Best Black Barber Scissors: Entry to ATS314 Cobalt
Quick answer
Choose the edge, steel, handle and length first and the black finish second, because black is a colour over the same steels as silver. The Mina Black Diamond and Ash Black are the entry picks, Ichiro Tsuki and Juntetsu Matte Black the VG10 picks, and Juntetsu Black Cobalt the ATS314 pick on a classic handle.
Top picks
VG10 sword blade
Ichiro Premium Series: Tsuki VG10 Black Hair Cutting Scissors
60-62 HRC, offset, 5.5 to 7.0″
Black scissors are silver scissors with a dark finish, so the finish should be the last thing you choose. This list runs from the entry end to ATS314 cobalt, and each entry names what sits under the black: the edge, the steel, the handle and the length.
How we picked: the black cutters we sell, cut to eight by tier and edge first, then steel, handle and length, with matched sets at the end. Specs come from the product files, not hands-on testing. Specs checked against the product files on 4 November 2026. BarberScissors sells every model here, so the links go to our store. Who runs this store, and the other ShearAlliance members, is on the ShearAlliance page; how we write our guides is on the reviews and content page.
Black cutters at a glance
Scroll sideways to compare all columns.
| Model | Best for | Lengths | Edge, steel, handle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mina Black Diamond | Entry, flat bevel | 5.5, 6.0, 7.0″ | Flat bevel, SUS440C 58 HRC, offset |
| Mina Ash Black | Entry, convex | 5.5, 6.0″ | Convex, SUS440C 58 HRC, offset |
| Ichiro Tsuki | VG10 sword blade | 5.5 to 7.0″ | Sword, VG10 60 to 62 HRC, offset |
| Juntetsu Matte Black Offset | VG10 range of sizes | 5.0 to 7.0″ | 3D Ultra edge, VG10 60 to 62 HRC, offset |
| Juntetsu Night | VG10 convex | 5.25, 5.75, 6.75″ | Convex, VG10 60 to 62 HRC, offset |
| Juntetsu VG Black | VG10, level rings | 5.5, 6.0″ | VG10 60 to 61 HRC, classic |
| Juntetsu Black Cobalt | ATS314 cobalt | 5.0 to 6.0″ | ATS314 62 to 63 HRC, classic |
| Jaguar Pastell Plus Black Lava | German-made, 5.5″ | 5.5″ | Stainless chromium, offset ergonomic |
Same tool, different finish
A black shear cuts like the steel and edge underneath it. Two black cutters can have different edges and handles, so compare those fields first, then the colour. The finish guide explains coatings, and the steel guide explains the grades.
Length is whole-shear length. The size guide shows each size to scale.
1. Mina Black Diamond: the flat-bevel black entry
SUS440C at 58 HRC with a flat bevel edge and an offset handle, in 5.5, 6.0 and 7.0″. The flat edge holds the hair for blunt lines and scissor-over-comb, and Mina sells the cutter alone or as a kit with a thinner.
Trade-off: a bevel edge grips rather than slides, so it is not the pick for slide cutting. Right-handed only.
2. Mina Ash Black: the convex black entry
SUS440C at 58 HRC with a convex edge and an offset handle, in 5.5 or 6.0″. The black coating is a finish on the tool, not part of the edge. The convex edge supports clean cutting and light slide work.
Trade-off: 6.0″ is the longest size, so it is not an over-comb cutter. Right-handed only.
3. Ichiro Tsuki: VG10 sword blade in black
VG10 at 60 to 62 HRC with a sword blade and an offset handle, in 5.5, 6.0, 6.5 and 7.0″. It is the black option to compare when you want the Ichiro handle and a sword profile.
Trade-off: the step up from the Mina entries is steel and blade shape, not the finish. If the 6.0″ is your length, compare it with entry 4.
4. Juntetsu Matte Black Offset: five sizes in VG10
Takefu VG10 at 60 to 62 HRC with a 3D Ultra edge and an offset handle, from 5.0 to 7.0″. A full length ladder in one model means you can buy 5.0 or 5.5″ for detail and 6.0 or 7.0″ for general sections without changing handle.
