photo by kitomba
Now, you are kind of used to living in Japan, people there and the culture. Then all of a sudden, you realize that your hair looks quite messy. If you are in your own country, no problem. You can just go to your favorite hairdresser’s to get it fixed. But you are in Japan now, so things may not be so easy. Miscommunication due to the language barrier can easily lead to a disastrous hair crisis. It is not only you who have been frustrated, “if only there is at least one English speaking hair dresser.” Don’t be sad, here is a good news! To provide better service for customers from overseas, more hair salons in Japan, especially in Tokyo and Osaka area, have started to employ English speaking hair stylists. This column will list the five most popular hair salons with English service in Tokyo.
SHINKA
SHINKA’s main salon is located in Sydney, Australia. They have total 6 salons in Tokyo and Sydney. While there are many hair salons with a few English-speaking staff in Tokyo, what makes SHINKA on top of others is that all stylists of SHINKA are fluent in English. SHINNKA’s hair stylists have rich experience with handling many types of hair while they were trained in multiethnic Sydney. The quality of their service is well backed by such rich experiences and skills, therefore new customers do not need to worry about anything. The experienced staff discuss your hair type and advise to find best hairstyle for you.
SHINKA
Address: 2F Roppongi Five, 5-18-20 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
TEL: 03-5575-6768
Trading hours: Mon-Fri 11:00～21:00、Sat, Sun, Public holiday 10:00～20:00 (Mon & 3rd Tue closed）
Bondz Salon
In 2011, Bondz Salon in Azabu-Juban was established by skillful hairdressers with long career abroad. Most of their stylists have built most part of their career in foreign countries, therefore they have high expertise about the difference in hair type between Japanese race and other races, and well trained to provide quality service to customers with any type of hair. Also, they have a reputation for the quality of hair coloring techniques to express natural gradations and highlight.
Bondz Salon
Address: 4F, 1-8-13 Azabu-Juban, Minato-ku, Tokyo
TEL: 03-6426-5562
Trading hours: 11:00〜21:00 (Mon & 2nd Tue closed）
The Room 806
It is not easy to find a hair salon in Japan that can treat black hair. But The Room 806, you will never be disappointed with their service including haircut, coloring, cornrow and relaxer that ordinary hair salons don’t provide. They accept online booking and inquiries before booking. Special treatments such as cornrow and dreadlocks are charged on an hourly basis, therefore it is idea to notify them of length and volume of your hair to get a quote before making booking.
The Room 806
Address: Imperial Roppongi 202, 5-16-52 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
TEL: 03-5545-5486
Trading hours: 11:00〜21:00
SORAji
Many people secretly feel quite hesitant to visit a hair salon for the first time. If you are from overseas and just started living in Japan, going to Japanese hair salon for the first time can be even more uncomfortable. SORAji is a very small hair salon in the quiet residential area of Mitaka with only one chair and shampoo station. SORAji was established in 2012 by the owner who had been running another salon in Sydney and came back to Japan. It is a relaxing and friendly place as if in the lounge of your friend’s. The owner provides all services on her own, therefore booking is essential. You can make a booking by email, but phone booking comes first.
SORAji
Address: 2 cho-me, Iguchi, Mitaka-city, Tokyo
TEL: 042-230-9729
Email：soraji.yoyaku@gmail.com
Trading hours: 10:00〜18:00（Sun & Mon closed）
MAHRO
MAHRO is situated in Meguro-ku, a popular area among the Japanese as well as foreign nationals. This small salon is nice and quiet, isolated from the hustle and bustle of the city. At MAHRO, either of two main stylists, who acquired experience in London, will help you find best suit hair for you considering your hair type. They have a great reputation for short hair styling, among other thing, by taking hair type, shape of face, the appearance of each customer into consideration. Also, the pricing of this salon is lower than salons in the central city.
MAHRO
Address: 2F, 1-11-1 Haramachi, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
TEL: 03-6876-6381
Trading hours: Tue-Fri 10:00〜21:00、Sat 10:00〜20:00、Sun & public holiday 10:00〜19:00
Have hair cut and change your life
This hair cut issue is not often mentioned in a list of tips-for-first-timers-in-Japan. But finding a hair salon that you really can trust is not so easy, especially when you are living in a foreign country. Of course, all professional hair dressers in Japan are properly qualified and they are able to style any customer’s hair at a certain level even though there is a language barrier. But you must want to look more than a-certain-level. The hair salons introduced in this column have skilled permanent stylists who are fluent in English. If you are struggling to find right hair salon, it may be among these.
Related Article:
No need to speak Japanese! Hair salons in OSAKA with English speaking staff
