Category Archives: Hair Salon

Catherine with a B

March 3, 2012 By in Daily Living, Girlfriends, Hair Salon, Kathryn, Living in Tokyo, Tokyo, useful Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment
Catherine

Catherine at an art gallery opening

So, I have a new domain, new theme for the blog, and new friend. Coincidentally, her name is Catherine but of course she spells her name differently. She is super cool and REALLY gorgeous. I only make friends with the gorgeous set so of course I needed to get to know her more.

I tried to ask her about her beauty regimen because then I could copy it to the letter. She simply blew some smoke in my face from her 1950′s cigarette and laughed politely. So of course, I stalked her…

I discovered she had bi-monthly hair moisture treatments which were necessary to keep her hair in super silky condition and of course shoulder massages:

Hair Treatments

Hair Treatments

The other day I caught her in Hiroo, but it took me a while to register because she was in disguise: Sportswear. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing! She was going into a Japanese Plastic Surgery Clinic.

In Cognito

I waited a while before going into the clinic for fear of being discovered. I know I should have turned back now, because what do I care what they do here? but curiosity got the best of me and of course, I was thinking of my readers and how maybe someone out there might want to know about aesthetics in Japan.

Evidently, Catherine is meticulous in her maintenance providers. Here at Plaza Plastic Surgery, Dr. Kure had impeccable qualifications (trained in the US and Board Certified) and he wrote the book on Botox. Literally:

The Book on Botox by Dr. Kure

The Book on Botox by Dr. Kure

While I waited to make an appointment for a consultation for wrinkly knees, I could overhear Catherine and Dr. Kure laughing and talking about how “Vitamin B” shots were so different here in Japan as opposed to America. Evidently in America, you can pay by the unit and in Tokyo it is pretty much by area. The plus side is, after 1 week, Dr. Kure said if she didn’t feel like she had gotten enough result, she could come back for a “free” touch up. Just when I thought she was going to leave, I heard her ask if the Doctor wouldn’t mind looking at some unsightly mark on her buttocks that was troubling her. Being the ever-sacrificing physician that he is, he said he would check it out. After a few seconds, he offered to try an experiment and laser it for free and see if it helped. Being the courageous lady that she is, of course she consented. She said he could call the new treatment “The Botox & Buttocks Special”. Dr. Kure said he wished all his patients were as funny and charming as she is, and I heard a playful laugh through the door. He also bemoaned the fact that in Japan, aesthetics is still one of those things most women didn’t share with one another. It was all still very secretive so word of mouth wasn’t helping his business. He also mentioned that boob jobs were more popular before the earthquake but not so much since. Maybe people are giving all their boob money to the temples. Liposuction of the hips seemed to be very popular among men and women here and is basically outpatient procedure, unless of course you are getting a whole bunch sucked out at once. In the end, “Vitamin B” for forehead, between the brows, and chin ended up costing about 60,000 yen or $750.00. Mental note to self: start savings account for aesthetics for that day when I need it.

When I realized she was getting ready to go, I hurried out the office and tried to act all natural and spontaneous when I tried to bump into her on the street all casual-like. She was gracious as to be expected and said she had just come back from her nutritionist (wink). Being her future friend I knew it was in my best interest not to bust her on what I knew and to just play along. I have a very good feeling about our relationship.

Until next time…

Time, Fashion, White Woman, What Happened?!?, Movies, Bicycle Police, Vending Machines, Hair Salon Part 2

September 17, 2011 By in Chase, Daily Living, Hair Salon, Japan, Japanese Excursions, Kathryn, Living in Tokyo, Tokyo, Uncategorized, useful Tags: , , , 5 Comments

For those of you reading and appreciating the blog: Thank You. In a city where sarcasm doesn’t exist, it’s a little bit like 1 hand clapping all the time.

Today I’m talking about a bunch of stuff. I finally was able to decipher my oven manual and have the time on my oven converted to AM/PM as opposed to military time. I know this doesn’t seem like a big deal to you, but after a while, all that subtracting by 12 was making me a little headachey. By the way, that’s how they roll here in Japan. As if Metrics wasn’t hard enough to punch into my converter app.

