Brand Spotlight: Ichiro Shears

Ichiro Shears occupies the mid-range of the Scissor Lab portfolio. This is a brand built around reliable daily performance — scissors that a working professional can trust through a full column of clients, six days a week, without fuss or failure. The range covers every key cutting technique, including a dedicated slide cutting scissor that is the standout model in the lineup.

The Range

Ichiro Classic — The core model and the definition of the brand. VG10 steel, convex edge, offset handle. Available in 5.5”, 6.0”, 6.5”, and 7.0”. The Classic does what a professional daily-use scissor should: it cuts cleanly, it holds its edge through a full working day, and it asks nothing except regular maintenance. Trusted by working stylists who need consistent results at a sensible price point.

Ichiro Slide — The specialist in the range, and arguably Ichiro’s most technically interesting scissor. Cobalt alloy steel with a convex edge, available in 6.0”, 6.5”, 7.0”, and 7.5”. Cobalt alloy steel achieves a higher hardness rating than VG10, which enables a finer, longer-lasting edge — properties that are particularly suited to slide cutting and point work, where the blade is drawn across the hair rather than closing through it. The longer blade lengths are intentional: more blade length means more usable cutting surface for slicing techniques.

Ichiro Thinning — A 28-tooth micro-serrated thinning scissor in VG10 steel. Available in 5.5”, 6.0”, and 6.5”. The 28-tooth count produces consistent, even thinning suited to everyday salon blending work — not the finest or lightest removal available in the range (that would be the Mina Slice or Juntetsu Thinning) but reliable and easy to control.

Ichiro Apprentice — The entry point to professional scissors, designed for cosmetology students and stylists early in their career. 440C stainless steel, convex edge, even/classic handle. Available in 5.0”, 5.5”, and 6.0”. The 440C steel and even handle make this easier to maintain and less demanding on technique than higher-end models, which matters when you are still developing your skills. It is priced accordingly, while still meeting the quality standards expected of the Ichiro name.

Steel Range

Ichiro is the only brand in the Scissor Lab portfolio that spans three steel types: 440C (Apprentice), VG10 (Classic and Thinning), and cobalt alloy (Slide). This range reflects the brand’s intent to cover every stage of a stylist’s career.

Who Ichiro Shears Is For

Ichiro Shears serves stylists from their first professional pair through to experienced professionals who want reliable high-performance tools without the premium price of the Mina range. The Apprentice is an honest beginner’s scissor. The Classic is a serious working tool. And the Slide is, for slide-cutting specialists, the most technically capable scissor in the entire Scissor Lab lineup.

For availability and regional pricing, find your nearest distributor on the Global Network page.