Joewell and Ichiro rarely look alike on the station. A Joewell Classic is straight, level-handled and satin-finished; an Ichiro is most often offset, convex-edged and finished in anything from mirror polish to rose gold. They answer different questions. Joewell asks how a shear should balance in the fingers. Ichiro asks what a working stylist needs to get through the week, and in which colour.
Neither approach is better. This comparison is for stylists who have narrowed their choice to these two and want to know where the differences really lie.
At a glance
| Detail | Joewell | Ichiro |
|---|---|---|
| Signature shape | The Classic: level handle, standard Joewell blade | Offset cutters with a convex blade |
| Handles | Classic, 3D offset, ergonomic offset, semi offset | Mostly offset; Z-Balance, swivel and a few even handles |
| Main steels | Supreme stainless alloy, cobalt base alloy CBA-1, powder metal alloy | 440C; VG-10 in the Premium Series |
| Finishes | Satin, polish, powder, black coatings | Mirror, matte black, ash gold, rose gold, rainbow, pastel pink and more |
| Thinners | Listed by cut ratio, from 5% to 80% | Listed by tooth count or style |
| Left-handed | Three dedicated left-hand cutters | Left options on several cutters, thinners and sets |
| Sets | Three, each with an E series thinner | Most families, often with a left option |
Handle and balance
This is the heart of the difference. Joewell's classics, from the Classic to the New Era and the Classic PRO, keep both rings level. The shear turns easily between thumb and fingers and suits an open, upright cutting hand. Joewell also offers offsets in steps: the semi offset X Offset and SZ Semi, the 3D offset FX and FX PRO, and the Ergo ZII.
Ichiro builds nearly everything on an offset handle, which keeps the thumb near the palm and the elbow lower. Its departures are specific: the Z-Balance handle on the Kawa line, a swivel thumb version that turns a full circle, and even handles on the Precision Master and the Master Series barber cutter.
If you trained on a level handle and love it, Joewell is the natural home. If you want an offset as your everyday shape, Ichiro offers it in more lengths and finishes.
Blade and edge
Joewell names its blades: the standard Joewell blade on the Classic, New Era and FX; a convex edge on the Classic PRO; a sword flat blade on the FX PRO; a serrated blade on the Classic Serrated; and the Bamboo blade. The Supreme family pairs a sword blade with either a flat or a convex edge.
Ichiro's cutters mostly use a convex blade with a slice cutting edge. Its learning tools stand out: the Ergo Apprentice comes as a convex slicer or a micro-serrated shear, and the Ergo Slice and Serrated set includes both, so a newer stylist can feel the difference.
Steel
Most Joewell models use the maker's supreme stainless alloy. The Cobalt and New Cobalt use cobalt base alloy CBA-1, and the Supreme SPM models use a powder metal alloy. Ichiro's everyday families use 440C, and the Taiyo and Tsuki in the Premium Series move to VG-10.
Thinners
The two makers describe thinners in different languages. Joewell gives the cut ratio, the share of hair each close removes: 5% on the SNT-40, 15% and 35% on the E-30 and E-40, 35% on the BC-40 and FX-PRO 40, and 80% on the 12-tooth JGC-12. Ichiro gives a tooth count or a style: the Kawa Z-Balance as a 14-tooth chunker or a 30-tooth blender, the Texture Master in light, medium and heavy styles, and the 16T texturizer.
If you like to know exactly how much each close will take, Joewell's ratios are the more precise guide. If you think in terms of blending versus chunking, Ichiro's styles read naturally.
Left-handed stylists
Both makers serve the left hand, in different ways. Joewell makes three cutters only for the left hand: the FX LEFTY, the LC LEFTY and the LSF Lefty barber shear. Ichiro offers a Left choice on several of its everyday families, including the Matte Black, Rose Gold and Pastel Pink cutters, matching thinners in Matte Black and Rose Gold, and sets. A left-handed stylist who wants a matched cutter and thinner in one finish will find more of that at Ichiro; one who wants a dedicated left-hand classic will find it at Joewell.
Sets and kits
Joewell's three sets, Classic, Classic PRO and New Era, each pair a level-handled cutter with an E series thinner at 15% or 35%. Ichiro offers a set in most families, from the everyday Offset and Matte Black to the Premium Series Taiyo, Tsuki and Sakura, as well as the Kawa Z-Balance and Dragon sets and the Master Series barber set.
Barbering
For long-blade work, Joewell has the LSF Lefty in 6.5 and 7.0 inches and a Classic up to 7.0 inches. Ichiro has the Tsurugi barber shear in 6.0 to 7.0 inches and the Master Series barber set.
Which suits you
Choose Joewell if a level handle feels like home, if you want to choose a thinner by cut ratio, if you want a dedicated left-hand cutter, or if you prefer a restrained satin or polished finish.
Choose Ichiro if you cut with an offset, want a cutter and thinner matched in handle and colour, are building a first kit or learning with serrated and convex blades, or simply like a finish with some personality.
Care for either
Wipe the blades after each client, oil the pivot at the end of the day and keep the shear in its case. Coated and coloured finishes need no special treatment beyond a soft cloth. Prices are in Canadian dollars.
Read the full Joewell story and Ichiro story, or open the Joewell collection and the Ichiro collection to compare product pages.