As I continue to live here in Tokyo, I will try to remember to let you know what kind of “fashion” I see on the streets. Like I have noticed a LOT of girls (and a few guys) running around with frames on their faces without the lenses. It’s a little weird. I don’t get it. The other thing I have noticed is women walking around with VERY short shorts. I know it’s hot, but still. Cliff and I were walking home the other week and we got behind this one girl who I swear was wearing white underwear that had pockets drawn on the butt. WHITE. I was thinking I hope she got lasered and I hope it doesn’t rain for her sake. Am I getting old? I really thought it was gross. Among my observations, I’m just going to say what others here are thinking. What the heck is going on with the Caucasian group of women here? Maybe it’s because back in Hotlanta, all my friends were hot chicks and there were certainly extensions, nails, boobs and whatever else deemed necessary for goddessness, but over here, the white chicks are losing the battle. I thought it was just me and the fact that maybe I just came from a city where women liked to accessorize, but here it is a stark contrast between the Asian women who put on heels to go to the convenience store, and the foreign white women who look like they own no make-up and are always wearing bad resort wear circa 1980. I’m sorry if you are reading this White Lady and you take offense, but let’s be honest with ourselves. It kind of surprises me because for the most part, the expats here are women from around the world who have traveled and seen a lot more than most. I’ll try to take some pictures secretly to illustrate my point.

Chase went to his first movie here in Tokyo at the Roppongi Hills. It was part of a birthday party for one of the boys in our apartment. I knew tickets wouldn’t be cheap so I opted to keep another mom company and not have a ticket bought for me. Tickets range from 900-1700 yen ($11.72-22.14) depending on whether you are a high school student, senior or general admission. Tickets are assigned! and if you are like me and you don’t see movies opening weekend so that later you might be able to walk into a theater to find only 4 other people there with you, that kind of goes away because in the assignments, even if there are only 5 people in a theater they plop you all together in the middle. Since I haven’t tested the MPs (Movie Police) by actually going to a movie and switching seats, I’ll let you know when that drama unfolds.

In case you were wondering about the movie snack options I took this picture. Don't forget that portion sizes are much smaller.

Speaking of police, the other day I needed to pick up something at the shopping center and rode over on my bike. I couldn’t find a spot on the street rail, so I tied my bike to a tree next to the door and went in. By the time I came out, there was a ticket on my bike lock! Evidently I did something wrong. I’m not sure how they expect to enforce this, but I can only assume they think I will simply be a good citizen and not do it again. I just thought that was funny. Angela, of course, explained to me that I need to register my bicycle with the government. You know how in every mom group there’s that one woman who seems to know everything and have been everywhere already twice? that’s Angela. Part of me doesn’t believe she’s really new here. She’s either one of the craziest people I know, or one of the bravest.

Yesterday I went on a Kimono Shopping excursion with the TAC Women’s group. It was a lot of fun and I actually ended up picking up a terrific antique Obi to hang on my wall. I have to mention, during our walk, we passed a vending machine and we realized that it sold beer and wine! Talk about trusting your citizens.

Nghi is getting the Asahi Dry in the extra big can

I know compared to some blogs, mine might run a sukoshi long, but partly it’s because there is so much to talk about!

I want to wrap this episode with a follow-up to my first hair experience with my second attempt.

This is the website for Montblan criket:  http://www.creativeart.jp

Yuji Okawa is evidently some kind of color genius and in fact helps Aveda create some of its colors. Despite his notoriety, his salon is modest by some standards and I liked it better as soon as I walked in. It didn’t feel like a nightclub and he was very kind and spoke great English. Educated in England and his family has been in the hair business for many years.

I was offered a blanket, didn’t take it. We got to know each other a bit. While my color was processing,

 

Yuji offered me a variety of drinks, I accepted coffee.

When I needed to shampoo, they didn’t put the tissue over my face. The only way I can describe the shampoo is to say it felt like what I imagine a newborn baby must feel the first time its mother washes its hair. It was nice.

All in all a much more simplified experience and much more enjoyable experience. As we were wrapping up and I was signing the bill: 15,500 Yen = $201.84 I felt like I needed to say something more. I started telling him, “you know, in the States, I never had to say anything to Patti…” and he reached over and touched my shoulder and said, “Don’t worry, I’m here to make you beautiful. You don’t have to say anything more”.  He had me at “Don’t“.

Until next time…

Got My Hair Did, Massage, Finally a little Plastic, Culture Shock

August 31, 2011 By in Hair Salon Tags: 1 Comment

This one’s for you Patti…

Three weeks here in Japan now. I knew I would have to get the hair done. My greys stand out and demand attention. My neighbor Lisa who is also new but has been here off and on since April recommended her place: Isolite.

