alpha
Alpha is a Japanese scissor brand founded in 2006 in Tokyo, offering cutting and thinning shears with in-person showroom trials across Japan.
Japan
Mid-range
Est. 2006
SG2
The bottom line
alpha is a professional hair-scissor brand from Japan, founded in 2006, building SG2 shears in the mid-range tier.
Compare alpha with another brand- Origin
- Japan
- Founded
- 2006
- Headquarters
- 4F Tanno Building, 1-1-5 Kichijoji Minami-cho, Musashino City, Tokyo
- Steel grades
- SG2
- Price tier
- Product range
- Cutting Scissors, Thinning Scissors, Left-Handed Scissors
- Official site
- alpha-scissors.jp
- Last reviewed
- June 2026
Where to buy alpha
Alpha is a Tokyo maker, founded in January 2006 and trading as Alpha Scissor Co., Ltd. from Kichijoji in Musashino City. It’s a focused operation that produces its own in-house line for hairstylists and barbers, and the thing that genuinely distinguishes it is the buying experience rather than the spec sheet: Alpha runs showrooms where you can try the shears in hand before you commit.
Steel and cutting
The blades are made in SG2, a powder-metallurgy steel that runs through the brand’s high-grade, basic and thinning lines. Powder steels like SG2 are prized for a fine, even grain that takes a keen edge and holds it, which suits the precise work Alpha builds around: volume control, slide and stroke cutting, blunt cutting and texture control. The range covers cutters, thinners and left-handed models.
The try-before-you-buy model
Most shear brands ask you to buy on faith or a return policy. Alpha instead maintains showrooms across Japan, in Tokyo near Kichijoji Station, plus Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, Omiya and Fukuoka, where stylists can book an appointment and test the tools. It’s an unusually hands-on approach for a category where weight, balance and pivot feel are so personal, and it’s the brand’s real selling point. Locations open weekdays and need a reservation.
Pricing sits in the mid-range band for Japanese professional shears, and the full lineup is also sold through the official site. The Japan brands hub collects more makers from the country.
alpha FAQ
Is alpha a Japanese scissor brand?
Yes. alpha is a Japan-based maker founded in January 2006 and based in Kichijoji, Musashino City, Tokyo, trading as Alpha Scissor Co., Ltd.
What does alpha make?
The lineup covers cutting scissors and thinning shears, with left-handed models available. The brand is built around volume control, slide and stroke cutting, and texture work.
What steel does alpha use?
alpha builds its shears in SG2, a powder-metallurgy steel used across its high-grade, basic, and thinning model lines.
How much do alpha scissors cost?
Most models fall in the mid-range band, in line with professional Japanese shears.
Where can I try or buy alpha scissors?
alpha sells its full lineup through its official site, and runs showrooms in Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, Omiya, and Fukuoka where you can try shears by appointment before buying.
Sources: official alpha website and authorised retailer listings. Last reviewed June 2026.