I like the IIBOR technology and the designs are very cool, but what is an Orthotic shear?

ANSWER: Orthotic shears are shears designed to aid in preventing Repetitive Motion Injuries (such as Carpel Tunnel Syndrome), which all standard shears cause.  IIBOR, in conjunction with Kagawa, has developed a line of shears that are truly Orthotic. These shears are designed to not cause RMI’s, and have many other technological benefits. To see a full listing of those benefits please see our Shear Technology page.

I have been out of work for 4 months, due to severe Carpel Tunnel Syndrome, money is short, so I can’t risk a new shear if it’s not going to help. What do I do?

ANSWER: First, we are sorry to here you are suffering and out of work.  This is the very reason IIBOR Orthotic shears were designed. It took the IIBOR team years to perfect the designs and technologies necessary to help your profession. So, order your Kagawa IIBOR shears, and have confidence they will serve you well. Return them if they don’t work for you, but it is likely they will. When you call to discuss your order, the Kagawa IIBOR Specialists will help identify the style that is best suited to your condition. The entire Kagawa IIBOR team is delighted to bring these solutions to your pain and discomfort. We hear this story everyday, and everyday we hear praises about how they help those suffering like you are. 

If your shears don’t work for me can I return them?

ANSWER: It’s true that people are different, and what works for one may not for another. If you are referring to our Orthotic styles you do need to retrain yourself because they are designed to correct the unhealthy results delivered by today’s shears. If you are referring to our ergonomic and standard series shears, they will perform like the ones you are use to but with significantly more comfort and control. The technology found in all of our shears is the same, so beyond the feel, you are getting a shear that has the most advanced technology available built in and our shears have the Cryo425 cutting edges that are certified to eliminate all damage to the hair.

Your Orthotic shears look more like modern art than shears, what’s up?

ANSWER: They are radical, but functional.  We thought the same thing the first time the IIBOR researchers presented them, but you can’t argue with success.  Your observation is in fact correct; we are currently sending some of the IIBOR Class A Orthotics to two museums for display … cool!

Beyond the different styles is there any difference in technology between Class A, Class B, Ergonomic & Standard styles?

ANSWER: No, in fact they are exactly the same.  They are manufactured by the same robots and lasers, they are fabricated from the same sheet of certified virgin SCV Surgical Stainless Steel.  The heat treating and cryo quenching are also equal as is the tempering process. 

Before I was a stylist I worked in a steel fabrication plant.  I am familiar with the different technologies of casting, forging and stock removal (billet manufacturing).  It would seem the cost to make shears the stock removal way would be prohibitively expensive, so how is it you can make your shears to size.

ANSWER: You are clearly knowledgeable and perceptive, but you can’t discount the advances in laser and robotic technology. Our shears are more costly to make, the steel is over 400% higher than the next best shear steel and the cost to launch a new shear company is not cheep.  Those issues aside, we have succeeded in bringing to market the most advanced shear designs and technologies ever seen and we are doing it with a business model that will rock the industry to its foundation, direct from manufacturer to customer. We are also working on the fluids portion of the industry as well, so you can expect to see a new generation of nano technology color, shampoo & conditioner in the near future.  Stay tuned, we are well funded, and the list of innovative manufacturers who want to go direct to the market is high.

I purchased my shear, which is made from Japanese Hitachi Stainless Steel, last year.  Eight months ago the two stylists next to me purchased IIBOR’s, which are made from SCV.  I have always been told the Japanese steel is the best, but the IIBOR’s are outperforming mine, why?

ANSWER: At one time it may have been the best, but as time goes on technology advances. Today, SCV is the most advanced steel you can buy. In fact, it is so advanced it is restricted to those companies manufacturing surgical instruments and military weapons, like we do. We asked for an allotment to make Orthotic shears and got it, so we are now approved to manufacture up to 500,000 certified virgin SCV surgical stainless steel shears. When you purchase your next shear keep Kagawa in mind, we want your business and will work hard to earn it.

I keep looking for you at tradeshows, why aren’t you there?

ANSWER: Our business model, internet direct, does not currently allow us to attend tradeshows. When we sampled the industry, the conclusion was; more stylists felt a lower price was preferred to an expensive tradeshow booth. Tradeshow are expensive, a small booth can cost over $20,000 and many exceed $100,000 add that to the cost of displays that go into the booth and the cost are excessive. If we priced that cost into our shears, like our competitors do, you would be paying over $80 more per shear, so we decided to give that savings back to our customers. 

