The Work of Reading What Isn’t Shown in the Photo
“I want to look like this.”
During the first consultation with a new client, it’s common for them to show me a “reference photo.”
It could be a hairstyle cutout, a favorite picture found on social media, a snapshot of a celebrity, or a page from a fashion magazine.
Photos are a very convenient communication tool.
They allow us to share that vague “kind of image” which can be difficult to express in words.
But what I always keep in mind is this:
The photos clients bring are not always chosen solely for the hairstyle itself.
Depending on what part of the photo they focus on, their true feelings and intentions often come through.
The way a photo is “framed” reveals the client’s psychology
For example—
- If someone shows only the back of the head, it may mean they care deeply about shape, volume, or silhouette.
- If it’s zoomed in on the face area, they may be focusing on bangs, facial contours, or the nuance of hair around the eyes.
- If it’s a full-body photo or a magazine page, they may be drawn to the overall “atmosphere” or “worldview” the style conveys.
- Sometimes, clients even bring images that aren’t people at all—landscapes, artwork, or illustrations as inspiration.
A photo does not capture only the hairstyle.
It reflects the future self they want to show, or the impression they want to create through that hairstyle.
Hair is a tool to express “the self you want to be”
As a hairdresser, as a professional, of course I pay close attention to the technical aspects—
reproducibility, compatibility with hair type, and so on.
But that’s not all.
Why did the client choose that particular photo?
What part of it caught their eye?
What hopes, expectations, insecurities, or conflicts are hidden within it?
Reading into those feelings is also an important part of my work.
What matters most is not “hair” but the “person.”
Haircuts, coloring, perms—all of them are jobs that involve working with hair.
But what I’m really engaging with is not “hair,” it’s the person themselves.
What kind of expression do they want to wear each day?
What places do they want to go?
What kind of people do they want to meet, and how do they want to interact with them?
These life scenes and ways of being are what I design for through hair.
The unspoken feelings are the most important.
So during a consultation, there’s no need to worry if you feel like, “I can’t explain it well…”
Whether through photos, words, gestures, or even a glance—
It’s often in those “unspoken parts” where the client’s true feelings are hidden.
That’s why I make sure to carefully sense what isn’t shown in the photo.
Through hair, I hope your life can feel just a little freer and more comfortable.
