$. Japanese steel.
I cant wait to get them, when I do, I am doing a biggger trim and then not trimming the rest of 2018. But I will know once I get them, once and for all, if more expensive shears are better or not.

I would be too afraid to buy shears off amazon in general, you never really know the quality til you get them.

I received mine a day or two ago and they seem good, I have yet to look at them in the right light to see if they do the same thing with the white dots though. :) For the record they were $16. We shall see.

[Hiyotoris]

I have a few different scissors, though the ones I keep and use for myself cost around £200-£300, they were a gift from my aunt though and I've just recently had them sharpened and oh my gosh! When you open and close them, they sing! They sound so lovely. When I am earning a bit more money I do hope to treat myself to some nice new ones, so I can retire them ones to use as spares. I swear getting expensive scissors is a hairdressers thing, why must I love expensive things?!

[Margrit]

I voted: Under 20$

[Begemot]

I don't think mine were over 20$.

[Glitch]

I bought a super duper expensive luxury pair of hair shears and well, didn't really notice any change from my regular cheap pair. LOL. I've learned that anything works just fine as long as it's used exclusively for hair.

[lapushka]

For me? Total opposite. And I didn't spend a lot, I just got the entry level shears, around the €50 mark but I noticed a big difference between my plain €10 drugstore ones, major difference. I mean my entry level ones are Japanese steel, more than once now I sliced my fingers on them, and when I say "sliced", I mean it! That sharp, I can rub my fingers on the blades of the drugstore ones without anything happening.

[Frida177]

As long as they are actual hair shears and not kitchen or craft scissors I think we can be quite pleased with ourselves.

[BVU]

Got mine at sallys for $12 and sharpened them at home