Best Barber Scissors for Apprentices (Under $200)
Quick answer
Buy the Mina Sakura II set: a 6.0″ offset, convex-edge cutter and a 6.0″ 30-tooth thinner in one box, under $200. It covers everything a first-year barber apprentice cuts. If you only need a cutter, the Sakura II on its own is the pick. Left-handers should buy the Jaguar Pre Style Relax Lefty.
Top picks
Buy the Mina Sakura II set. It gives you a 6.0″ offset cutter and a 6.0″ 30-tooth thinner for under $200, and it’s the set barbers buy from us more than any other. Agree the length with your trainer first; if they want something different, the other five picks cover it.
How we ranked: job first (first kit, single cutter, over comb, left hand), then length, edge and steel, then price. All six are under $200. Specs come from the product files.
Six apprentice picks at a glance
Scroll sideways to compare all columns.
| Model | Lengths | Handle | Edge and steel | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mina Sakura II set | 5.0 to 7.0″ cutter, 6.0″ thinner | Offset | Convex cutter, SUS440C 58 HRC | First kit |
| Mina Sakura II cutter | 5.0 to 7.0″ | Offset | Convex, SUS440C 58 HRC | Single cutter |
| Ichiro Ergo | 5.5″ or 6.0″ | Offset | Convex (5.5″) or micro-serrated (6.0″), 56 to 58 HRC | Choosing an edge |
| Jaguar Pre Style Relax P | 5.5″ or 6.0″ | Offset | One-sided micro-serration, chromium stainless | German-made start |
| Mina Black Diamond set | 6.0″ or 7.0″ cutter, 6.0″ thinner | Offset | Flat bevel, SUS440C 58 HRC | Over-comb shops |
| Jaguar Relax Lefty | 5.75″ | Offset, left-handed | One-sided micro-serration | Left-handers |
Offset or classic: pick the handle first
An offset handle drops the thumb ring below the finger ring on a shorter shank. A classic handle keeps both rings level. Offset is the most common barber handle in our range, so every pick here is offset. If your trainer cuts with level rings, the classic-handle Jaguar Pre Style Ergo P is the same price as the Relax P.
1. Mina Sakura II set: best first kit
This is the one to buy. You choose the cutter length, 5.0 to 7.0″, and every option comes with the same 6.0″ 30-tooth thinner. Both tools are SUS440C at 58 HRC with right-handed offset handles and the engraved Sakura finish. Take the 6.0″ cutter unless your trainer says otherwise.
Trade-off: the thinner is a 30-tooth blender. You’ll want a 14 to 16-tooth texturiser later for heavy debulking.
2. Mina Sakura II cutter: best single cutter
The same cutter as the set, sold alone. It’s the right buy if your school kit already has a thinner, or if you want a second length: a 7.0″ for over comb beside your 6.0″, or a 5.5″ for detail.
Trade-off: right-handed only.
3. Ichiro Ergo: best for choosing your edge
The Ergo makes you pick an edge with the length. The 5.5″ has a convex slice edge for detail and slide cuts. The 6.0″ has a micro-serrated edge that grips hair for blunt work and scissor over comb. Both are stainless alloy at 56 to 58 HRC with an offset handle.
Trade-off: you can’t get the convex edge at 6.0″. If you want 6.0″ convex, buy the Sakura II.
4. Jaguar Pre Style Relax P: best German-made start
Jaguar is German-made. The Relax P has an offset handle with an angled thumb ring, a removable finger rest and a Vario tension screw you adjust with a coin. Micro-serration on one blade holds hair for crisp blunt lines and controlled over-comb passes.
Trade-off: 5.5 and 6.0″ only. There’s no long Relax P for over comb.
5. Mina Black Diamond set: best for over-comb shops
If your shop does a lot of scissor over comb, start long. This set pairs a 6.0 or 7.0″ flat-bevel cutter with a 6.0″ thinner, both SUS440C at 58 HRC in a black finish. A 7.0″ spans more of the comb per pass.
Trade-off: a 7.0″ is a lot of blade for detail round the ears. You’ll want a 5.5 or 6.0″ beside it soon.
Best over-comb set
Mina Black Diamond Hairdressing Scissor Kit
In stock: 6.0” Cutting & 6.0” Thinning, 7.0” Cutting & 6.0” Thinning
6. Jaguar Pre Style Relax Lefty: best for left-handed apprentices
A true left-handed cutter with mirrored rings and blades, so the cutting line stays in view for your left hand. It has the same micro-serrated blade and Vario screw as the right-handed Relax P, in 5.75″. Add the matching Relax 40 left-handed thinner when you start blending.
Trade-off: one length in stock and nothing longer for over comb.
What else goes in a first kit
Scissors are half the kit. Before your first block, you also want:
- A cutting comb with fine and wide teeth, long enough for scissor over comb.
- A case or pouch so the blades never touch other tools in your bag. The cases and holsters guide compares them.
- Scissor oil and a soft cloth. Wipe, dry and oil the pivot at the end of every day. The care guide has the routine.
Three first-scissor mistakes
- Buying long because it looks pro. A 7.0″ is the right over-comb tool, but it’s hard to place round an ear in your first months. Learn on 6.0″.
- Cutting with a right-handed pair when you’re left-handed. It works badly and teaches a grip you’ll have to unlearn.
- Using your cutter on paper, wire or cotton. It dulls the edge. Keep your scissors for hair only.
The apprentice mistakes post covers grip and tension too.
Which one for you
- First-year apprentice: the Mina Sakura II set with a 6.0″ cutter. Stop there until your trainer asks for more.
- Second-year, cutting fades daily: add a 7.0″ Sakura II cutter or the Black Diamond 7.0″ set for over comb.
- Ready to upgrade: our second scissor guide covers what to add next, and the best barber scissors list has the working-barber picks.
For length, see the size guide. For the full picture on edge, steel and handle, read the complete buying guide. Everything here sits in scissors under $200, and the first professional kit guide covers the case, oil and comb.
Questions
What size scissors should an apprentice barber buy?
6.0″ for your first cutter. It is long enough for scissor over comb on the sides and short enough for detail round the ears. Add a 7.0″ later if your shop does a lot of over-comb work.
Do apprentices need a thinning scissor?
Yes, by the time you're blending fades and taking weight out of thick hair. A set gets you a matching 30-tooth thinner in the same box as your cutter.
Should my first scissors be convex or serrated?
Either works. A micro-serrated edge grips hair, which helps blunt lines and over-comb practice. A convex edge slices and is the edge you'll use on most premium scissors later. The Ichiro Ergo lets you pick one.
Is $200 enough for good barber scissors?
Yes, for a first pair. Every pick here is a full-size professional stainless cutter from a brand we stock. Spend more once you know your length and edge.
Can a left-handed apprentice use right-handed scissors?
Not well. The blades open the wrong way and the top blade hides the cutting line. Buy a true left-handed pair from the start so you don't learn a workaround.