Blonde Hair That Enhances Natural Gray — A Refined Madame Style Finished with Hot Rollers
As the summer heat begins to soften after Obon, the cool breeze of late August brushes gently against the cheeks.
Today’s guest visited me for the first time in two and a half years, since we last met at the hair salon in Aoyama where I used to work.
Ms. Shimawaki, a 74-year-old nail artist and salon owner, usually maintains her own haircut and color. Her career began in fashion at a department store after graduating from a dressmaking school. Later, she worked in public design, raised her children, and now continues her creative journey as a professional.
Surrounded by fulfilling work, her love for golf, and an active circle of friends, Ms. Shimawaki radiates energy and vitality. She has a natural affinity for fashion—drawn to pieces with sparkle and character. Even before her maintenance appointment, her style always captures attention. She cherishes her belongings with care; for example, she brings her eyeglass frames to the department store for maintenance whenever their luster fades. This attitude reveals a philosophy of treasuring things, deeply connected to her view on life.
Though she once considered transitioning to gray hair, she found that blonde highlights suited her best. She colors and highlights her own hair, loving the way the hues shimmer translucently in the light. For styling, she prefers hot rollers to create volume and soft movement.
For this session, she entrusted me with the design. I suggested a short haircut that enhances her glamorous impression while balancing beautifully with her petite frame.
To preserve fullness while respecting her natural hair density, I thinned only the nape and behind the ears for a refined silhouette. Using razor cutting for softness, I created a smooth texture. The balance point of the hairstyle was set at eye level to harmonize with her glasses, while the face-framing line was cut to the lip line, sculpting a graceful profile.
Hot rollers and setting lotion were used to style her hair, creating natural lift from the roots. Unlike curling irons, which shape the mid-lengths and ends, rollers provide volume at the roots—an essential technique for lifting facial contours that naturally descend with age.
The result is a luminous blonde short layered style. The shine and movement from the rollers resonate with her accessories and modern black attire, amplifying her elegant aura. The balance at the lip line and eye level lifts her facial expression, transforming it into one that is youthful and vibrant. These moments—when a client’s expression changes with the hairstyle—are when I feel most fulfilled as a designer.
Click image to enlarge
Her natural base-shaped face and petite 146 cm frame were carefully considered. Compared with her previous one-length cut, which drew the eye downward, the new layered silhouette lifts the balance upward, refining the face line. Keeping the nape neat while leaving subtle length preserves femininity in the short style.
Ms. Shimawaki has always cherished design, regardless of career changes. Her vitality, positive outlook, and active lifestyle shine brighter than any physical signs of aging.
In today’s age, technology allows us to manage aspects of aging more than ever before, but immortality remains impossible. Instead, her radiant perspective on life offers a hint on how to live joyfully and gracefully in an era of longevity.
[ Related Links ]
Featuring before & after hair designs for mature women.
PROFILE
Chinatsu Sakamoto
She began her career as a hairstylist in 2010 in Omotesando, Tokyo. In 2024, she relocated her base to Ginza and opened her own salon, CHINATSU SAKAMOTO.
Focusing mainly on salon work, she is also active in editorial shoots and media appearances. She has received wide recognition from media outlets targeting mature audiences, including Croissant and ku:nel (Magazine House), Halmek (Halmek), and NHK’s Asaichi.
She specializes in perm designs that bring out the beauty of aging hair, supporting the style and confidence of middle-aged and senior clients.
Her refined hair designs, shaped by a global aesthetic cultivated through her travels and rooted in Japanese craftsmanship, have earned high praise.
Website www.chinatsusakamoto.com
Instagram @chinatsu.hairdresser
CHINATSU SAKAMOTO Hair Salon
RoomB meby CURAGINZA7F, 5-12-6 Ginza, Chuo-ku Tokyo 104-0061 Japan
1-minute walk from Higashi-Ginza Station (Exit A1)
Direct underground connection from Ginza Station (Exits A1 and A2) via Higashi-Ginza Station
Mon/Tue/Wed Closed Thu/Fri/Sat/Sun 10:00-19:00
