2026-05

Curly hair is rare in Japan — which creates real challenges for foreigners. Tokyo hairstylist Kenji explains why Japanese salons struggle with curly hair and how to find one that actually understands yours.

Japanese hair salons operate differently from what most foreigners are used to. Here's what to expect, what's considered polite, what surprises people, and how to get the most out of your appointment.

Not sure how to communicate what you want at a Japanese hair salon? Tokyo hairstylist Kenji gives you the exact phrases — in English, Japanese, and how to show them — that get you the result you actually asked for.

Getting your hair done in Japan as a foreigner is harder than it should be. Language barriers, hair type mismatches, unexpected results — here's exactly what's going wrong, and how to find a salon in Tokyo or Yokohama that actually delivers what you asked for.

If you've lived in Tokyo or Yokohama as a foreigner, you've probably had at least one bad salon experience. This guide covers everything — how to find an English-speaking stylist, what to expect, what questions to ask, and how to avoid the most common mistakes.