Why Haircut Designs End Up Looking Similar to Those Around You
When I’m out, I often find myself observing people.
In Japan, I feel like there are a lot of similar hairstyles and fashion styles.
That’s something I notice quite often.
Since returning from London,
I feel this even more strongly.
This isn’t because
90% of people in Japan are the same,
or because of a lack of personal taste,
or because hairdressers lack skill.
It’s not that simple.
Today, I’d like to briefly talk about
the “range of haircut design” from a practical, on-the-ground perspective.
Why do haircut designs start to look similar?
First, a basic premise.
Most hairdressers work based on the demand of the place they are in.
For example, in Japan:
- Japanese bone structure
- Japanese hair texture
- Japanese preferences
- Japanese trends
Designs that are optimized for these factors naturally increase.
This is completely normal.
Professionals respond to what clients are looking for.
But as a result,
designs gradually start to look similar.
This phenomenon naturally occurs.
Staying in the same environment for a long time creates bias
This is something I’ve personally felt while visiting many salons as a customer.
I intentionally go to different salons and barbers to get my hair cut.
The reason is simple:
to experience things from the client’s perspective.
What I’ve realized is this:
No matter how skilled a hairdresser is,
if they stay in the same environment for a long time,
- the types of suggestions
- the range of designs
- the number of perspectives
these things tend to become biased.
Of course, it’s possible to expand them with effort.
But to be honest,
very few people are consciously working on that.
Try searching “short hair” on Google
I’d like you to try something.
Search for:
“men’s short hair”
“women’s short hair”
and see what comes up.
You’ll probably notice
that most of the images have a very similar feel.
This isn’t just in Japan.
- Tokyo
- London
- New York
- Korea
- Taiwan
No matter where you search, you’ll see similar hairstyles.
In other words,
the information itself has already been standardized.
So if you choose from that, the results will naturally look similar too.
The difference in “design range” I felt in London
I also worked in London for many years.
What I felt most strongly there was
the difference in the range of designs and the underlying assumptions.
For example:
- skin tone
- hair texture
- bone structure
- culture
- work
- lifestyle
Everything is different.
And more importantly,
the way people think about hair itself is different.
- haircuts as cleanliness
- haircuts as self-expression
- haircuts as part of a professional role
Even though it’s the same “cut,” the meaning is completely different.
That’s why
even the same short haircut can become something entirely different.
What I mean by “range of design”
What I value is not simply “cutting well,”
but how broadly I can make suggestions.
For example:
- adding a European nuance to Japanese hair
- applying overseas balance concepts
- or intentionally choosing a simple, Japanese-style finish
Based on each person’s
- hair texture
- bone structure
- lifestyle
- values
I help decide on the best option from multiple choices.
That is my approach.
“Suitability” depends on the number of options
In the end,
what suits you isn’t just about sense.
It depends on how many options you have.
If the number of options is limited,
the suggestions will naturally become similar.
But if there are more options,
- you can go natural
- you can go more unique
- or find something in between
That’s how you move away from
“everything always looking the same.”
Personally,
I believe I have a wide range of design options
that I can offer my clients.
Finally
A hairstyle isn’t just about appearance.
- your impression
- your sense of youth
- your position
- your confidence
It directly connects to these things.
That’s why
it’s not just about “what hairstyle to choose,”
but rather
“how much range there is in the suggestions you receive.”
If you feel like something isn’t quite right right now,
it’s not a matter of taste.
You may just not have discovered the right option yet.
Feel free to reach out anytime.
We can find it together.
