Elite Classic

Elite Classic is the house shear brand of Nina Inc., a beauty-supply distributor that’s worked the salon trade out of Newark, Delaware for more than 30 years. That matters for how you read the line: it isn’t a standalone maker chasing brand cachet, it’s a distributor’s own range, sold through a single channel by a company that’s been answering the phone for the trade for decades. The upside is straightforward after-sales support from one place.

The convex range

Every model in the line carries a convex edge, the smooth-slicing geometry stylists want for slide and detail work, across both cutting and thinning shears. The catalogue is built around short model codes rather than poetic names: the EQ is an offset convex pair, the EC70 a 7-inch cutting shear, the ER an offset with a wide thumb ring, and the EZ a standard offset, with the ET30 and ERT handling thinning duties.

Where the range gets a little more showy is the finishes. Several models add titanium coatings, black on the EGB and purple on the GSP85, and the line includes dragon-sculptured handle work for stylists who want some character at the chair. Handle styles vary across offset, wide-thumb, and ergonomic layouts, and there’s a dedicated left-handed model in the mix too. Pricing sits in the mid-range band, roughly $200 to $400, which is fair for hand-finished convex blades.

Where to buy

Elite Classic is sold exclusively through Nina Inc. at ninainc.com. The same distributor also carries names like Tara, Yoko, Yasaka, and Yuroshi, so if you’re already buying from that catalogue it slots in easily. For comparison with other convex-edge options, the wider brands directory is the place to look.