A review is only as trustworthy as the method behind it. Here's exactly how we assess a brand, what our rating means, and the lines we won't cross.
## What the rating means
Many brand profiles carry an **editorial rating out of 5**. It's a single considered judgement from our team, not an average of anonymous user reviews — so treat it as one informed opinion, weighed against the trade-offs we spell out in the review itself. As a rough guide:
- **4.5–5.0** — Exceptional. Best-in-class steel and finishing; the trade-offs are mostly about price.
- **4.0–4.4** — Excellent. A brand we'd happily recommend to the right cutter, with minor caveats.
- **3.5–3.9** — Good. Solid value or a strong fit for a specific use, with clearer compromises.
- **Below 3.5** — Has a role (often budget or niche), but read the caveats closely.
A rating is always paired with *who the brand is for* and *who should look elsewhere*. A 4.0 value brand and a 4.0 elite brand are not the same tool — the number is shorthand, the review is the substance.
## The pillars we weigh
Every assessment references the same five pillars, scored qualitatively with the evidence explained:
- **Materials & manufacturing** — steel grade, hardening method, ride-line quality and disclosed country of manufacture.
- **Edge performance** — how the edge profile suits blunt, point, slide and texturizing techniques.
- **Ergonomics & balance** — handle geometry, weight distribution, tension system and strain reduction.
- **Service & warranty** — sharpening programmes, spare parts, and how clear the warranty is.
- **Value & availability** — price band by region, the authorised-retailer network, and resale.
## Evidence requirements
1. **Primary sources first** — the manufacturer's own specifications and documentation, and authorised-retailer catalogues. Where a figure isn't published, we write "not disclosed" rather than guess.
2. **Independent corroboration** — trade publications, educators or testing where it exists.
3. **Practitioner input** — attributed feedback from stylists and barbers, with context (technique, tenure, region).
4. **Honest uncertainty** — for thinly-documented brands we say so plainly instead of inventing detail.
## Updates and freshness
Specs, prices and line-ups move. Every brand profile shows a **"Last reviewed" date**, and we revisit the most-read pages regularly. If you find something out of date, a quick note via our [contact page](/contact/) is the fastest way to get it fixed.
## Conflict-of-interest policy
We do **not** accept paid placements, sponsored reviews or pay-for-ranking. A brand cannot buy a higher score or a kinder write-up. If a sample is ever supplied for hands-on assessment, the page states who supplied it and on what terms. We don't sell scissors, so we have no stock to favour.
## Pricing, and where to buy
All prices are **indicative bands by region** and change often. We're a review site, not a retailer — confirm the final price, availability and warranty with an authorised retailer before you buy. Every profile links the brand's official site and its authorised sellers.