Aikyo

Aikyo is a Korean-made professional shear line distributed through Nina Inc., and what sets it apart on paper is the alloy mix. The catalogue moves between V10 cobalt, Japanese stainless and Hitachi ATS-314 depending on the model, so you’re choosing not just a size but a steel character. That gives a salon some genuine latitude to match a blade to how hard it works and how often it gets sharpened.

How they cut

The signature builds lean into super-convex geometry with wide offset thumbs, the combination that keeps long stroke and slide work stable without loading the wrist. Listings highlight click-tension pivots and mirror finishes tuned for precision and point cutting. A few representative models:

• SKL (7.0”): V10 cobalt, thumb-adjustable pivot, wide offset for outlining and fringe work.
• SSA (5.5”–7.0”): super-convex V10 cobalt with inner click tension and a bent offset thumb for natural grip transitions.
• AFR (5.5”–6.5”): convex V10 cobalt on anatomic offsets, slim tips, built for everyday blunt cutting.

Buying

Pricing sits in the mid-$300s, with the SSA around US$345 and the SKL near US$349, premium alloys at a reachable price for stylists trading up from entry steel. Nina Inc. covers domestic US shipping and sharpening support; Precision Shears handles international orders. With titanium coatings, left-handed builds and matching thinners on offer, the range works as a modular system, mix sizes and edges while keeping a consistent feel at the pivot. Korean production plus long-standing distributors keeps replenishment and service parts easy to source. The South Korea brands hub lists more makers from the region.