Why Technique Alone Isn’t Enough. Through Hair, People Design “Youth” and “Social Position” “High skill = high customer satisfaction.” When I first started my career as a hairdresser, I believed that too. If my cutting improved, people would be happy. If the precision of my perms improved, people would be impressed. And yes—those things aren’t wrong. But at a certain point, I started to realize something. No matter how much I polished my technique, satisfaction didn’t rise as proportionally as it used to. This isn’t laziness, and it isn’t arrogance. If anything, I think it’s a kind of “healthy wall.” Technique Has “Diminishing Returns” In economics, there’s a concept called […]

The One Hairstyle I Never Recommend — A Look Chosen Only to Fit In with Others Lately, during consultations with my clients, there’s something I find myself noticing more and more. Far more people than you might expect are choosing hairstyles not for themselves, but **“for the eyes of others.”** Of course, everyone cares about how they are seen by others. At work, at school, within the family, with a partner—each situation has its own idea of what looks “appropriate.” Adapting to that is not a bad thing in itself. And yet— even so, there is one hairstyle I never recommend. It is this: A hairstyle chosen for one reason […]

Why Are Hair Salons in London So Different? — Lessons from a Multicultural “Normal” Today, I want to share a little about the “fundamental differences” I felt in hair salons when I worked in London. First of all, Japan is a country where more than 90% of the population shares the same cultural background — in other words, an almost homogeneous nation. London, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. Asia, Africa, Europe, South America… everything is mixed together. People with a purely “100% British” lineage are actually very rare. So naturally, hair salons come in many different forms. • Salons specializing in Japanese and Asian clients • Salons […]

Why I Wear Bold Clothes ― A Message About Living Freely “Taka, why do you always wear such bold and colorful clothes?” Clients ask me this from time to time. Blue, green, yellow, red, purple, pink… I intentionally incorporate high-saturation colors into my everyday outfits, so yes, they definitely stand out. But the truth is, I don’t wear them because I want to look flashy. ■ What I value most is protecting your individuality I always tell my clients: “It’s okay to value your individuality more.” “Prioritize what you like over what others think.” “Life and hairstyles become more fun when you stop forcing yourself into a box.” I’m not […]

When in Rome, Do as the Romans Do. The Power of Acceptance I Learned in London and How It Shapes My Hair Design Philosophy There is a saying: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Whenever I hear this, it reminds me of my life in London. I missed Japanese food so much that I tried desperately to find the ingredients, or paid a fairly high price to eat at Japanese restaurants. But no matter how hard I tried, it never became “that taste.” The flavor was different, the atmosphere was different—something just felt off. This wasn’t about money. It was because I was forcing something into my life […]

The Idea That “Hairdressers Should Also Choose Their Clients” ― Great Hair Design Begins with Compatibility In Japan’s service industry, there is a phrase that has remained deeply rooted for a long time. “The customer is God.” Of course, in the sense of “treat customers with great care,” this is not wrong. However, when this phrase takes on a life of its own, • “The customer is always right” • “Hairdressers should simply follow whatever the client says” this atmosphere can become unnecessarily strong. I value a slightly different perspective. Just as clients choose their hairdresser, hairdressers should also choose their clients. People are sometimes surprised when I say this, […]

Recently, when you walk around town, don’t you often see people whose hairstyles make you think, “I’ve seen that somewhere before”? Regardless of gender, the same kind of bangs, the same color, the same texture. Sometimes it looks as if rows of mannequin heads are lined up. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with that. Enjoying trends and incorporating fashion is a wonderful thing. But if you copy a trend without placing the axis on “what suits you,” your own uniqueness can quietly disappear. That’s something I often feel. As a hairdresser, I’ve designed the hair of tens of thousands of people. Through that, I realized that the hairstyle that truly […]

Drinking After a Workout — Why a “Sustainable Routine” Matters More, and How It’s the Same with Hair Care. I work out regularly. My goal is to build a strong body that can protect my family. But sometimes, after training, I feel like having a drink. To be honest, drinking alcohol after working out is not good for building a strong body. Scientifically, it delays muscle recovery and interferes with muscle growth. Even so, there are times when I still choose to drink. The reason is simple: having an environment that allows me to keep training matters more. If striving for perfection makes you quit, then creating a slightly “looser,” […]

Why Do Hairdresser Taka’s Clients Often Say “Leave It to You”? “I’ll leave it up to you.” About 70–80% of my clients say this when they sit in my chair. Of course, some clients bring photos or have a specific image in mind. But in the end, most of them say, “I’ll leave it to you, Taka.” This can’t be explained simply as a matter of “trust.” Behind it lies something I value deeply — the time I spend on consultation. Consultation Is Not Just About “Listening” — It’s About Reading the Heart My idea of consultation is not just about listening to what clients want. It’s much more than […]

Why I, as a Hairdresser, Visit Different Salons — Learning Through a “Deduction System” I’m a hairdresser, but I also visit different salons as a customer. I go to beauty salons, barber shops, and sometimes even 1,000-yen quick-cut salons. On the other hand, I also visit high-end salons where a single haircut costs over 10,000 yen. I don’t stick to one place — I go to learn from the differences in techniques, pricing, equipment, and customer service. Those “differences” themselves become valuable experiences for me. The “discomfort” I feel as a customer is my best teacher The reason I visit so many salons isn’t because I’m looking for the best […]