Finally, a colorist
who understands
your hair.
Foil highlights, lowlights & ombré — designed specifically for European and Western hair textures. Sapporo’s only specialist.
Message Yasu on WhatsAppWhy color goes wrong
for non-Asian hair in Japan.
“She had been to four different salons in Sapporo. Every single one had left her hair worse than before.”
A 55-year-old client from Germany — living in Sapporo since moving from the US — came to me after visiting four salons over the course of a year. What I found was heartbreaking: zebra-stripe highlights with no toner, bleach applied at 6% from root to tip on already fragile hair, and ends so dry a comb couldn’t pass through them.
This isn’t a story about bad stylists. Japanese salons are exceptionally skilled — for Japanese hair. The problem is structural: the techniques, products, and timing used for dense, dark Asian hair simply don’t translate to fine European or Western hair. The results are predictable, and they’re avoidable.
Oxidant strength
Japanese salons routinely use 6% developer — appropriate for lifting dark Asian hair. On fine European hair, this causes rapid, uneven oxidation and significant structural damage. The right strength is usually 1.9-3%.
Foil placement
Techniques designed for thick, uniform Asian hair create harsh, high-contrast stripes on finer Western hair. Natural-looking dimension requires a completely different placement approach — softer sections, varied depths, blended roots.
No toner
Skipping toner is common in Japan because Asian hair rarely goes yellow-brassy. Non-Asian hair almost always does. Without a toner, even a technically correct bleach job will look harsh and unfinished.
The language gap
Even when you can show a reference photo, the nuance of “I want soft, lived-in highlights — not bright stripes” is difficult to convey without fluent communication. Misunderstandings become visible the moment the foils come off.
This menu is designed
for you — if:
This menu is not available for:
Hair longer than the collarbone — foil work on long hair is unpredictable in timing and result without an assistant, and Yasu works alone.
Full-head bleach or dramatic color transformations (e.g. going from dark to platinum) — these require multiple sessions and are not currently offered.
Asian hair — different techniques are used for different hair types. Please enquire about the standard color menu instead.
What’s included,
what it costs.
All prices include tax. No surcharge for toner, head spa, or blow-dry finish — everything is included.
Half-Head Foils & Precision Cut
¥40,000 tax included
approx. $255
Partial foil placement — crown, face-framing, or scattered throughout — for natural dimension and movement. Ideal for a first appointment or for maintaining existing color. Includes precision cut tailored to your texture and lifestyle.
- Half-head foil highlights or lowlights
- Toner (always included — no extra charge)
- Precision cut for non-Asian hair
- Salomb nano-bubble scalp detox
- 7-minute Japanese head spa
- Professional blow-dry & iron finish
- 100% English consultation
Full-Head Foils & Precision Cut
¥45,000 tax included
approx. $287
Full-head foil placement for a complete, uniform result — richer dimension from root to ends. Best suited for those wanting maximum coverage or a more significant tonal shift. Includes precision cut, toner, and the full treatment experience.
- Full-head foil highlights or lowlights
- Toner (always included — no extra charge)
- Precision cut for non-Asian hair
- Salomb nano-bubble scalp detox
- 7-minute Japanese head spa
- Professional blow-dry & iron finish
- 100% English consultation
* Available for non-Asian hair only, collarbone length or shorter.
* Full-head bleach and all-over color transformation are not currently offered.
* Ombré and balayage may be available upon consultation — please enquire via WhatsApp.
* Prices in USD are for reference only. Rates based on approx. ¥157 = $1.
15 years of coloring
non-Asian hair.
“In Australia and Germany, I worked with European hair every single day. The product choices, the developer strength, the foil technique — everything is different. I brought all of that back to Sapporo.”
During 15 years in Australia and Germany, the majority of Yasu’s clients had European or Western hair. He learned that fine, light hair demands lower developer strengths, softer foil placement, and almost always requires a toner to achieve a natural, polished finish.
Back in Japan, he saw the same story repeated: clients with non-Asian hair leaving salons with results that were technically “done” but visually wrong. Brassy. Stripey. Dry. He decided to do something about it.
From first message
to finished color.
Send a WhatsApp message
Tell Yasu about your hair — length, current color, past treatments (bleach, straightening, self-color), and what you’re hoping to achieve. A reference photo is very welcome. He’ll reply personally in English, usually within a few hours.
Honest assessment
Based on your hair history, Yasu will tell you exactly what’s possible in one session — and what isn’t. If your hair needs recovery before color work, he’ll say so. No upselling, no false promises.
Confirm your appointment
Once the plan is agreed, your appointment is confirmed. The exact address of the salon (Maruyama, 3-min from the station) is shared at this point. The salon takes a maximum of 3 clients per day.
In-salon consultation & color
Your session begins with a hands-on consultation — Yasu will look at your hair in natural light, assess the condition, and confirm the plan before any product is applied. The full service, including head spa and blow-dry, typically takes 2.5–3.5 hours.
Tell Yasu about
your hair.
Send a WhatsApp message with your hair history and what you’re hoping to achieve. No commitment required — just an honest conversation.
Message Yasu on WhatsApp Back to HomeNon-Asian hair · Collarbone length or shorter · English only · Sapporo, Maruyama