Hi everyone!
I’m an incoming JET placed in Fukuoka-Ken but still quite rural. I have curly hair (3a/3b) and I’m planning on bringing products with me anyway. However, I wanted to know how easily accessible it is to find curly hair products. How much does it cost? How do you deal with curly hair & humidity in Japan? How easy was it to find products? What about going to the salon and getting a haircut?
Any advice would be hugely appreciated!
13 comments
In my experience, not easy. Japanese products aren’t good and hairdressers here don’t understand curly hair. Just bring a ton of your own products
I brought over 200$ worth of hair products and wish I had brought more. Bring your own and bring some to deal with problems you’ve never dealt with before because the weather will have you feeling like you don’t know your hair anymore.
Also check Amazon.co.jp I use Shae moisture and it’s available there but definitely at a premium. I am not prepared for the 100% humidity though.
I just order mine from American amazon. It is expensive, but I can’t find my specific products anywhere here in Japan.
For Salons, in general, I have had no luck. As a guy, cutting the sides is easy enough(since I like it super short) but they always miss up if I let them touch the top.
There’s Iherb. They have a few products, you might want to check what’s available on there before coming because you’re not gonna find anything else.
Salons just straighten my hair after cutting it, they don’t know what to do but neither do I.
Bring as much as you can and maybe see if you can get someone to post more over every few months. I herb has a few different brands but none that worked for my hair so I really wish I brought more with me. I also recommend getting a shower filter straight away cause the water can be harsh on curls 🙁
I do find the hair masks here nice and moisturizing though! Like the tsubaki and fino masks.
Hi fellow Fukuoka JET! Especially fellow curly hair JET,
I’m in the city, but I go to Toni&Guy for my hair needs. They have a location in Tenjin, and they sell products for curly hair. If you go here for your haircuts (highly recommend), ask for Minami Makino
Been using their Label M Anti-frizz balm for my wacky hair. Works wonders.
I’ve also seen MoroccanOil readily available in stores.
I use [Kiyo](https://www.kiyobeauty.com/collections/hair/Masks). They might not have your favorites but they have a ton of products and brands to choose from. They ship from the UK so it’s not the cheapest but it’s the one I’ve found the most luck with.
iHerb is your friend.
AA with primarily 3b/3c hair. I don’t trust Japanese brands honestly to properly care for my curly hair. Back at home I use Mielle products. Through Iherb I was able to most of their pomegranate and honey products: conditioner, leave in, curl smoothie, deep conditioner, spray, shampoo, etc. prices were really decent. The Mielle hair masque is also there. All my products arrived within a week. Also bought some things to care for braids when I got those a few weeks ago.
Shea Moisture and Moroccan Oil products are on Amazon but way too expensive. About ¥3000 (~$25) for one bottle of Shea Moisture shampoo.
Humidity can get intense and my curls are slackingggg. If you have a gel product then bring it!! Bring an entire set of your all your products if no one home is able to send them to you.
I have 4A/4B hair and I’ve mostly imported curly hair products via iHerb, Revolve, and US Amazon. I have bought products via companies that ship internationally but that is a very hefty price tag ($40 in one case) so I won’t be doing that again lol. I’d bring extras of your stylers and leave ins and any holy grail products if you can, and if possible ask a friend in your home country if they can send things to you somehow. There are forwarding shipping services but they can get pricy too since they often charge by weight.
I gave up on the humidity! I use the Ouidad TWST line gel (Amazon) that’s supposed to help protect against humidity and it keeps my hair decent at the moment over a thicker leave in. I also use Sienna Naturals shampoo and hair mask (Revolve) which isn’t as cheap as I’d like so I’d check iHerb first for other products since they are more reasonable. A shower filter may help too.
I’m in Tokyo but because my hair is more textured than yours I have not been to any salons here.
Jet ladies + and curly girl method japan are both Facebook groups that that may be helpful.
My two cents so that iherb ships to japan, so have a quick perusal do that website.
For salons, check out Angels Beauty World in Fussa!