Japanese
barbershops are a new focus for hair-loss consultation
The problem of premature baldness has robbed the confidence of
many people, and they are finding it hard to even consult about
the problem with professionals. Barbershops in Yokohama, Japan
are thriving as discreet places to discuss hair loss and for those
affected to be treated in a private manner. Here, Japanese men
are free to tell and consult about the problem with the barber
shop specialists.
Hair loss in Japan is still something of a delicate subject, not
something to be discussed freely and openly. More and more Japanese
are being attracted to these specialized barbershops, which are
plenty in number across the country. The fact that some of these
barbershops deal with one customer at a time, gives ample opportunity
and confidence for the customer to tell his story and discuss
the problem in complete privacy without being embarrassed. The
barbershop owners take special care while dealing with the people
who are worried about hair thinning and baldness. They often have
special booths for individual customers.
and the care that the owners put into practice have combined
to attract wide number of customers from around the city, which
makes the business of hair growth consultancy a good prospect.
The number of barbershops catering to people with hair loss and
hair growth concerns is increasing. According to Zenriren, the
national federation of barbershop owners in Japan, claims they
have about 90,000 members. Zeniren established a system to license
hair counselors around five years ago. The system offers a 20-hour
course twice a year for members who want to get a license as a “hair
counselor”. The course includes teaching of hair care and
the mechanisms of hair loss. The course also trains prospective
counselors to provide hair checkups. So far a total of 735 members
have obtained the license.
Barber schools in Tokyo and nine prefectures including Osaka,
Aichi and Kumamoto introduced hair care classes this spring. The
trend is partly attributable to competition with beauty salons,
which are popular among young men, and shops that offer quick,
low-cost haircuts. "It is a time when barbershops need added
value. The hair restoration market has large potential for growth," says
a Zenriren spokesperson. So far the barbershops have been successful
in creating some confidence in the minds of customers that they
have something to offer on hair care and hair growth.
• A hotel named as the Rihga Royal Hotel Tokyo in Shinjuku
Ward, has started to offer an accommodation package for male customers
called "Otoko no saisei". This means “Men’s
rebirth” and is an interesting package for men who are looking
for hair consultation. The hotel has actually tied up with a hair
clinic and a therapist of this clinic is sent to the room of the
customer who has availed himself of this package. The therapist
gives the customer scalp massages and other hair treatments. The
package is very popular and more and more customers are looking
for it. So if you have some money to spend, this could be the
place for you for your problems and solutions - the package
costs 35,000 yen per night including breakfast.
• Pixy, a chain of aesthetic salons for men, also offers
services to those with thinning hair, which includes removing
dirt from pores and stimulating the scalp with a weak electrical
current. This treatment is around 90-minutes long and costs about
15,000 yen. "Even for male customers who take great interest
in their appearance, hair clinics are not easy places to visit.
But there are many people who feel able to go to aesthetic salons
instead," says a Pixy spokesperson. The company is trying
to develop a franchise system to expand its presence. they intend
to open around 20 shops this year.
• A survey on 219 hairdressers conducted by nonprofit organization,
the Japan Society of Hair Transplantation, showed that 26.9 percent
of clients first became concerned about hair thinning and loss
in their early 30s, while 23.7 percent became concerned in their
late 20s. The survey also found that many respondents think men
with hair loss smoked, ate greasy food or were heavy drinkers.
According to the Japan Hair Science Association, each person
has an average of 100,000 hairs and about 70 to 80 hairs fall
out naturally each day. The lifetime of a hair is normally around
six to seven years.
The association receives more than 800 calls a year from people
seeking advice about hair loss. More young men seem to be worried
about thinning hair, even when the problem is not very serious.
This is partly due to the growing number of men who are concerned
about their appearance and partly because they are dieting so
much.
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