Designing the Essence, Not Just the Surface — What Truly Matters in a Hairstyle?
The word “quality” isn’t used only for products or services—it’s also used to describe people and ways of thinking.
High quality, poor quality, classy, lacking class—quality is always a key element in many contexts.
As a hairstylist, I always strive to create hairstyles with high quality.
But more than that, what truly matters is whether it’s essential and meaningful.
Is dyeing gray hair really the essence?
For example, take the action of “dyeing your hair because gray strands are bothering you.”
At first glance, it seems simple—but in many cases, it’s not the essence.
That’s because, for many people, it’s not the gray hair itself that they dislike,
but rather how it makes them look older or how they believe others will perceive them.
If everyone in the world had gray hair since birth,
the very idea of hiding gray hair might never have existed.
In other words, what people truly care about isn’t the “gray hair” but the “impression it gives.”
Going beyond surface-level fixes: uncover the background
“I dye my hair to hide the gray.”
“I try to grow more hair to hide thinning.”
“I straighten my hair because I hate my natural waves.”
These are all surface-level solutions.
What really matters is understanding the reason behind those desires.
- Gray hair → Is it about looking older?
- Thinning hair → Are you concerned about lacking volume?
- Wavy or curly hair → Is it hard to manage? Or are you worried about how it looks?
When we dig deeper into the reasons, we realize that dyeing, hiding, or straightening are not the only answers.
Examples of essential approaches
- Haircuts that still make you look youthful even with gray hair
- Choosing warm-toned hair colors to give the illusion of more volume
- Designing and texturizing waves to turn curls into a charm
- Haircuts that make hair manageable without the need for a perm
These kinds of approaches respond to the person’s true concerns.
They aren’t temporary cover-ups—they lead to fundamental solutions.
My role is to design the essence, not just the surface
I’ve worked with the hair of over 10,000 clients in London, Tokyo, and Omotesando.
What I’ve learned is this: the essence of a hairstyle is different for everyone.
That’s why I don’t just take my clients’ words at face value.
I dig deep into “why they feel that way” and “what they truly want to become” to make personalized suggestions.
That’s what I consider professionalism and true added value.
Every hair concern has an underlying essence.
By identifying it and reflecting it in the design,
we can create a hairstyle that is truly authentic to that person.
It’s not about superficial solutions—
it’s about designing the essence.
That’s my mission as a hairstylist.
