A SHOPPING GUIDE: CHOOSING
SALON SHEARS
-see the full collection with specs & prices for every model-
-click here to make an appointment for a custom fitting-
Roger Walco, shear expert
master sharpener in
the Japanese tradition
Where can I buy a professional grade salon shear in Austin?
Shear Emporium is 5 minutes North of downtown Austin. It's the only place in Austin where you can hold the full line of top shelf shears, cut with a pair for a day before deciding, and be fitted by a shear expert with 15 years at the bench. Roger is high-integrity and a craftsman & artist himself - just like you. He is a true authority on hand-tools and will make sure that the shear you hold is something you truly love.
Fittings are by appointment. Book by phone at 512.298.2449. We are located at 3006 Funston Street. Roger has 30 years’ experience as a blacksmith, craftsman, Japanese trained sharpener, and shear ergonomics expert. You will get some of the best stylist scissors you've ever cut with, you’ll be working with a trusted & caring salon-business professional, and you will get them at hair show prices.
What Shears do you carry?
For stylists, we carry the full line of Above Shears, one of the top-trusted manufacturers in the entire industry: Point-cutting, wet & dry, & detail scissors, dry cutting shears, texturizing shears, swivels, and left-handed - in a range of lengths & ergonomic grips, and in both a high and an ultra-high-end grade of steel and components. We also carry high-end barber shears and pet grooming shears. 100% Japanese Takefu Steel, ball-bearings, and the finest components and craftsmanship.
For tailors and textile artists, we carry the entire line of KAI scissors – incredible shears with sharpness and steel quality that most Americans have never seen. All at an amazing price. KAI is a 108-year-old Japanese firm based in Seki City - the same company that manufactures Shun knives and Kasho hair scissors – Handmade in Japan with spectacular quality.
Pricing
Handcrafted Ergo Series- $389
Handcrafted Masterwork Shears- $650
Grooming Shears- from $150
Masterwork Tailor Shears- from $30
What Shear Brands do you work on?
Mizutani, Hikari, Kamisori, Above, Sam Villa, Nic, Paul Mitchell, Sharkfin, Washi, Olivia, Kenchii, Centrix, Joewell, Fromm, Jaguar, Hanzo, Kai - not to mention numerous handmade Japanese & German makers, even the antique stuff. Our work passes all major manufacturers' warranty inspections. Roger is trained in the factory waterstone & flat-hone method for Japanese shears and has extensive hands-on experience as a Japanese blacksmith to back it up. However, we carry just a few select brand lineups as in-house inventory.
Do you offer test-drives?….
Can I try them first?
Yes. Working stylists can borrow a pair and cut with them for a full day, free, with no obligation. Roger won't sell a shear to anyone who doesn't truly feel them as an extension of their own cutting style. In our many years’ experience, you will love them so much - you probably won’t want to give them back.
Do you have the latest models?
Yes, we do. Higher end salon scissors are a continuously evolving set of tools, and we keep a wide array of blade and ergonomic handles in stock. Plus, Roger loves getting feedback on industry trends from his experienced stylists. As such, you are welcome to try the latest shear models whenever we’re working on yours - or even ask to borrow a shear just to test-drive the newest dry cutter or double-sided texturizer. We even have a Barber who does an incredible and speedy cut using only a gigantic and aggressive, dog-grooming texturizer!
Can I take them home the same day?
Yes. We keep a full inventory of our favourite shear models in stock. We’ll typically have your size but can also place special factory orders as needed. All of our shears come in the classic polished stainless, but many can also be had with an ultra-hard glossy black finish. This isn’t the “paint” used on cheap shears; it is a 3-times harder than steel Titanium Nitride coating - absolutely stunning and highly functional.
I’m interested-How do we get started?
We favor the personal touch. Call us to make an appointment, then come in for a fitting. We're open Monday through Friday, 11-6, by appointment. Call 512.298.2449, and we'll find you a time.
