I went for my first Japanese haircut today. I met a friend when I was leaving the school and told him of my intention, and he told me that there’s a hair dressers in Wing Town. I headed there after I got home and eventually found the place. I told the man at the reception that it was my first time at a hair dressers in Japan and asked him to bear with me and help me out. He led me to a chair and a girl, Maiko (真衣子), gave me some male fashion magazines to look at while I waited. She came to me after about two minutes and I explained that I just wanted my hair shortened a bit and thinned out so she picked up a magazine and started leafing through it. I pointed out some examples of what is way too far and she showed me one not-so-crazy haircut and asked if it was too short. It was just as short as I was prepared to go so I said fine and figured “she’s a pro, I’ll just let her at it”. She made my chair recline back and a swivelling sink was moved into position behind my head.
She proceeded to wash my hair and then massaged my head, all the time making small-talk. I told her about Ireland, the greenery, our various castles, differences between Garvey’s on Denmark Street and this airy, futuristic hair salon. She seemed interested but I had a feeling that she was just feigning it for the most part. People here have a “work smile” that they have to put on while at work. In school we were told how you give a hearty “GOOD MORNING!!” whether you feel well or not.
After she was done washing my hair, she asked if it was ok if she gave me a shoulder massage (that’s usually how they ask you here… putting all your messages together into one bag, taking your money when you pay sometimes, any many other obvious things. It’s just polite). Of course, I most certainly did not deny the massage.
When she was done, another girl, Sachiko (幸子), swapped with her and cut my hair. She did this entirely with a scissors until the very when she tidied up the edges with a clippers. She put in wax, and explained to me how to put it in myself. I paid (4200 yen for the shampoo/haircut/massage and 1300 for the wax) and Maiko held my jacket open for me. It would have been easier to put it on myself. I got a bow from the four staff members as I exited (Maiko, Sachiko, the gentleman at reception, and another girl who held various sprays and scissors while Sachiko cut my hair).
I’ve asked for some opinions on the new hair. Japanese people have said “it’s better than before”. Marina said that it’s good but just different, and I should just keep with whatever’s comfortable for me. Patrick described it as “scobe unreal”. I leave you to your own opinions with the glamour-shots below. Here’s where I would compare myself to a well-known male model, but my interest in fashion (particularly male fashion, which I consider an oxymoron), is so low that I cannot name a single “male model”. I do some great poses in the head-shots though.
I think it looks class!
Everything in Japan is great, especially the fashion! It’s only a matter of time before they beat their style into you!
A guy on a bike passed by me recently. He had big bleached hair… usual Japanese style. He had badly fitting jeans which dropped low enough that about 4cm of his underwear was showing. His belt was very blinging indeed. He had a fake-leather jacket on with something written in gold cursive letters on the back, but I didn’t make out what it said and just looked like a total idiot, to be frank.
Even if I liked their fashion though, I don’t even think that it would actually suit me as a foreigner. It might possibly suit you, as you’re skinny and have long hair which you can straighten. When I came into Castletroy College in first year I was asked countless times if I was on the rugby team. This physique just doesn’t go with Japanese fashion. The entire industry is orientated around underweight guys.
Well you took an example of people I wouldn’t think look good either!
But yeah I take your point on how their male fashion is orientated around underweight guys. I think it boils down to wether or not you think the androgenous look is good. To be honest I love how they are there, for a number of reasons. E.g. liking things to be “kawaii” and brilliantly colourful regardless of their seriousness, seeing Japanese fashion as the opposite to and a bastion against the sterotypical “black” manly (I could go as far as calling it animalistic, but risk being burned at the stake) look and being able to apply it to myself, as I too am a pathetic weed with longish hair.
Genesis from Final Fantasy VII kinda reminds me of the whole thing: http://www.playlipse.fr/screens/429_15437_Crisis_Core___Final_Fantasy_VII.jpg
Does look kinda scobe-ish to be honest :p
It’s probably the fact it’s short on the sides combined with gel. That much gel in Ireland is kind of associated with knackers and scumbags etc.
It’s probably the way huge hoopy earrings in Ireland are what all the knackers wear and in America it’s what all the popular hot girls wear. Like if you look at how a lot of the girls dress in America it’s like the knackers dress over here.
I say, you don’t start accepting what appeals to them, you start changing them to appeal to you.
Ugh, ignore them. Sean’s right. It looks class! Its not possible for you to look scobe-ish. Men should have no input on commenting on stuff like this.
That’s my Liv! I saw you arround the other day was too afraid to approach though I heard you’re completely different.
Especially from the side I think it looks good.
I’m most certainly not completely different. Its all liez! I’ve emailed you anyway. You better reply
About time you ditched the parting! Looks grand to me. Scobe-ish? Don’t think so at all. Looks great and you’ll soon grow into your new look.
Tilmitt: You’d be surprised at how much hip-hop and R&B influence the fashion here. I think it’s more prevalent than you realise.
Niall: It’s wax, not gel.
Liv: I believe there’s a look which looks cool to men and a look which looks cool to women. All the guys here who look like total retards to me are eaten up by the girls. I have a theory on why Japanese girls are less inclined than western girls to go for manly men. I’ll blog about this some time in the future.
Jim: Thanks for the support!
Cool. Don’t diss Garvey’s though. I get my haircut by an Italian a couple of miles down the road. He always moans in Italian and I keep coming back because its so funny. Scobes have no hair and their heads still look greasy somehow and they have girlfriends that are a foot taller than them who look okay from behind but have the face of a shrew; You’re okay.
I love Garvey’s! Japanese girls look great from any angle so I think I’m safe in that area.
Is wax less shiny than gel?
In that case it’s probably not scobe-ish. Their hair looks like grease mixed with hair thanks to the amount of gel they put in it.
Don’t mind what I say about hair I know nothing other than I like mine dead short.
Do you ever see cosplayers walking around in Japan?
Wax isn’t shiny at all.
Hip-hop has infected every part of the world, but if you compare Japan to the west I think it is far less infected. You can find a counter-example anywhere, but by and large I just think Japanese are well, their own unique Japanese Kawaii style. If not, then why do I like it so much?
Looking good Daniel. Don’t think I’ve seen you with a different hairstyle since you were 8 and you had a fringe! Also, the hello kitty stuff is greatly appreciated! thanks
Don’t forget using mom’s mousse on Halloween to make me look like a vampire.
Oh my God! What did you do??? lol
Or that time you went to the cinema (Series of Unfortunate Events) and straightened the front of your hair.
Oh yeah! I forgot about that! I think Seán and myself are the only guys in the group to have used a straightener… am I right?
AAAHHH I love it! Best hair ever, I think it looks so cool! and you thought I wouldn’t like it… tisk tisk!
LOVE
Cass
Yeah I can’t think of anyone else. I wanted to buy one before but now I get a permanent straight perm when it gets cut! How embarrassing. You don’t have any pics of the Series of Unfortunate Events night??