http://www.insolite.co.jp/

First I walk in and people are offering me water or tea. They also want to take my purse so it will not impede my posture. Kazuki-San introduces himself and as we are “talking” he is touching my hair and examining his new specimen. A little strange, but right now everything is strange, so I am going with it. Then we sort of do the traditional nodding of the head and smiling bit and I am led to the back where another gentleman is the shampoo-er. I sit in a chair that reminds me of the Mercedes car seat and as soon as I sit, someone places a soft throw over my lap to keep me warm. Then the Shampoo Man (SM) very carefully arranges little towels around my neck and drapes me with a fancy cape and I assure you, there will be no water drippage. Not even on the face because before he starts the water, he puts something the size of 2 sheets of toilet paper on my face. Did not expect that. The shampoo which followed was probably the most thorough shampoo I have ever had in my life. Lisa had informed me that they give the best head massages and I’m thinking, she was right. This feels rigorous, but good. Once the SM finishes, I am undraped and seated at the Styling Chair. SM is responsible for re-draping me in the Styling Cape (different from the Shampoo Cape) and gives me a lap pillow to rest my hands. He then brushes my hair and preps it for the Head Stylist (HS). The HS arrives and he has an assistant. I hear “highlights” and I nod. The assistant brings a folding board with a bunch of colored hair swatches for me to pick from. Once we all know the plan, the coloring commences. There were no fewer than 3 people working on my head at one time. The whole time no one said anything and they were all so precise. After all the foils are done and I have sat sufficiently long enough under the mechanical halo I am un-caped and re-caped to get my second shampoo and rinse. Same as before, now my head is a little sore from so much stimulation. After the chemicals have been rinsed out of my hair, the SM kneels next to me holding 3 vials of scented oils and asks me which I like. I pick Lavender. We walk to the Styling Chair and THEN he commences with my head massage. This also includes beating my shoulders and back. When the HS returns he starts trimming my hair and then drying and when I see him whipping out the curling iron I tell him it isn’t necessary. At this point I feel like I am done. I get up and go to the counter. my bill is 18500 yen (approx $242.00).

The interesting thing about this whole experience is that everyone I meet who I share bits of my hairvisit with all seem to think this is the most fabulous thing and isn’t it wonderful. I don’t know if this is a culture shock moment for me or if I have been spoiled by my experience in Atlanta, but I literally felt nauseaus coming out of the salon. For over the last 6 years I have been seeing 1 person in Atlanta named Patti Howes for my hair. For the most part it has been in her very private single room single chair and single sink operation. I always knew it was something special, I just didn’t realize how special until I got here. It isn’t for everyone, I know, because some people like the drama of a hair salon and all the people milling about. Not me. My hair appoinment is my sanctuary where I relaxed and talked about my family, life, friends, got a little therapy and made a very special friend. I have already made an appointment with another salon hoping to find the compromise between here and there. I don’t think I will be able to find another Patti-San, but that’s probably not a realistic expectation. Friends are special, and when they become a part of your life like that you just have to consider yourself lucky.

All the walking I am doing has led to me having a VERY tight backside. I have actually practically given up real shoes and gone to sneakers most of the time. Despite that, my back is still  aching so I scheduled a massage at the Tokyo American Club. Of course it is a beautiful facility. Of course they had candles and aromatherapy going. But when it comes to the massage, it was what I call a “resort massage”. Was it relaxing? yes. Was it disappointing? yes. My personal preference for a massage is something that is very painful and makes me question my own sanity. This was ok, but I will continue searching.

After finally getting my Alien card I was able to meet with Cliff at the CitiBank and finally get a supplementary card to the account. Just realize that this is a cash card ony. Not a debit card and not a credit card. Everything is such a process. Be aware.

Overall, 3 weeks in, I feel pretty good. Chase is thriving and loves his new school. I asked him what he liked so much about it and he said “I feel like I’m finally among my own people” so I’m thinking Asians? other blended kids? and he says, “Boys!” We got our furnishings on Friday and by Saturday, Cliff and I had stayed up to put most everything away. It is definitely nicer being surrounded by our things. I have to thank Michael for our layout and fabrics. I don’t know if it’s because we have been living like nomads for so long or what, but everything just looks so beautiful. I have quit pouting and am cooking or at least preparing breakfast and dinner again. I will start my exercise classes here soon (tomorrow I see a trainer and friday I will get nails done). I have also joined the Tokyo American Club Women’s group. They have excursions and classes that they offer and I plan to take some.

I had an interesting conversation today with someone about finding good Korean or Mexican food. It suddenly struck me why this “perfect” society seems to miss the mark on these types of cuisines. Korean, Mexican, Ethiopian, Soul food… these are all 3rd world foods with tremendous history and culture and not known for exactness of recipe. These are foods made with a little bit of this and little bit of that and when you translate that into a Japanese setting it all becomes sterile and meaningless. There are a lot of things the Japanese do that are incredibly well thought, planned and precise, but I have come to appreciate how some of the best flavors of life come from the spills and mistakes that occur.

I’m also putting in some random pictures I thought were fun that I was too tired to share before:

Here is a link to a video I took of Cliff eating dessert at a famous restaurant in Kyoto. I swear I’ve watched this thing 6 times and I pee myself almost everytime.

http://youtu.be/ryMVLxUK18I

Until next time…

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