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Dec 13, 2017

How to get your hair done in Japan when you speak minimal Japanese (and not end up in tears)

One thing I was worried about when moving to Japan was where to get my hair done. I'm a firm believer that looking good makes you feel good - and finding a hairdresser that understands what you want is really important. I had an experience this year actually, where I decided to get my hair colored on a whim with someone who probably hadn't colored foreigner hair in their entire life before. I asked for "natural highlights" and ended up looking like Kelly Clarkson circa 2000-something. Remember when the anything-but-natural, chunky thick bleach blonde highlights were a popular thing? It was like that. I came home. I cried. I booked in an appointment at a Tokyo salon to fix it faster than you can say "Since you've been gone".


Well, all Kelly Clarkson jokes aside, to avoid ending up getting your hair done here and crying your eyes out, there are a few basic tips I'd recommend about getting cuts and color done in Japan.


Go for a foreigner friendly salon if you can

There are a few in Tokyo in particular that have staff that specialize in foreigner hair. I've got strawberry blonde hair that is naturally wavy, and my individual hair strands are very fine - so it's a completely different texture than Japanese hair. It's easier to go somewhere that a) has English speaking staff and b) has staff that have worked on foreigner hair before. My particular favorite in Tokyo is Gold's Hair Salon in Azabu Juban - it's owned and run by an Australian, and the staff there all speak fluent English. There are no worries about anything being lost in translation, and they fixed my terrible color I got earlier this year. Word of warning, they're not the cheapest salon, but it's a lot easier to go straight there and get what you want rather than paying for an awful color or cut.

No English speaking salon near you? Try a global chain like Aveda or Toni & Guy

A lot of these groups like Aveda and Toni & Guy have staff that have worked overseas - it seemed to be a common theme at the ones I have been to.

How to get your hair done in Japan when you speak minimal Japanese (and not end up in tears) photo

Bring lots of pictures of what you want

They say a picture tells a thousand words - and in the case of getting your hair done in Japan that's emphatically true. Bring LOTS of pictures. If you can get pictures of the cut you want from different angles (front on, from the sides, from the back) that's even better. Make sure that any agreements on color are thoroughly discussed and that there's no apprehension on the part of the colorist for working on your hair.


Bring a friend or family member along with you who speaks Japanese

Sometimes this is the easiest route when all else fails. I've had my husband come with me to hair appointments before to explain what I wanted before they start on my hair. You could even get your Japanese speaking friend or family member to call and make you the appointment, and have them ask for your appointment to be with the hairdresser that speaks the most English, or the person who is most experienced working on foreign hair.


It might be hard breaking up from your regular hairdresser back home while you're living here as an expat - but you're going to need haircuts while you're here! Hopefully some of these tips might make the process not seem so daunting for a first timer.


2 Comments

  • Lisagoestotokyo

    on Jun 25

    This article has saved my life! I have strawberry blonde wavy hair too, and I'm desperate (many months overdue!) for a haircut, so I'll absolutely be heading to Gold Salon! Thank you!

  • genkidesu

    on Jun 27

    @Lisagoestotokyo I hope you like them! They've got two locations now, the one in Azabu Juban and one in Omotesando. I've always had really good experiences there!