Where do westernersget their hair done in Japan?Is it the same?

Joined
18 Aug 2006
Messages
17
Reaction score
0
Hi everyone,

haven't been on here for a while while i was sorting out what im goin to do with myself and my life!i have decided to move to japan, Tokyo for a year next year and work for an english conversation school , not sure which one, but NOVA seems to be a bit of a no no with all the bad things i have been reading about them.

Anyway to my question, it might seem a bit silly and not very important but i can esure u , its very important to me!!! i take great pride it my hair and i am reeeeeeeallllly fussy, i have got long blonde highlighted hair and i usually have my highlights done in vidal sassoon back here in the uk , its the only place i have found that im happy with. Anyway, i was just wondering is it safe to have my highlights done in japan, as im going to need to seen as ill be there for a year? is there any special places for white people to have there hair done, as after all white peoples hair is quite different to asian hair and i mite want something a hairdresser in japan isnt familiar witha s japanese hairstyles are very didfferent to the west.

id b so greatful if someone could help me on what to do and if they have any suggestions as i dont want a hair nightmare weni move to japan!!

thanx so much !!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Japan is a nation that is obsessed with looks, and I don't mean that to be disparaging... Time Asia ran a piece last year concerning how males in Asia have no problem whatsoever obsessing over their looks whereas in the United States that sort of thing is seen as effeminate (or if you listen to sooooh last year terminology, metrosexuality)...

There are many magazines (style guides), that often have example hair cuts, showing both the front the side and the back... One magazine in particular for men is called Choki Choki (Choki are scissors btw...)...

The website for this magazine is here: 株式会社内外出版社

Even if your Japanese is sketchy, you should be able to show someone a picture and tell them what you like... It helps sometimes if you go with someone who is fluent so that they can translate for you... The bonus is that you often get a back and neck massage as well!

I recommend some of the more expensive, but arguably better salons located in Shibuya.... but your local prefecture will undoubtedly have a salon or two...

At the very least you should learn some words to communicate that yes you like how its going so far... I'm sorry I don't have a vocab list for you, I've just awoke and my brain is spaced... and I honestly remember just winging it, saying that I understood etc, how long I've been in Japan, good or bad, etcetera...

I love Japanese hairstyles for men, and as soon as I grow my hair back out (I used to cut my own hair), I'm going to a local salon that specializes in Asian men & womens hair styles... oddly enough, right on my block.

Good luck.

 
Last edited:
Hay , ah thanx for the advice, very halpful.

But just wondering if there was any women who had moved out to japan snd if they coul give any advice on what they did or where they went to have their hair done? or if anyone knows of a place that is good for westerners?
 
God, I am so out of style now. I got to go to one of those salons when I go back home. My hair has been done at SuperCuts(R) for over 13 years.
 
Last edited:
Is the Hiroki Narimiya Cut still famous? because i wanna create my own hairstyle :p
 
Oh, good to know about that hair cut thing... What about culry hair, mine´s bit frizzy and wouldn´t know where to go when I move to Japan in some months. Any suggestions would be kindly accepted. Thanks.

Mauricio
 
Oh, good to know about that hair cut thing... What about culry hair, mine´s bit frizzy and wouldn´t know where to go when I move to Japan in some months. Any suggestions would be kindly accepted. Thanks.

Mauricio
Believe it or not, the perm and even afro if you will are quite popular these days, well they were last year, in Japan, so fear not people with curly hair...

You can even get corn-rows...
 
I'm tired of getting the same short haircut. So, I just found out that at the mall near my school there is a barber store and that there's a Japanese hair stylist working there, so I will just give him a chance for him to do something with my hair. Pretty cool.

Mauricio
 
There is a Toni and Guy in Shibuya also!

I've only had my hair cut once since being here, at my local salon... Quite interesting trying to convey what I wanted done and was a little scared when the guy started pretty much shearing my hair (thinning it out!), but it was fine in the end!
 
God I love being a guy - I get away with a standard military style haircut (short on top, even shorter on the sides), and due to the low complexity of my hair-demands I go for the cheapest option - currently paying $10. Of course I have to go every 3 to 4 weeks because it grows like weeds!
 
I go to the same place as my fiancé - with some discounts I basically get a free cut, and its cheap to do coloring etc.
 
There is a lot of damaged hair in Japan; I have a friend who has been a stylist (actually specializing in color and curls) for over a decade, and he is horrified by what he sees here. If you really care about your hair, go to a reputable salon and be honest with them. If all you do is get the occasional highlights, you shouldn't have anything to worry about. Long straight hair and highlights is pretty typical.

There's at least one very nice place I know of near Omotesando that caters to English speakers. If i can find a card I'll see if they have a site.
 
I hope some advice from a guy can help you...

I have lived for a year in japan and had the same problem your facing right now. even while being there it cost me about a month to find out what to do.
I had a girl friend take me to one of the places she though was very good, and got my hair cut there. at first the language barrier may be a little bit of a problem, but after a few months you will be chatting away with the hairdresser. It turned out later that it was one of the best places in the city later (Hiroshima).

it would be very wise to take a book with you to show the stylist what kind of cut you want, and it will be very helpfull if your having problems with the language.

I cant help you with specific salons as I wasn't living in the tokyo area, sorry.
I really like the kind of service you get in a japanese hairsalon compared to my own country.
prices are about the same.
I had my hair highlighted, cut and permanented for 13000yen, about 90 euro i think. Its a little more expensive, but the service makes up for that.

I really like how you can get really extreme hairstyles over there without people looking funny at you :P.
 
I got a cut, shampoo'd twice, and about a 40 minute massage for about the equivalent of 1,200 yen...

... in Taiwan :D It was a pretty high end place, too. It's shamed me for even considering spending more than two or three thousand yen on my hair here.
 
I shave my own head every ten days with a pair of electric animal clippers (industrial strength). I have it down to a science and it saves me the ツ??000+ of going to a barber. It's funny really, I always get a kick whenever I use the can from the glam rock boys with their retro Bon Jovi hairstyles fretting like narcissists in front of the restroom mirrors while their dates wait outside. I've always wondered why seemingly 99% of all male hosts seems to have the same hairstylist...
 
I haven't had a haircut for about 2 years, >.>, well, my mother has occasionally trimmed it, but, I am mostly growing it, hehe, although, I am thinking of shortening it a bit. But I'm not in japan, lol.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom