The Kotaro 440C cutting shear — sharp out of the box, built to hold its edge through months of daily work.
Included
Lifetime Warranty Against Defects
Our fault, our fix. Details
50% off the same pair
Replacement Pricing, once, any reason. How it works
Free shipping · free exchanges
Not the right size? Swap them unused, on us. How returns work
VIPAfter your second order: 25% off every order, for good. VIP details
500+ Saki Shears Bought in the Past Month
Material: 440C
Size: 5.5 Inches
Free Shipping & Free 30-Day Exchanges
The Saki Kotaro hair shear/scissors features an offset handle with removable finger rest for the ultimate in comfort and ergonomic design prevents fatigue in the hand, wrist and elbow. Perfect for slide cutting on wet or dry hair. Available in 5.5 and 6 inch, the Kotaro scissors is a perfect fit for all stylists.
Kotaro Shears/Scissors Features:
Includes Leather Carrying Case.
Choose options
Included
Lifetime Warranty Against Defects
Our fault, our fix. Details
50% off the same pair
Replacement Pricing, once, any reason. How it works
Free shipping · free exchanges
Not the right size? Swap them unused, on us. How returns work
VIPAfter your second order: 25% off every order, for good. VIP details
Anatomy
Hover or tap a numbered point to see what it does and why it is there.
Hand-honed convex edge that slices cleanly through wet or dry hair with less push.
Sets how firmly the blades ride against each other, so a quarter turn changes the whole feel of the cut.
Shaped so the ring sits at the second knuckle, keeping the blade under control without a tight grip.
The thumb sits forward of the finger ring, so the wrist stays straighter and the elbow lower.
Gives the little finger a fixed place to sit, which steadies control and takes load off the hand.
About
The Kotaro 440C cutting shear — sharp out of the box, built to hold its edge through months of daily work.
The Saki Kotaro hair shear/scissors features an offset handle with removable finger rest for the ultimate in comfort and ergonomic design prevents fatigue in the hand, wrist and elbow. Perfect for slide cutting on wet or dry hair. Available in 5.5 and 6 inch, the Kotaro scissors is a perfect fit for all stylists.
Includes Leather Carrying Case.
Specifications
Saki steel grade comparison
The everyday workhorse
$99 - $245
440C steel hand-forged for the working stylist's daily shear. The industry's proven baseline — reliable edge retention, comfortable balance, and precision that holds up to full-day use. Typically 3 to 4 months between sharpenings.
View Pro StandardFor full-day, six-day-a-week work
$175 - $299
Cobalt-enhanced Japanese alloys for stylists working full days, six days a week. A sharper edge angle that holds longer — 6 to 12 months between sharpenings — and rewards an experienced hand with cleaner, more consistent slice work.
View Pro PerformanceThe master stylist's tool
$299 - $750
Flagship-tier proprietary alloys forged in Japan — the same advanced steel systems specified at the top of the premium category. Chosen for the longest edge retention available, exceptional balance through a full working day, and the unmistakable feel of master-grade craft.
View FlagshipHeritage and aesthetic
$325 - $699
Folded and layered steel construction with the signature wave-grain pattern of traditional Japanese blade craft. Each Damascus shear is as much heritage piece as cutting tool — chosen for the visual artistry that defines this category.
View CollectorNeed help?
Kotaro Hair Cutting Shears/Scissors
Product Selection
Typically, women find scissors in the 5.5” to 6.0" range to be the most comfortable for their needs, whereas men often opt for slightly larger shears, favoring sizes between 6.0” and 6.5”. For tasks such as scissor over comb techniques and cutting longer hair styles, longer scissors, ranging from 6.5” to 7”, are recommended. However, the key consideration should always be comfort, ensuring the scissors feel right in your hand and match your cutting style and technique.
We take pride in crafting our hair shears from only premium grade stainless steel, including 440C, VG-10, ATS-314, ZA-18, and Damascus. These high-grade materials ensure each pair of shears is razor-sharp, durable, and built to last. For your convenience, the specific type of steel used in each set of shears is detailed on the product's detail page. This commitment to quality means our shears not only meet but exceed professional standards, providing you with precision tools for every cut.
Shipping and Returns
We pride ourselves on fast order processing, with most orders being dispatched on the day they are received. Customers in the United States can expect to receive their orders within 4-5 days via our standard, free shipping service. For those in need of quicker delivery, we offer expedited shipping options to meet your needs.
You have 30 days from delivery. Start your return or exchange online, and we email you a prepaid return label, so there's nothing to pay up front. An exchange costs you nothing, including shipping both ways. Store credit gives you every dollar you paid. A refund to your card is what you paid, minus $8 for the prepaid return label. Joewell and Yasaka shears must be unopened to be returned.
Maintenance
Yes, you should sharpen your Saki Shears to maintain their optimal performance. The frequency of sharpening depends on your usage, but as a guideline, sharpening every 4 to 6 months is recommended for professionals.
Influencers
Yes, we are delighted to collaborate with influencers who have a significant social media presence and are interested in promoting Saki Shears. If you're passionate about quality hairdressing tools and have a large following, we'd love to hear from you. We offer free hair shears to selected influencers who can help us share the excellence and precision of Saki Shears with a wider audience. Please reach out to us at cs@sakishears.com with your social media details and proposal for collaboration.
Featured collection
Side by side
No plan to buy and nothing to register. See how that compares with other premium brands.
| What you get | Everything included | Hanzo* | Mizutani* | Kamisori* | Kasho* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shears start atLowest price for one shear | Under $100Musashi, $99 | $527HH9T Kasumi texturizer | $700Blacksmith Fit Thinning 30 | $240K1000 cutting shear | $320Balance Precision 5.5" |
| What the warranty gets you | A new pairFree. Not a repair | Repair or replaceTheir choice | Not stated | Repair or replace | Not stated |
| Lost, stolen or droppedWhat no warranty covers | 50% offThe same pair, once in 2 years. No plan to buy | Paid plan$70 per 2 yrs + $150 per claim | No | No | No |
| Time to return or exchange | 30 daysFrom delivery. Exchanges ship free | 15 days30 to exchange | 14 days$50 restocking fee | 15 daysYou pay shipping | 15 daysFrom purchase |
| VIP pricing for repeat customersStarts after your second order | 25% offEvery order after that, for good | No | No | No | No |
* From each brand's own US website: policies checked November 11, 2026, prices checked November 13, 2026. Starting price is the lowest listed price for one shear, before tax and shipping. "Not stated" means the brand's published terms don't say. Policies can change. Brand names are trademarks of their owners. Sources and all seven comparisons are on the full page.
See the full comparison