Job Discussion Forums

[nawlinsgurl]

I uess this is mostly for women, cause I'm sure none of the guys worry too much about this...This may be so random and you all may think I am crazy, but I was wondering if there are places to get super wavy hair straightened via flat iron and about how much it costs? Also any ideas on maybe products I should bring? My hair is the worst kind super frizzy but super wavy and the wrong weather (ie tons of rain) will make me looke like Ronald McDonald. Right now I get it straigtened with the flat iron, but use no chemicals. Also do you all dye your own hair or go somewhere??
Thanks!

[easyasabc]

[TokyoLiz]

Hair, in my opinion, is hardly a trivial topic. If you're not comfortable with how you look and the hair products you use here in Japan, you'll get frustrated.

Easy says Japanese hair products suck, and a lot of foreign women say the same thing. I bought some foreign made shampoo at the Costco in Chiba City, and I use it most of the time.

Hairdressers use local or imported stuff, and I find it keeps my hair soft either way.

I get my hair coloured at a hairdresser. It sets me back about Y8000 for cut and colour.

The chemicals they use certainly are harsh, and my scalp really felt itchy, but I recovered okay.

BTW, I had long and thick brown hair past my shoulders the first time I came to Japan, but because I couldn't stand the heat and humidity I got it cut into a bob. I've since gone shorter. It feels more comfortable this way, and people compliment me on my hair.

I know this may sound weird, but when my hair gets to feeling dry, I use liquid soap - the kind you use in the shower - instead of shampoo and my hair feels so nice and it's shiny. It takes a bit of experimentation sometimes to figure out your routine when you're in a new country.

[melirae]

What about a good place in Osaka for a haircut? The only thing my hair has in common with Asian hair is that it's straight! Mine is really fine, thin and blonde. I would just want a simple trim every so often. Are there salons that do a good job with this type of hair?

I'm thinking maybe I should just forego the haircuts until I come home because I'm very particular. My hair is below my shoulders and I would like to keep it that way! I don't want it to be butchered!

[J.]

I wouldn't worry about bringing shampoo and such here; they have a bazillion brands and most are fine. If you want a western brand, almost every store and drugstore carries Vidal Sassoon and Wella which are both good. Heavy duty ( deep ) conditioner is called "treatment" here and spelled in kana on the front. Regular everyday conditioner is called conditioner or rinse. You can also order western brands from Foreign Buyers Club. If you have coloured hair, Herbal Essences has one ( light pink colour) that is mild. For brown colours you are okay here but if you have light brown or blond hair you will need to bring or have your colour sent. Again, I think FBC has some shades. I think the hairdressers here are good. The main thing is to get one that speaks English a bit or go with a translator so that they know what you want. I used to be a hairdresser and I have confidence in most hairdressers cutting skills. Get a reccomendation from a friend or student and give it a try. Colours here are harsh because they contain ammonia which is necessary to lift the colour from very dark hair but which is not usually used in Westen products which mostly feature hydrogen peroxide. Hope this helps.

[easyasabc]

[denise]

[Iwantmyrightsnow]

[kiracle]

Not trival at all. If you are in the countryside , good luck finding a haridressor but if you are in an area with a gaijin community I woudl ask around to see if there is somebody familiar with Western hair. My (coutnryircut my hair in a very typical Japanese (and SHORT) style which looked awful on me and will take years to grow out. He also used a razor on my super fine hair. He even thinned it! I've decided to forgo haircuts for the next year. BTW this was the same guy who gave me a great haircut the first time. I think he was being mroe careful then or something.

Recomendations? Try to find a hairdressor familiar with finer hair or keep your cuts very simple and be able to say "no razor please, only scissors" Shampoo and conditioner is easy to find. Hair dye is not - I got a years worth sent to me - unless you want to go black. I dye my hair red and all the red dye here has bleach. Gel, mousse, etc. if you have a brand that works well for you - bring it. Or be prepared to start a probably long trial and error search for new ones.

In the end, it always grows back.

cheers,

kiracle

[vash3000]

And let me add...

I`m not sure what they put in the water in Japan, but the hairdressers are, without exception, all insane.

They insist on making me look like a porcupine, then laughing about it.

"Woosh!" they say in giggly little Hello Kitty voices, everytime I leave, as they follow me into the parking lot to wave goodbye.

I hate them all.

Nice head head massage, though...

Best,
V.

[Lynn]

Ironically, in both New York City, and Seattle, the Japanese hair salons are overbooked with nonJapanese people getting their hair straightened. Apparently, over here the Japanese have the best hair straightening method around. It's also spendy, though. I used to go to a Japanese salon in th village in New York. Tren-dee, it was. I kept it a secret that I used to live in Japan for 4 years. Also, many people go there just for the hair washing alone.

But keep in mind, these sytlist were trained to cut nonJapanese hair. Whereas in Japan, they are trained to cut Japanese hair. My hair is very dark brown and with a very slight wave in it. Looks can be deceiving. Apparently, Japanese hair needs to be cut a certain way(lots of layers) to get body. Well, even though I have a mop of brown/black hair, each individual strand is actually quite fine in comparison to Japanese hair. So when the stylist finished drying my hair, it was so bushy!

As for products, I love Japanese products and bring pack a supply in my suitcase when I go back to the states. Have fun experimenting. Japanese are very, very conscience of looks and spends millions of dollars on it.

[Laura C]

Product query:

Anyone seen the John Freida Frizz=ease range in Tokyo? I can buy it off the net, but much easier if i knew it was in the international pharmacy or a big supermarket.

Thanks!

L

[chi-chi]

You have absolutely no worries. I got the best haircut in my life while in Japan! Damn I wish I could remember the name of the place, but it is on the "main drag" in Osaka, in Namba, I think Doutonbori? The street by the bridge with all the arcades. There is a large hair salon by the movie theater and right across from a major coffee shop that I also forget the name of (NOT Starbucks or Seattle's Best, but a major chain that you'll know on the strip when you see it!) The hair salon is right across the street from it. Just remember main drag with all the ufo catcher machines.