For non-Japanese people looking for a hair salon and barber shop in Japan.
I’m Taka, a international freelance hairdresser in Kagoshima City, Japan.
My career is as follows.
2010- Omotesando, Tokyo, Japan
2018- London, UK
2023- Kagoshima, Japan
This article is for non-Japanese people looking for a hair salon, barber shop, or hairdresser in Japan.
In particular, it is written in an easy-to-understand manner for the following people:
My hair type is different from Japanese people, so I’m worried about whether the hairdresser will understand my hair.
Not only whites and blacks, but even any Asians have slightly different hair types compared to Japanese people.
The amount of hair, hair thickness, and hair shape (straight hair or curly hair) differ depending on the race.
Also, each person’s face and head structure are different, so matching is very important.
If you look at a hair salon’s website or Instagram and see hairstyles from people of various nationalities, you will be able to receive the hair services with confidence.
I’m worried about whether the tools and chemicals used in Japanese hair salons (coloring, perming, straightening, etc.) are suitable for my hair type.
When it comes to chemicals agent of hair products, you need to be especially careful about coloring.
Most of the hair dyes used in Japanese hair salons are often made to match the hair color of Japanese people.
The hair color of Koreans and Chinese people is similar to that of Japanese people, but hair of other races might not have the desired hair color, so it is best to ask the hair salon before making a reservation.
Hair straightening and perming chemicals made in Japan are of the highest quality in the world, so there should be no problem with any races.
However, just like with Japanese hair, there is a high possibility that the chemicals will not work properly when used on the hair of other races, so it is necessary to adjust the chemicals depending on the race.
Look for a hairstylist with this kind of experience.
Basically, shampoos and hair treatments of all races can use Japanese products without any problem.
Below are the products that Taka recommends that can be used by all races.
Hair color → “hoyu“
Hair perm, straight → “Arimino”
Shampoo, treatment → “Herb Magic”
I would like hairdressers to give me a hairstyle that matches the trends and hair type of my country, rather than a hairstyle like Japanese people.
Japanese hairdressers can also check out what hairstyles are popular in each country through social media.
However, it is very difficult for a hairdresser to acquire the techniques and sensibilities to create hairstyles that suit different nationalities and races unless they have the actual experience of doing hair styling.
The most reliable way is to find a hairdresser who has experience working overseas.
If possible, Taka recommends a hairdresser who has experience working with hair of diverse ethnicities in a multicultural country such as the United States, Europe, Canada or Australia.
I don’t know how to communicate with the hairdresser because I’m not good at Japanese language.
Many people try to communicate with their hairdresser via Google translate when they do not speak Japanese.
There is no problem with Google Translate, but it can be a little stressful for customers as they may be unsure whether their message is being properly conveyed to the hairdresser.
Also, it is a hassle to have to type on a smartphone every time you want to communicate something small.
It is likely that the hairdresser will have experience abroad, so a hairdresser who speaks the client’s language would be a good choice.
Also, there are some Japanese people who can speak English anywhere, so you can easily find hair salon by doing a Google search for something like “English speaking hairdresser near me.”
