Thinning shears are the other half of a professional cutting set. They remove bulk, soften heavy sections and add movement without changing the outline of the haircut. Tanaka's thinning scissor is KUZURI, a 6.0-inch, 30-tooth Japanese shear with 33% thinning capacity.
A hair cutting scissor has two solid blades and creates a clean line. A thinning scissor has teeth on one blade, so it catches only part of the hair and removes a controlled amount of bulk. Use thinning shears after the shape is established, not as a substitute for a cutting scissor.
KUZURI is built on the same Tanaka platform as the cutting shears: Tamahagane steel, ball-bearing adjustable tension, an engraved serial number and a lifetime warranty. The 30 teeth and 33% thinning capacity make it a controlled finishing tool for stylists and barbers.
Work on clean, dry or evenly damp hair. Take small sections, position the teeth away from the scalp and cut with intention; never force the shear through a tangle. For natural-looking movement, thin inside a section rather than across the surface. If you are learning a new thinning technique, practise on a mannequin first.
Keep the teeth clean and dry, oil the pivot as recommended and have the shear professionally sharpened when it starts to pull. Thinning shears need a specialist sharpener who understands the tooth geometry. Tanaka offers professional scissor sharpening.
Thinning shears remove bulk and add movement without changing the length or outline of the haircut. They have teeth that catch only part of the hair, so the cut blends into the surrounding section.
KUZURI is a 6.0-inch, 30-tooth thinning scissor with 33% thinning capacity. The tooth count and thinning percentage let you control how much hair is removed with each cut.
No. Thinning shears are for removing bulk and softening lines; hair scissors create the shape and clean outline. Professional cutting sets usually include both.