IN JAPAN, most women like to look elegant – from top to toe. Although elegance is still important, the season’s hot hair trends are focussing on strong, feminine looks.
“The season’s hottest hair trend is the bob cut for medium-length hair. In spring, the bob hairstyle features a heavier look where hair is thick. During summer, the bob style is more lightweight, and the cut, wispy,” says Mutsumi Kurahashi, Japanese celebrity hair colourist.
For autumn/winter, the bob style evolves further and hair is made longer with a soft perm.
Kurahashi of ZA/ZA International, Japan, was in Kuala Lumpur recently for Schwarzkopf Professional’s new Igora Imagine Colour Trend Collection hair show. The annual colour trend collection invites leading hairstylists to present their visions towards creating new looks for salons.
You would think that the bob style would be more suitable for women with small, oval-shaped faces.“Not necessarily,” said Kurahashi through an interpreter. “The look can be styled to match any face by arranging the face line. You can wear it at any age!”
The bob hairstyle is one of the most popular hairstyles. Trendy, sophisticated and easy to style, this hairstyle first appeared on the fashion scene in the 1920s. Since then, almost every season’s style trends have some sort of bob.
Would Harajuku girls fall for the bob cut?
“Well, they would want a cute or funky bob version,” she said.
Older women in their 40s and 50s can also sport the style.
“One option is to layer hair with the length up to the jawline and add volume at the top, to look more elegant. The second option is to have the bob with medium-length hair layered with soft, elegant waves.”
The emphasis is on looking younger and more feminine.
Kurahashi said that whenever she cuts hair, she wants to make the client more attractive by bringing out her femininity and making her look sexier.
In Japan, the season’s hot colours are very natural shades with gold-based, matt colours such as ash (grey with brown) or honey beige (almond) highlights for the glossy look.
According to her, the fashion trend features very colourful, resort-style apparel. “For that matter, hair colours are more natural. It wouldn’t good if you’ve colourful clothes and colourful hair at the same time,” she said.
For those who still want to look different with vivid highlights, she recommends that they consult their hairstylists.
For Igora Imagine 2008, international make-up artist Tyron Machhausen created two themes, Rebel Mix and Urban Fairy, in which the playful approach to colour and the synergy between hair and make-up came together.
Sixteen models took to the catwalk, coloured and coiffed by Kurahashi, who interpreted Machhausen’s vision for Asians.
“The Rebel Mix hairstyle is for very fashion-oriented women who want to express their originality. They have strong characters and self confidence,” she said. The hairstyle features an almond caramel shade for the base, and vivid colours such as orange and red highlights for bold contrast.
This hairstyle is suitable for active, outgoing women with short and medium hair. Those with long hair can choose this hairstyle but they need to use vibrant colours to emphasise hair ends.
Urban Fairy suits intelligent, career women who want to look elegant. “The style is very urban, very modern,” said Kurahashi. Hair can be short, medium or long for this trendy look.
The very trendy Japanese visit the hair salon four times a year for a dramatic change of hairstyles every season.
