Aichi

Aichi is one of the younger names in this directory, founded in 2015 and run as Aichi International Co., Ltd. out of Busan. It started life with a design-studio sensibility and has kept that DNA: clean aesthetics, a quick release cadence, and an online-first model that sells straight to stylists. Keeping development and fulfilment in-house lets the brand hold retail pricing at a sensible mid-tier rather than the flagship Japanese numbers.

Steel and build

The blades are 440C stainless, a high-carbon stainless that’s a familiar, dependable choice for holding a convex edge. The VX Gold Handle is the brand’s showpiece, hand-polished into a convex profile with a countersunk dial for micro-tension tweaks and a light enough body to carry through a long day. There’s also a seven-inch curved model with mirrored 440C blades and twin finger rests, designed so you can flip orientation mid-cut, the sort of thing that matters for scissor-over-comb and perimeter detailing.

The lineup splits across offset and even handles, so a salon trying to standardise a kit can pull both ergonomic styles from one source. Sizes on the VX run 5.0” to 7.0”.

Buying

Korean buyers go through Aichi’s own web shop. In North America, Bonika Shears handles fulfilment and folds in sharpening, oil and shipping support through its family-run service programme. Pricing sits mid-range, with the VX around US$280 and the curve near US$290. The online-only, bulk-friendly model means stock turns over quickly, which is handy when you’re replacing a workhorse pair rather than waiting on a backorder. For neighbouring makers, see the South Korea brands hub.