Sep 14, 2024
On haircuts here (and cutting your own?)
There are some beauty procedures that I don't mind spending money on, because I feel like the cost is proportionate to the service. For instance, I occasionally get my nails done, but a) there's no way I could do them that neatly myself, and b) they really take their time with making sure they're perfect here.
One thing that I hate spending money on, though? Haircuts.
I've had some great haircuts here, but those have been at salons in Tokyo catering to foreigner hair. It's a pain to go all the way to Tokyo to get a cut, especially if that really just needs to be a decent trim.
Image created myself via Canva.com
Locally, here in Niigata? My haircut experiences have been either okay (at best) or immediately thrown up into a ponytail afterwards -- the ladies among us probably know that's evidence of a cut you're not thrilled with. It doesn't help that my hair is thin in volume and fine per strand, so it's not a typical thick Asian hair that most hairstylists out here are familiar with.
On one trip to Sinden in Tokyo (highly recommend them if you need a cut and you're in the city), the stylist there told me that foreigner's hair is often so different to most Japanese clients that you even have to be mindful of how you blow dry it. I thought that was an interesting tidbit of information, and it really showed the level of care he had about doing hair.
All of that to say – does anyone cut their own hair here? Is it difficult? Part of why I hate paying for haircuts is that most places do a quick snippedy snip (it doesn't take long because my hair is fine) and charge almost 4000 yen – that's the basic price at my local for a cut without shampoo and drying, and I just can't justify that for the minimal amount of work it takes on my hair.
If you do cut your own hair, I'd love to hear some tips/tricks/strategies you have!
2 Comments
PDecs
on Sep 16
I cut my own hair, and two things I think anyone who wants to cut their own hair would find useful is a comb/razor combo that gets sold at Daiso (I think. One of the hyakkuen shops anyway) and a suction cup mirror (also from a hyakkuen shop.) For longer hair, the razor works wonders, though the tug gets a bit uncomfortable sometimes. The suction cup mirror I place on a wall across from my bathroom mirror to see the back of my own head.
helloalissa
1 hour ago
That is expensive without shampoo and blow drying. I have always gone to the chain cheap places - I even tried the "15 minute" cut chain. I thought they did a good job most of the time. (Not always.) They do a decent job with my wavy hair and try to do what I ask / use photo references. Especially if the cut is simple or just a trim, those places are more affordable. There are probably a lot of online resources for DIY haircutting. It seems like a good money saving skill, especially for cuts that are not complex. I recommend sitting outside in a place shaded from the wind if possible. I used to cut my husband's hair and it would get everywhere.