Japanese Hair Salons - Curiosities and Vocabulary

Want to get a haircut in Japan and don't know where to start? Hair salons in Japan are wonderful, but they can be expensive, have different names, and Japanese people may not have the experience with their hair. In this article, we are going to talk a little about barbers, beauty salons or hairdressers in Japan.

Traditional barbershops can be identified by a swivel post with striped colors of blue, red and white. They are called tokoya (床屋) and are intended for a male audience, most of whom are middle-aged men. Beauty salons are called biyouin (美容院) and are intended for both sexes.

The differences between hairdressers in Japan

There are many different things about a hairdresser in Japan. They usually cover their face with a cape to wash their hair. Capes often have arms, and many salons offer drinks such as tea, coffee or even soft drinks. The price may vary if your saber is very long and weekends tend to be more expensive.

Hairdressers in Japan - curiosities and vocabulary

Salons usually offer low prices if it's just the cut. Many salons charge for the use of shampoo and drying in service. Cuts can range from 500 to 3000 yen. Of course, there are many other services involving hair that are much more expensive.

Although beauty salons in Japan are expensive, their experience and service is incredible. It is very normal for hairdressers to offer you something to drink, a shoulder massage and even shampooing your hair (it feels like a massage too).

Tokyo's most popular hair and beauty salons are hayato, shinka, assort, sozo, bondz salon, natura and hiroin. If you are traveling through Tokyo, we recommend these places. Remembering that, as they are the most popular, they are probably the most expensive.

Most salons have massage chairs, offer services such as ear cleaning and provide other comfort and relaxation procedures. There are many salons that already have the objective of serving foreigners. They end up creating true community centers for foreigners to delve into the culture.

Hairdressers in Japan - curiosities and vocabulary

Japanese vocabulary and haircuts

There are thousands of words related to haircut and used in salons. Discover some below:

Responsive Table: Scroll the table sideways with your finger >>
PortugueseJapaneseRomaji
barbershop床屋tokoya
Barber理容師riyoushi
Cortar切るkiru
Cutカットkatto
Longo長い / ロングnagai / rongu
Short短い / ショートmijikai / shooto
Mediumミディアムmidiamu
Haircut髪のカットkami no katto
hairdresser美容師biyoushi
Frizzクセkuse
Bobボブbobu
Beauty salon美容院biyouin
washingヘアサロンhea saron
Shampooシャンプーshampuu
Hair treatmentブローburoo
Treatmentトリートメントtoriitomento
Permanentパーマpaama
straighteningストレート パーマsutoreeto pama
Dyeカラーkaraa
Fringe前髪maegami
peaked cutシャギーshagii
razor cutレザーカットrezaa katoo
cut with scissorsスキバサミsukibasam
stroke cutストロークカットsutorooku katto
layer cutレイヤーカットreiyaa katto
effect cutエフェクトカットafekuto katto
Manicureヘアマニキュアーheamanikyuaa
Hair style髪型kamigata
wavy hairウェーブweebu
Mushroom Cutマッシュmasshu
Texture, hair wave髪質kamishitsu
Straight hairストレートsutoreeto
Brown hair茶髪chapatsu
Black hair黒髪kurokami
Blond hair金髪kinpatsu
White hair白髪shiraga
roots根元nemoto
Moustache口髭kuchi hige
Beard顎髭ago hige
Pentekushi
razorカミソリkamisori

Phrases to talk at the hairdresser

Responsive Table: Scroll the table sideways with your finger >>
How much does a haircut cost?カットはいくらですか?Katto wa ikura desu ka?
What length do you want?長さはどうしますか?Naga-sa wa dou shimasu ka?
I want a haircut, please.カットをお願いしますKatto wo onegaishimasu.
Could you cut it a little shorter please.もっと短くしてください。Motto mijikaku shite kudasai.
Please cut this far.この辺まで切ってください。Kono hen made kitte kudasai.
Is this length ok?長さはいかがでしょう?Nagasa wa ikaga deshou?
Cut a little more please.もう少し切ってください。Mousukoshi kitte kudasai.
Please show me color samples.色のサンプルを見せてください。Iro no sanpuru wo misete kudasai.
Please put some gel on your hairヘアジェルをつけてください。Hea jeru wo tsukete kudasai.

Although we share some phrases, remember that countless dialogues can arise inside a beauty salon in Japan. Be sure to go with a friend who is fluent in Japanese.

I hope you enjoyed this little article. Share your experience at a Beauty Salon or Hairdresser in Japan through our comments. We appreciate the comments and shares. We also recommend:

Finally, we'll leave a video of our daily Japan channel, where they visit a Tokoya.

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