Both routes give you a shear made for the left hand. They differ in how many lengths you get, which handles and edges are on offer, and whether there's a matching thinner or set. This guide puts them side by side.
The two routes
- Lefty-only models carry left in their name and are sold for the left hand only. They live in the left-handed lane. There's no hand option to get wrong.
- Left versions belong to a model sold in both hands. They stay in their own lane (cutting, thinning or kits), and you choose Left in the options on the product page.
Neither route is the better one by default. It comes down to the length, handle and line you want, and the two tables below make that quick to check.
Lefty-only cutting shears
| Model | Left lengths | Handle, as listed | Edge, as listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joewell LC Lefty | 5.0″, 5.5″ | Left-handed | All-rounder |
| Yasaka Left-Handed | 5.0″, 5.5″, 6.0″ | Lefty offset | Clam shaped convex |
| Jaguar Gold Line Diamond Left-Hand | 5.25″, 5.75″ | Offset ergonomics | Convex |
| Jaguar Pre Style Relax Lefty | 5.25″, 5.75″ | Left-handed offset | Micro serration |
| Joewell FX Left | 5.5″ | Left-handed offset | All-rounder |
| Joewell LSF Lefty | 6.5″, 7.0″ | Left-handed | Convex, slicing |
What this route is for: stylists who want a model designed around the left hand from the start, and barbers who need a long left-handed blade. The Joewell LSF is the only 6.5 and 7.0 inch option among the lefty-only cutters, and the Jaguar models fill the in-between 5.25 and 5.75 lengths.
Left versions of two-hand models
| Model | Left lengths | Right lengths | Handle, as listed | Edge, as listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mina Rainbow II | 4.5″ to 7.0″ | 4.5″ to 7.0″ | Offset | Convex, slice cutting |
| Mina Jay II | 5.5″, 6.0″ | 5.0″ to 7.0″ | Ergonomic offset | Convex |
| Mina Umi | 5.5″, 6.0″, 7.0″ | 4.5″ to 7.0″ | Left/right handed offset | Convex |
| Ichiro Matte Black | 5.0″ to 6.0″ | 5.0″ to 7.0″ | Offset | Convex, slice cutting |
| Ichiro Pastel Pink | 5.0″ to 7.0″ | 5.0″ to 7.0″ | Offset | Convex, slice cutting |
| Ichiro Rose Gold | 5.0″ to 6.5″ | 4.5″ to 6.5″ | Ergonomic offset | Convex |
What this route is for: matching a model your school or salon already uses, getting a color or finish the lefty-only models don't have, and building a matched cutter and thinner from one line. The catch: on some models the left hand gets fewer lengths than the right, so check the options before you fall for one.
Notice that every model in this table is listed with an offset handle and a convex edge. Looking for a classic handle for the left hand? The Joewell LC Lefty and LSF Lefty are listed simply as left-handed, so ask us and we'll confirm the handle shape with you before you order.
Thinners and sets for the left hand
Lefty-only thinners: the Jaguar Gold Line Diamond and Pre-Style Relax 40 left-handed thinners at 5.25 inches, and the Pre Style Relax Professional thinner at 5.5 inches with 28 teeth or 6.0 with 43.
Left versions of thinners: Mina Jay II, Mina Umi, Mina Rainbow II (left at 6.0 inches), Ichiro Matte Black and Ichiro Rose Gold.
Sets: the Jaguar Pre Style Relax Left-Handed Shear Set is the lefty-only set. Two-hand sets with a Left option include the Mina Jay II, Mina Umi, Ichiro Matte Black and Ichiro Rose Gold sets, and the master sets in those lines.
How to choose: four steps
- Start with length. It narrows the field fastest. Need 6.5 or 7.0? Look at the Joewell LSF Lefty, or the left versions of the Mina Rainbow II and Ichiro Pastel Pink (both lengths), the Ichiro Rose Gold (6.5) and the Mina Umi (7.0).
- Pick the handle. Most left-handed options here are offset. If that suits you, the whole table is open.
- Decide on a matched thinner. If you want the cutter and thinner from one line, the left versions and the Jaguar Pre Style Relax family make it easy.
- Then the finish. It changes the look, not the cut, so leave it for last.
When your left-handed shear arrives
- Open and close it slowly in your left hand, and watch the blades meet. You should see the cutting line on the outside of the top blade without tilting your wrist.
- Check the tension before your first client, using the maker's instructions. Shears can travel a little loose or a little tight.
- Keep the box and paperwork until you're sure it's the right length and hand. The returns page explains what applies.
Common mix-ups
- Leaving the option on Right. On two-hand models the first option shown is often right-handed. Check that the hand reads Left before you add it to your cart.
- Mixing hands in a set. A left-handed cutter with a right-handed thinner fights you on every blend. Order both pieces for the same hand.
- Assuming a symmetric handle means left-handed. A level handle can still have right-handed blades. Go by the hand the model is listed for.
More compare guides
- Offset, classic or crane handles compared: handles compared, with same-model pairs.
- Thinners vs texturizers compared: tooth counts, cut ratios and tooth shapes.
- A kit or two singles? How to compare: kits, master sets and singles side by side.
Back to the left-handed lane to see every model in it.