Best Barber Scissors for Fades (Australia)
Quick answer
For fades, buy a 6.5 to 7.0″ cutter for scissor over comb, not a 5.5″ detailer. The Ichiro Offset at 6.5″ is the best all-rounder, the Juntetsu Master Flow 7.0″ is the VG10 upgrade, and the Mina Sakura II 7.0″ is the budget pick. Blend the line with a 40-plus-tooth thinner like the Jaguar Relax 43.
Top picks
Best VG10 long cutter
Juntetsu Master Flow Professional Hair Cutting Scissors
6.5 or 7.0″, 62 to 63 HRC
The scissor’s job in a fade is scissor over comb: blending the top of the fade into the length and cutting the sides and back where the clipper stops. That wants length. Buy a 6.5 to 7.0″ cutter first, then a blender to soften the line. A 5.5″ detail scissor is the second tool, not the first.
How we ranked: job first (over comb, then blending), then length, edge and steel, then price. Specs come from the product files. For technique, see scissors in a fade.
Length first: 6.5 to 7.0″ for scissor over comb
A longer blade spans more of the comb, so each pass covers a wider strip on the sides and back. A common fade kit is a 6.5 or 7.0″ for over-comb work plus a 5.5 or 6.0″ for outlines and detail round the ears.
- 6.5″: the all-rounder. Long enough for over comb, short enough to do the top.
- 7.0″: the specialist. Widest pass per stroke, best for barbers doing fades all day.
- 6.0″ micro-serrated: a gripping edge holds hair still off the comb, a good learning tool.
Fade picks at a glance
Scroll sideways to compare all columns.
| Model | Lengths | Handle | Edge and steel | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ichiro Offset | 6.5″ or 7.0″ (from 5.0″) | Offset | Sword profile, 440C 58 to 60 HRC | All-round fades |
| Juntetsu Master Flow | 6.5″ or 7.0″ | Offset | Sword profile, VG10 62 to 63 HRC | VG10 upgrade |
| Mina Sakura II | 6.5″ or 7.0″ (from 5.0″) | Offset | Convex, SUS440C 58 HRC | Budget long cutter |
| Ichiro Ergo | 6.0″ micro-serrated | Offset | Stainless alloy, 56 to 58 HRC | Gripping edge |
| Yasaka SK Long | 7.0″ | Offset | Clam convex, ATS314 cobalt | Premium long cutter |
| Jaguar Silver Line CJ4 Plus | 6.5″ or 7.0″ | Offset | Semi-convex, molybdenum steel | German long cutter |
| Jaguar Pre Style Relax 43 | 6.0″, 43 teeth | Offset | Chromium stainless | Blending the line |
1. Ichiro Offset 6.5″: best all-round fade cutter
A sword-profile cutter in 440C at 58 to 60 HRC with a right-handed offset handle. The sword profile keeps the cutting line in view as you work off the comb. Every length from 5.0 to 7.0″ is on the shelf, so you can buy the 6.5″ now and a 5.5″ for detail later in the same model.
Trade-off: 440C, not VG10. The Master Flow is the step up in steel.
2. Juntetsu Master Flow: best VG10 long cutter
VG10 at 62 to 63 HRC with a sword profile and an offset handle, in 6.5 or 7.0″. Juntetsu takes weight out of the blade body on this model while keeping the sword profile. Buy the 7.0″ if you cut fades all day.
Trade-off: no short option in stock, so it won’t double as your detail scissor.
Best VG10 long cutter
Juntetsu Master Flow Professional Hair Cutting Scissors
In stock: 6.0″, 6.5″, 7.0″
3. Mina Sakura II 7.0″: best budget long cutter
The Sakura II at 7.0″ is the cheapest way into a long over-comb cutter with a convex edge. It’s SUS440C at 58 HRC with an offset handle, and you can add the 5.5″ in the same model for detail.
Trade-off: 58 HRC is softer steel than the VG10 picks at 62 HRC and up.
4. Ichiro Ergo 6.0″: best micro-serrated grip
The 6.0″ Ergo has a micro-serrated edge that grips hair, so it doesn’t slide along the blade when you cut off the comb. That makes it a forgiving tool for barbers still building their over-comb speed. Stainless alloy at 56 to 58 HRC, offset handle.
Trade-off: 6.0″ is the short end for over comb, and a serrated edge isn’t made for slide cutting.
5. Yasaka SK Long 7.0″: best premium long cutter
Yasaka’s long cutter in ATS314 cobalt steel with a clam-shaped convex edge and an offset handle that lowers the thumb ring. The 7.0″ is built for heavy over-comb days and long, straight sections.
Trade-off: one length in stock. Keep a shorter Yasaka or your current 6.0″ for detail.
6. Jaguar Silver Line CJ4 Plus: best German long cutter
Jaguar is German-made. The CJ4 Plus has a semi-convex molybdenum blade, ice-hardened and hollow ground for slice work, with a removable finger rest and a Smart Spin tension screw. The 6.5 and 7.0″ versions are the over-comb sizes.
Trade-off: costs more than the Ichiro and Mina for the same lengths.
7. Jaguar Pre Style Relax 43: best fade blender
A 6.0″ thinner with 43 micro-serrated teeth and an offset handle. Forty-three teeth gives a fine blend, so it softens the join between clipper and scissor work a little at a time.
Trade-off: slow for debulking thick hair. Use a 16-tooth texturiser for that.
Best fade blender
Jaguar Pre Style Relax Hair Thinning Scissors
In stock: 6.0 (43 Teeth - Satin Finish)
Which one for you
- Apprentice: the Mina Sakura II at 7.0″, or the Ichiro Ergo 6.0″ if you want a gripping edge while you learn.
- Working barber: the Ichiro Offset at 6.5″ plus the Relax 43 thinner.
- Upgrade: the Juntetsu Master Flow or Yasaka SK Long at 7.0″.
For more long cutters, see the scissor over comb list. For thinners, see the thinning shears list. Browse 7.0″ scissors and 6.5″ scissors, and read the complete buying guide for edge, steel and handle.
For the comb to cut over, see the best cutting combs; for the short pair that finishes ears and necklines, see the short cutters list.
For the technique behind the picks, read the ten fade-blending tips.
Questions
What length scissors are best for fades?
6.5 to 7.0″. The scissors do the scissor over comb above the clipper line, and a longer blade spans more of the comb per pass. Keep a 5.5 or 6.0″ for outline and detail.
Do I need scissors for a skin fade?
For the clipper section, no. You'll still use scissors over comb to blend the top of the fade into the length, to tidy the top and for detail round the ears.
Convex or serrated for scissor over comb?
Both work. A micro-serrated edge grips hair, so it holds still as you cut off the comb. A convex edge slices and is the better all-rounder if the same scissor also does slide cutting and point cutting on top.
What thinning scissor should I use on a fade?
A blender with 30 to 46 teeth. It softens the join between the clipper line and the scissor work without taking too much. The Jaguar Relax 43 is a fine blender; a 30-tooth tool is slightly stronger.
Offset or classic handle for fades?
Either. Offset drops the thumb ring and suits most barbers. Some barbers prefer level classic rings for scissor over comb; the Jaguar Silver Ice is a long classic option.