KARG
KARG is a USA-based scissor brand by Swiss stylist Mike Karg, built around the KARG.DRY.CUT system with operations in New York and Switzerland.
USA
Premium
Est. 2001
Japanese proprietary molybdenum alloyJapanese proprietary cobalt molybdenum vanadium alloy
The bottom line
KARG is a professional hair-scissor brand from USA, founded in 2001, building Japanese proprietary molybdenum alloy, Japanese proprietary cobalt molybdenum vanadium alloy shears in the premium range.
Compare KARG with another brand- Origin
- USA
- Founded
- 2001
- Headquarters
- KARG Inc. 12 West 37th Street, Suite 502 New York, NY 10018
- Steel grades
- Japanese proprietary molybdenum alloy, Japanese proprietary cobalt molybdenum vanadium alloy
- Price tier
- Product range
- Cutting Scissors, Thinning Scissors, Left-Handed Scissors
- Official site
- mikekarg.com
- Last reviewed
- June 2026
Where to buy KARG
What makes KARG unusual among premium shear brands is that the tools come second to a technique. Founded in 2001 by Mike Karg, a New York-born Swiss hairstylist, the brand is built around the KARG.DRY.CUT system, a dry-cutting method Karg developed and teaches. The shears were designed to serve that method rather than the other way round, which is a meaningful distinction if you cut dry. A blade balanced and edged for cutting dry hair behaves differently in the hand from one optimised for wet work, and KARG leans into that specialism rather than trying to be everything to everyone.
The company runs across two continents, with KARG Inc. headquartered on West 37th Street in Manhattan and KARG AG on the Swiss side. That gives it a credible footing in both markets, and it is one of the more education-forward US brands in this directory.
Steel and range
KARG offers cutting, thinning, and left-handed shears, with the left-hand K-Lefty Precision a genuine reverse-blade build. The blades use Japanese proprietary molybdenum and cobalt-molybdenum-vanadium alloys, so this is high-end material rather than a re-badged stock blank. Specialties span the full working repertoire: blunt, slide, point and freehand cutting, face-framing, graduated work and layering, plus thinning at light (10 to 15%) and heavy (40 to 50%) rates. Pricing sits in the premium band, roughly $400 to $800.
Reputation and buying
Karg’s background is platform-artist pedigree: he worked for Wella USA and consulted for Goldwell USA before launching the line, and the brand took the Launchpad Readers Choice Award for Best Shears in 2019 and 2023. The shears are sold through SalonCentric and direct at mikekarg.com.
KARG in the catalogue
A snapshot of KARG models stocked by authorised retailers. Finishes, lengths and steel vary by series — confirm the exact specification before buying.
KARG FAQ
Is KARG a US brand?
Yes. KARG is a USA-based brand founded in 2001 by stylist Mike Karg, with KARG Inc. headquartered in New York and a Swiss arm, KARG AG, on the European side.
What is KARG known for?
KARG is built around the KARG.DRY.CUT system, a dry-cutting method Mike Karg developed, and the shear line is designed around that technique.
Does KARG make left-handed scissors?
Yes. Alongside its cutting and thinning shears, KARG offers left-handed models such as the K-Lefty Precision.
How much do KARG scissors cost?
KARG sits in the premium band, roughly $400 to $800 a pair.
Where can I buy KARG scissors?
KARG scissors are sold through SalonCentric and directly on the brand’s own site at mikekarg.com.
Sources: official KARG website and authorised retailer listings. Last reviewed June 2026.