Trade-off: it is the premium tier, so the Mina entries cover the same job in softer steel.
5. Juntetsu Night: VG10 convex in odd sizes
A right-handed VG10 convex shear at 60 to 62 HRC with a black coating and a 3D offset handle, in 5.25, 5.75 and 6.75″. The sizes sit between the usual 5.5, 6.0 and 7.0″ steps.
Trade-off: measure against the pair you cut with now, because a 5.75″ is not a 6.0″.
6. Juntetsu VG Black: VG10 on level rings
A matte black VG10 cutter at 60 to 61 HRC on a classic handle with even rings, in 5.5 or 6.0″. Choose it if you already cut on level rings and want VG10.
Trade-off: classic handle only. If you cut offset, entry 4 is the Juntetsu to compare.
7. Juntetsu Black Cobalt: ATS314 on a classic handle
A matte black ATS314 cobalt cutter at 62 to 63 HRC on a classic handle, in 5.0, 5.5 or 6.0″. It is the top steel tier in black here, for barbers who want Juntetsu’s ATS314 on level rings.
Trade-off: it stops at 6.0″, so it is a detail and daily cutter rather than a long one.
8. Jaguar Pastell Plus Black Lava: German-made, one size
Jaguar is German-made. The Black Lava is the offset Pastell Plus cutter in ice-hardened chromium steel under a black lava coating, in one 5.5″ size.
Trade-off: one length and a stainless chromium steel, so it is a short detail cutter, not a premium upgrade.
German-made, 5.5″
9. Black sets: a matched cutter and thinner
If the thinner should match the cutter, buy the pair as a set. The Mina Ash Black set pairs a 5.5 or 6.0″ convex cutter with a 6.0″ thinner in matching black offset handles. The Juntetsu Night set pairs a VG10 convex cutter with a 6.0″ 30-tooth thinner.
Trade-off: a set fixes the thinner. Check its tooth count against the work before you buy.
Entry black set
Mina Ash Black Hairdressing Scissor Set
In stock: 5.5” Cutting & 6.0” Thinning, 6.0” Cutting & 6.0” Thinning
Look after the coating
Wipe after each client, dry before the shear goes in the case and oil the pivot at the end of the day. Keep abrasive pads and harsh solvents off the finish. The coating wears at the rings and the pivot over time, and a sharpen brings back bright steel along the edge. That is cosmetic; the cut is the steel.
The maintenance guide covers the routine, and the sharpening guide lists what to tell a service about a coated shear.
What would change this list
If your sections are long and flat, you need the reach of a 6.5 or 7.0″, so entries 1, 3 and 4 come first. If you cut on level rings, entries 6 and 7 are the only classic handles here. If you want a left-handed black shear, the left-handed guide shows how to check the hand.
Pick by career stage
- Apprentice: the Mina Black Diamond or Ash Black, once your trainer has told you your length and handle.
- Working barber: the Juntetsu Matte Black Offset, for VG10 across a full size range.
- Upgrade: the Juntetsu Black Cobalt on level rings, or the Ichiro Tsuki for a sword blade.
Browse every black cutter in black shears, compare other finishes in the finish guide or start from the complete buying guide.
Finish, steel and care explainers are collected in the knowledge base.
Questions
Does a black finish change how scissors cut?
No. The cut comes from the steel, edge and blade profile under the finish. Compare those fields on the product page the same way you would on a plain steel shear.
Will the black coating wear off?
At contact points, over time, yes. The rings and pivot area see the most wear, and sharpening exposes bright steel along the edge. That is normal on any coated shear and does not change the cut.
How do I clean black scissors?
Wipe with a soft dry cloth after each client and oil the pivot at the end of the day. Skip abrasive pads and harsh solvents on the coating, and follow the maker's instructions for the exact model.
What is the cheapest black barber scissor here?
The Mina Black Diamond, an offset SUS440C cutter with a flat bevel edge. The Mina Ash Black is the entry-level convex option. Both are right-handed and sit in the entry tier.