Hairdressers are often thought to be the ones who “know the right answer.” They have knowledge about hair, skills, and a good sense of style. That’s why people expect them to confidently say, “This suits you.” — That’s the common perception. But I have a slightly different way of thinking. For example, during a consultation, advice like “This will make your balance look better” or “This shape will make your face look smaller” is often correct from a theoretical standpoint. However, whether that is truly “the right answer” for that person is another matter. This is because the “right answer” lies within that person. How they spend their days, what […]

I’ve Always Felt a Subtle Discomfort with the Word “Looks Good on You” “I think it looks good on you.” As a hairstylist, I’ve said this phrase countless times. But to be honest, it’s always made me feel a bit uneasy. Why? Because I’ve always wondered: “By whose standards am I saying it looks good?” For example, when a client says, “I want this kind of hairstyle,” and from a hairstylist’s perspective it seems a bit unbalanced or difficult to recreate due to their hair texture— The old me would’ve immediately said, “This one would look better on you.” But one day, something a client said really hit me. “Even […]

No Magic Tricks Needed: The Quiet, Simple Path to Real Beauty “I want to become beautiful easily.” “I want to be healthy effortlessly.” “I want to know the easy way to succeed in business.” —Thinking like that isn’t bad at all. In fact, it’s totally natural. If possible, we all want to reach our goals faster and with less effort. Everyone thinks that way. I do too. But most people probably already realize: What really works isn’t something “special” — it’s the “quiet, daily habits.” And that’s especially true in the world of beauty. “One haircut or treatment will transform your hair.” “This one procedure will eliminate all damage.” I […]

If Everyone in the World Had a Buzz Cut, Would You Get One Too? For example, imagine if everyone in the world had a buzz cut. Or if everyone wore exactly the same T-shirt. —Would you go along with it too? I’m sure some people would want to say this: “No, I like different hairstyles and want to wear clothes I like.” I think that “NO” feeling is something really important. It’s scary to be different from others. But people who stick with it are probably the ones who can truly choose what they like. If your sensibility, appearance, or lifestyle is a bit different from others’, and you try […]

The One Thing Hairdresser TAKA Will Never Do I will never deny my clients. That is the “core” of my work as Hairdresser TAKA. People often think a hairdresser’s job is cutting hair, doing perms, coloring, and styling. Of course, that’s an important part of the job. But for me, the ultimate goal is “to enrich a client’s life, just a little, through a hairstyle.” To achieve that, there’s one thing I’ve decided I will absolutely never do. That is: “Never deny the client.” For example, a client might say: “I want this kind of hairstyle.” “This is how I want to be seen.” “Lately, I haven’t really liked myself…” […]

I Trust My Own Eyes and Hands More Than the Evidence There is actually no basis for saying “evidence is always right.” This is not anti-evidence—this is the foundation of my work. The beauty industry is full of evidence. For example: “This ingredient is gentle on hair,” or “This technique causes less damage,” or “Coming this often helps promote hair growth.” There are countless studies and data, and they certainly provide valuable clues. But I don’t swallow them blindly. The reason is simple: “Because I can trust my own experience more than the evidence.” For over 15 years, I’ve worked with more than 10,000 clients from all over the world. […]

Why I Get Fired Up When Detail-Oriented Clients Trust Me “Aren’t detail-oriented clients hard to work with for hairstylists?” People ask me that from time to time. But for me, it’s quite the opposite—I actually get fired up when someone comes in with strong preferences. Why is that? Because behind those “preferences” lies a real reason. Maybe it’s due to past bad experiences, or years of struggling with their hair texture, or their own sense of beauty. Some clients aren’t great at expressing it out loud, but those are exactly the kinds of feelings I want to gently listen to. That’s why I truly appreciate clients who bring their strong […]

Which brings out your beauty more: the Golden Ratio or the Silver Ratio? Have you ever heard of the “Golden Ratio” or “Silver Ratio” — the beautiful balance between width and height? These terms often appear in the beauty world, but the truth is, they don’t define a single “right” answer. What I value most is using these beautiful ratios to find the balance that best suits each individual. For example, the Golden Ratio is 1:1.618. It’s seen in Greek architecture, the Mona Lisa, and international fashion models — often called the “perfect” ratio. The Silver Ratio is 1:1.414. It appears in Japan’s Horyu-ji Temple and traditional paper sizes — […]

The Strength to Truly Choose What You Love — What I Learned While Working in London As a hairdresser, I’ve worked in Omotesando and London — two cities known for having some of the highest beauty standards in the world. Both are at the forefront of fashion and hair trends. People with sharp aesthetics gather there, and new styles are constantly being born. After working with over 10,000 clients of various nationalities, cultures, ages, and hair types, one thing I’ve come to feel strongly about is the difference in how “beauty” is viewed in Japan and in London. ⸻ What I noticed while walking through London In London, hairstyles and […]

Why I Look to Nature for Inspiration When Creating Hairstyles One of the most important things I value as a hairdresser is “not clinging to fixed ideas.” That means setting aside labels like gender, age, or nationality and truly facing the person right in front of me, just as they are. “This person is a woman in her 40s, so this hairstyle suits her.” “With this hair type, only this kind of style will work.” If I confine myself to those past experiences or trends, I don’t think I’ll ever reach that person’s true beauty. That’s why when I seek inspiration for hairstyles, I try to draw from “nature” rather […]