To be fair, I've always had really satisfying experiences getting my hair cut in Japan, whether it was in rural Shikoku or Osaka. Finding a great hair salon is a challenge in a new city, but thankfully Tokyo has the best (and highest number per capita!) in the country.
I first heard about Watanabe Hair Dressing through a friend who had had been raving about it for several years, and since I trust her impeccable taste, I gave it a try. I have visited the salon four times already, and I am more than pleased with the results- in fact, it's the very best haircut and treatment I have ever had, and I only have excellent reviews for the place. They cater to the foreigner crowd: most of the stylists speak English and some have worked abroad, thus are used to non-Japanese hair (which has a very different texture and thickness).
My haircut at Watanabe was a full experience involving a back and head massage, hot towels and lavender essential oils, cutting, styling, and conditioning. My hair stylist is Kenichi Momoi, and I highly recommend booking an appointment with him: he is so professional and pleasant to work with, made me feel extremely comfortable and knows exactly what is best for different types of hair (I tried to talk him into giving me a fringe, but he warned me against it, as it wouldn't work with my thick, wavy texture).
I think one of the most important qualities of a hair stylist is their knowledge about hair and how they can personalize each cut to suit the client’s hair texture and features, regardless of the trends. He's such a hair genius that he guessed which shampoo I use just by the smell of my hair (L'Occitane), and noticed I had given myself a kindergarten-scissors trim when gum accidentally got stuck in a strand of hair a few weeks ago. I can’t hide anything from him.
All the staff at the salon is highly qualified and professional: two of my friends also recommended Chie Funakura, another stylist there. In fact I have only heard amazing, positive feedback from a handful of friends who have visited the salon before. I’m so pleased with the quality of service and professionalism of Watanabe, and every time I exit the salon I feel completely relaxed and refreshed. If you live in Tokyo or even just visiting, you should book an appointment there.
I seriously applaud any stylist who can somehow manage to turn my unmanageable mane into a sleek cut.