There seems to be a lot of shears on the market that look almost identical, why?

ANSWER: It turns out there are only a hand full of shear manufacturers in the world, and most have no web site or connection to the customer. Their shears are sold by companies focused on sales and marketing, a practice known as "Brand Labeling". The marketer purchases a quantity of shears from the manufacturer, and for that the manufacturer gives the marketer a lower price and puts their name on it. The marketer then increases the price, advertises & hopes to sell their product. Currently, the Asian manufacturers are wholesaling shears for around $80, and the marketers are selling them for over $300. Most stylists we talk to feel this is outrageous. At Kagawa we manufacture every shear we sell, we charge a fair margin for our shears, and we sleep great. Thanks for your question.

The guy who sharpens our shears said all shears must have bumpers; it is how the blade tips are adjusted, is that right?

ANSWER: Actually, it is – for traditional shear designs. IIBOR engineers developed a new technology, ShortCORE, which eliminates the troublesome bumpers and allows the blade tips to be precisely adjusted. This technology also makes blade pressure adjustments a thing of the past and it works equally well for both left and right hand users. Just think, you never have to deal with losing the bumper again, or adjusting your blades.

One of the stylists in our salon recently purchased IIBOR’s.  She received a cool station stand with them that eliminated putting them on a flat surface.  Can we purchase them?

ANSWER: They are sold through our Accessories Section on the Kagawashears.com web site. The stand is designed so you can engage and disengage your hand easily.  Putting your shears on a flat surface contributes to the development of RMI. Our station stand comes with all Kagawa IIBOR Class A & B Orthotic Shear, but can also be purchased separately.

The two stylists in our salon who have purchased IIBOR’s have had them for over 11 months, and they are still sharp, why?

ANSWER: Typically, our shears will remain sharp for over 3 times longer and the Cryo425 cutting edges are certified to eliminate all damage to the hair. The reasons behind why their shears are still sharp are complicated but they include the SCV steel, DHMS Sharpening Technology, LanceMARK Blades and Cryo425 cutting edges.  DHMS can be used on any shears, and it will extend the period between sharpening by many months.  We invite stylists to send their  standard shears to us for DHMS servicing, but for the full benefit you will want to purchase Kagawa IIBOR's.

I have been behind the chair for 12 years, I rarely drop my shears. When I do, I have them realigned—what does realigning do and is it necessary?

ANSWER: Realignment is somewhat of a mystery. It is good you care so much about your shears, but it is not something you necessarily need to pay someone for each time. We suggest that you carefully check for nicks, and if no nicks are found, then do a cut test. If your shears perform well then we suggest you use them until your next resharpening / service. Good question!

How long should my Kagawa shears last?

ANSWER: If DHMS sharpened, the LanceMARK Blades will never be worn down. The ShortCORE Body design is engineered to deliver uninterrupted service for many decades. The Cryo425 cutting edges are restored each time your shear is DHMS services, which should occur every couple of years.  The SCV steel is hardened and flexible, so even drops will often not result in nicks, and should never lead to bent or broken tips. Simply stated, they will typically out last your career, if used as intended.

What or who is IIBOR?

ANSWER: IIBOR is short for the International Institute for Bionic & Orthotic Research.  IIBOR is technically an organization, but functionally they are a group of engineers, physicians, scientists and technologists focused on designing applied technologies for the hands/arms and feet/legs … the extremities.  IIBOR researchers were asked by a cosmetology advocacy group to identify why so many stylists were developing RMI's, and to develop a solution, if possible.  They were successful, now Kagawa is licensed to manufacture and sell their designs and technologies.

I received my IIBOR A600-O’s two weeks ago, they eliminated the pain in my cutting hand like they were designed to do, but I find palming them challenging … any suggestions?

ANSWER: Sadly stylists working today and even those currently being trained are learning on unhealthy designs that will eventually result in problems. If you had been using the correct designs from the beginning you would have no difficulties.  IIBOR shears were specifically designed to allow stylists full  use of their hand … while wearing their IIBOR shears.  If you simply position your hand under the thumb ring when you need to use your fingers you will find you no longer need to palm them, you simply wear them.  Rest assured they are the technology of the future, here today!