You can also invite Roger to your salon. He’ll bring his scissor collection for you and staff to test-drive. We carry only the finest shears, and they feel amazing in hand. No one ever wants to give them back! Tune-ups & adjustments are free on the house - and sometimes a poorly cutting shear is still moderately sharp but bending or pushing due to a worn-out adjuster. Just ask Roger to take a look whenever “the Doctor is in,” and he’ll work some magic for you. You can even have him come out just to do after hours education or teach your staff how to do maintenance & adjustments. Everyone gets a free English Bridle Leather shear strop!
What happens at a Fitting?
Roger picks your brain about your cutting style and what you are looking for, your needs, past experiences. He’ll suggest a few shears & ergonomic types; you test-cut with several pairs. Roger fits the shear to your hand, ergonomic feel, and your cutting style. It takes as long as it takes. You are then welcome to purchase that shear – or take it to work the next day for a live-trial on your clientele. Just bring it back, zero pressure or expectations, if it is not quite right.
Sometimes a stylist will want to compare a swivel to a conventional shear or a dry-cutter to their usual. All of that is fine-we love it! Roger also runs educational evenings at your salon or his studio: Shear maintenance, choosing the right shear & brand, how to choose a sharpener. Book by phone.
Your shear prices are a fantastic deal when compared to the big brands. Is the quality as good?
Better than good, honestly - surpassing many big names in both materials and craftsmanship. Everything we carry has to pass Roger’s test as the highest quality in the business. We just happen to know the factory and get exceptional prices, which we pass on directly to you.
The reality is that almost every brand of hair shear is made at the same handful of factories. Most big brands have to put their energy into expensive ad-campaigns, sales reps, designer packaging – they have to charge for those costs too. Hair is a fashion industry and, while we -all love- designer-looking gear, it can get very costly just for the name.
A few shear manufacturers take a higher path, putting their energy into the most refined ergonomics and consistently finest grades of steel and components. These are quiet & trusted factories with the most experienced Craftsman in the industry. Many of the best Japanese makers barely have a web-presence. Our team is very proud of their fine work - and it shows in the product and how it behaves in your hand.
Roger favors this almost “Trader Joes” approach, with all the energy and money going into quality & craftsmanship over brand flash. He’s stayed loyal to his factories because he truly trusts them (rare these days!). At Shear Emporium, you will see hair-show pricing, every day- but you’ll also see much higher quality than what show or big-brand pricing usually buys.
The value goes into the blade instead of brand marketing and rep commissions. We also feature hefty promo codes & discounts. And have special deals and discounts for our affiliates when they help promote our brand. Shout if interested.
What kind of steel is used?
Our shears are always 100% Japanese steel; typically favoring special, exotic forged alloys for the sharpest, longest- lasting edges. Here’s something that is often overlooked or even covered up with branding and clever features and why Roger puts steel first, tooling & ergonomics a close second, and (as much as he -also loves- stylish design) cool factor last:
Steel is what powers your scissors. It is the difference between a razor-like cutting feel every time you touch it to hair and a meh-feeling. Impure or cast steel makes for a pair of scissors that are easily damaged and dull quickly, demanding frequent sharpenings and thus replacement with an expensive new pair. But more importantly, a pair of mediocre scissors that never let you do your best work. We all know that Japan makes the purest, highest quality steel. It’s not just marketing; it is really true - I feel it every time I sharpen a quality scissor or an expensive sushi knife.
Sometimes we see really expensive scissors, nicely shaped but made of a really low-quality steel. It is impossible to spot this by simply looking at the scissor. Steel needs to be super pure, which is why we favor the Japanese foundries. One also needs to be able to trust his or her manufacturer to not swap out to a lower grade after that scissor model becomes popular.
Not very well known, but it is the purity and treatment of steel that determines the keenness of the cutting edge which in turn means much better haircuts and a razor-like sense of control in your hand, literally gliding through hair. And a longer lasting level of sharpness. Fewer sharpenings means that shear will last a lifetime, when properly cared for.
Roger’s Approach
Roger comes from a long family line of eastern European craftsmen himself – and studied under some of the best. As an MIT graduate with a long science & metallurgy background and industrial design / ergonomics studies after that, he’s both a huge nerd -and- an artist when it comes to the best-crafted hand tools out there.
