On haircare in Tokyo: the gaijin's worst nightmare

So I decided to take the plunge and get my hair done in Tokyo! My roots were getting pretty hideous, so it was a toss up between carrying on looking like a bad advertisement for the 90's, or risking experiencing first hand some of the horror stories I've heard about expats getting their hair done in Japan (think scalp burning, green hair, the works).

After researching for what seemed like years on Google, I figured Watanabe's in Harajuku would probably be my best bet, as the reviews seemed good, staff are English speaking, and the prices not an arm and a leg (although probably still an arm's worth...the trouble it takes to be blonde, seriously!). So I booked myself in and prayed. To be honest you can imagine I was practically shitting myself, and when I turned up it didn't do wonders to reassure me. The salon is pretty small and looks quite dated, and at first I had a few translation issues with my hairdresser, Aki. By the time I had finally got across what I wanted doing with my hair, I wasn't quite sure I wanted it anymore and was glimpsing towards the door in the hope that my fairy godmother would appear and just make me naturally blonde, therefore supposedly solving all of my problems.

Things were seemingly going ok, but after half a head of foils and a toner, as if I wasn't already petrified enough, they brought out a weird steam machine with smoke billowing out of the sides, and put my hair inside it. Alarm bells were ringing in my head. I sat for a seemingly endless half an hour wondering how something that looked like a prop out of Doctor Who could ever benefit my hair (along with some slightly more hysterical thoughts - seriously, I am just the worst person ever when it comes to getting their hair done!!).

However...to my surprise, after this ordeal I didn't turn out bald or with a bright orange mop, but instead my hair felt gorgeous and super healthy! (apparently it's a new Japanese conditioning system - God bless Nihon). Since the Japanese sun had completely fried my hair over the past month, you cannot imagine how much of a godsend this was! Whats more, as Aki dried my hair, I could see the colour had worked out perfect too, and now two weeks on my hair still feels great. Well, they do say never judge a book by it's cover - Watanabe's was a definite find :)  my hairdresser phobia now has one less place on its list - Aki definitely knows what he's doing and really is worth every penny. Speaking of which, the end price made me choke up a little bit, but if I get the money I'll definitely go back. If you live in Tokyo and want gorgeous locks then hit up Watanabe's!

The evening of the day I got my hair done! Obviously looking happy.

Watanabe's: http://www.watanabe-hair.com/home.html
Phone number: 03-3405-1188 (English speaking)

- all products are imported from the UK. Staff are fluent in English, plus Aki has previously worked in the UK for four years so has lots of experience with foreign hair.
- half a head of highlights, a toner, conditioning treatment and blow-dry cost me ¥18000. (Ouch.) The only reason being the conditioning treatment bumped the price up a ridiculous amount, buuuut I think it was definitely worth it! I highly recommend this place :)