Foreigners getting their hair done? Bad idea, or ok?

soulrevolver9 · 1 May 2005

Hello Everyone!
I am going back to Japan next month for the 3rd time with my sister-in-law Hana. She has a hairdresser in Kyoto and we plan on going together while i am there. Any advice in this area? I know that Americans have very different hair than Japanese people do. Different texture, thickness, things like that. I really want to have it colored, I think that is the only thing i am nervous about, I don't know if dye takes a lot differently on American hair than most hairdressers their are used to. Would this be a problem do you think? So yeah, if anyone knows anything about this area that would be great!! Thanks!

Iron Chef · 1 May 2005

I've dyed my hair in the past (back before I shaved it all off, heh) and I had no problems whatsoever. Most hair stylist and barbers in Japan are pretty professional but be careful because like every other service industry, hacks do exist. I've never had any problems to date but I have heard horror stories, heh. I think you should be fine though. Have a nice trip!

Ma Cherie · 1 May 2005

You know, I've heard some stories in which Japanese hairdressers possibly specialize with foriegn hair. But I wish I had some more information on that.

myownpain · 1 May 2005

Actually at most hair dye is hair dye, it more depends on the person doing your hair. If I were you it would be best to probably do a search to research different places in Japan that specialize in hair care or try and find an agency that helps with traveling affairs to japan and see if they know someone who can refer you to a place before you arrive to japan.

ArmandV · 2 May 2005

Why not get your hair done at home just before you go? I considered getting a haircut in Japan last year, but I decided to go to my trusted barber a few days before departing for Japan.

PopCulturePooka · 2 May 2005

I used to HATE getting a hair cut in Japan.
Unless the haridresser knew english, I could never get what I wanted, unless I brought a photo in. even then it was a risk.

Gah.

budd · 6 May 2005

"So yeah, if anyone knows anything about this area that would be great!! Thanks!"
op just joined the forum to ask this question, didn't they? and after it's answered, poof? they gone disappear? hmm
well, anyway, get it done, then come back and post experiences?
that way we can link/mention it when another member joins to ask this question
peace and good luck!

Mike Cash · 6 May 2005

What do people like that think those of us who live in Japan do for haircuts?

This is similar to all my Japanese acquaintances who 1) see that I am overweight and 2) know roughly how long I've been here and ask me if I can eat Japanese food. If I couldn't, common sense would seem to indicate that I would have died of starvation by now.

budd · 8 May 2005

they got mcdonald's everywhere there though

soulrevolver9 · 11 May 2005

People like me?! How nice...

I guess us "people like that" know that foreignors living in Japan must get their hair cut and thus assume that they would be able to share some insight on the subject. Was I wrong in asking? Is that not logical? I asked my brother who lived in Japan for 2 years, and he was no help 1) Because he started cutting his own hair once he moved there(which he did not do a very good job with), and 2) all women's hair looks the same to my brother so he really can't be of any help in this area. I don't intend to be a one-time poster, I am thinking about moving to Japan within the next couple years, so I think these forums could be very useful. Nonetheless, if i don't end up being a regular participant here I will at least post my hair experience and let you all know how it went. Maybe it will help others of us ('like this') in the future.

budd · 12 May 2005

4 posts in ten days
2 of them in this thread
please post experiences! i would love to hear about it

Mike Cash · 12 May 2005

There's nothing wrong in your asking the question, but the way you phrased it made it sound as though you operate from an assumption that nobody visits here long enough to make a visit to the barber/beautician a necessity.

I'm sort of like your brother, in that for the last 5+ years I have been cutting my own hair. Prior to that I had a regular barber, and my son, who refuses home haircuts (and I don't blame him) goes to that barber. Two things I have never believed in changing lightly are barbers and dentists, and I have been known to drive considerable distances to go to my "regular" barber and dentist. The reason? I don't trust strangers around my head with sharp instruments.

Keiichi · 13 May 2005

mikecash said:
Two things I have never believed in changing lightly are barbers and dentists, and I have been known to drive considerable distances to go to my "regular" barber and dentist. The reason? I don't trust strangers around my head with sharp instruments.

I'm kinda like that too, and that's a really interesting way of putting it.

Keiichi

Gord · 15 May 2005

my roomate just got his hair cut at a barber here in japan, and honstly it looked better than any haircut he's gotten back home. The japanese are wizards

headsupcustoms · 15 May 2005

I have heard that in some instances, you have to be able to tell the barber how many centimeters you want cut, or something of that nature. And bringing a photo helps too, sometimes. I dunno, but I need to find out also. Otherwise it's bald, or a samurai-braid!

Mike Cash · 15 May 2005

I think guys probably have it a lot easier than girls do, since the default assumption for males is "Same style, but shorter". A beautician operating based on assumptions is living dangerously.

wintersweet · 15 May 2005

I have to wonder how a Japanese hairstylist would deal with, say, my husband's hair. Left alone, it forms literal ringlets--tight spirals. Cutting that kind of hair, or naturally wavy hair like mine, is totally different than cutting straight hair (even if it's been permed--or so I understand). If you cut a wave on the crest, it'll curl under; if you cut it on the trough, it'll flip up, etc. etc. So I would be a bit worried about getting my hair cut by a nonspecialist in Japan. Ah, well--that's the nice thing about having meter-long hair. I can just get a trim before I go, and get another one sometime next year.

soulrevolver9 · 15 May 2005

mikecash said:
A beautician operating based on assumptions is living dangerously.

well, danger is my middle name.
thanks for everyone's input! I have been told that an appointment has been scheduled for some time during my trip. I leave May 24th. I guess we'll see what happens. I'm sure it will be excellent. I can't wait to let you know how it went.

Meshane · 27 May 2005

O man I wish I had read this forum earlier. I had really thick curly hair but I was afraid to go to a haircut shop. I thought they wouldn't understand how to cut curly hair so I just bought a hair buzzer and gave myself a new hairstyle.

duff_o_josh · 28 May 2005

Gord said:
my roomate just got his hair cut at a barber here in japan, and honstly it looked better than any haircut he's gotten back home. The japanese are wizards

the hair dresser want to leave the top longer but i had to tell him "a little more" so i didnt look like one of those guys who stands outside the medal game centers picking up hot school girls on there sweet scooters, haha i love japan sooo much. 3 weeks ago i cut my own hair only because i was hot and didnt want to leave the house, i am sure next time i wil visit the stylist again.

Foreigners getting their hair done? Bad idea, or ok?

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