And as hand-tool furniture-maker and leather worker himself; Roger’s chisels, wood planes, and cutters are his lifeblood - on par with a stylist holding his or her favourite shear. These kinds of tools have to be sharpened quite often, sometimes every month. And, over the years, this has turned into his unique approach to seeing shears as both a scientifically, mechanically superb instrument and as an artisanal thing of usable beauty in motion. An expression that is a bit more like a Harry Potter wand or Japanese Sushi knife.
Do you come to salons?
Yes. Roger brings his kit to salons, barbershops, and schools — free adjustments for the whole crew, and anyone can borrow shears to cut with while he's there. He also runs educational evenings on shear maintenance, buying practices, and knowing how to vet & choose a properly trained sharpener, at his shop or yours.
Book by phone. For shear Sharpening services, see our Sharpening page.
Hats off and a big thanks to his own teachers & mentors, Jason Pintel, Debra Finck, and Martin Kruse for passing down these old-school yet ever evolving methods.
Roger is super active teaching workshops and doing one-on-one coaching. Topics include: salon shear sharpening, japanese style waterstone sharpening for chef knives, woodworking tool / tailor shear / garden sharpening.
Each of his customers receive a ton of education on many vital topics: maintenance, adjusting, stropping for sharpness, shopping wisely.
I am interested in Learning the Japanese Art of Waterstone Sharpening & Shear Restoration. Do you offer classes?
Social & Educational - Monthly Salon
For Salons, Stylists, and Barbers, Roger runs a monthly event, Scissors & Steel, featuring platform cutting demos with the latest shears, free shear trials - and, of course, plenty of great Italian wine, charcuterie, and of social time to mix it up with other professionals. Call for info.
BOOK A CUSTOM SHEAR FITTING
-Austin’s Top Salon Shear Expert-
Roger Walco
From Our Customers
“I have purchased two pair of Shear Emporium’s Dry-Cutting shears, and I -love them-!! Super sharp and glide through the hair. Roger is so knowledgeable and truly has a passion for his work.
After many failed attempts with other shear sharpeners, our salon finally found our guy! Very happy customer!”
— Denise Peatross, Breeze Salon & Day Spa
“Roger is the best there is. After years of sloppy work from sharpeners that didn’t have his skill level, Roger fixed my shears. I haven’t needed them sharpened since!
I trust him with my favorite Sam Villa shears. He even fixed my 40-year-old, German-made thinners that had become unusable due to rust buildup. He is a true professional.”
— Lynn D. Hammond, Redken Artist
“I’m very picky about my shears and who sharpens them. I have never gotten service outside of the manufacture, but now it’s quite cumbersome to send my shears to them. Being new to Austin from Los Angles, I was desperate and afraid to let just Anybody service my prized work tool. My expectations were exceeded, and I’m so happy to have found my new trusted source to sharpen my scissors. Customer service was very personable, and now I’m enjoying my shears more than ever. This by far is the best in Austin.”
— Jasmin Todd, stylist
“Roger has a team that he personally vets. His work is impeccable, and he is a true artist and perfectionist. Shear Emporium sharpened two of my stylist scissors that turned out amazing.
They also sharpen knives and hold sharpening classes which I found informative and fun.”
— Lori Lozano, Proud People Barber Botanica
“Love the work Roger does with my shears! Sam Villa shears are a special type of shear, and I need a crafted hand to get them just right. They stay so sharp, even after months of use. His sharpening price is bit up there, but it is -so- worth it. After hearing many horror stories from coworkers and friends about stop & shop sharpeners ruining their favorite shears, I’ve only trusted Roger with my shears.”
— Bethany Gatrell, stylist & barber
“I'm a dog groomer from Washington, and I usually get my shears sharpened almost every month by mobile sharpeners. NEVER AGAIN!!! After talking to Roger and hearing just how passionate and knowledgeable he is, I decided to try him out. That was 5 months ago, & my shears are still sharp! My grooms look better, I don't take as long, and I've already saved money since I haven't needed to sharpen them for 5 MONTHS. Roger is awesome, look no further.”