Falling More in Love with Gray Hair : The Beauty of a Digital Perm
On a rainy day in early May—after a string of sunny skies—a client came in for a refreshing change.
Ms. Tomoyo Maeda, with her striking gray hair, has retired from her career and now enjoys pottery, sewing, and traveling abroad.
Inspired by a gray-haired friend, she made the bold and beautiful decision to stop dyeing her hair. When I first met her four years ago as a stylist, she had already embraced her natural gray, and it was stunning.
In our consultation, she shared that with age, her natural wave and curl have become stronger, and dryness has made her hair difficult to manage. She usually applies a generous amount of oil to keep the volume under control.
We refreshed her long, grown-out hair with a clean, modern bob cut.
While observing her facial contours and features in the mirror, I carefully placed the weight of the style at the lip line. Using a razor, I sculpted a soft, airy silhouette.
As I combed through and shaped the form, I designed a look that would feel both refined and effortless.
We chose a digital perm for its compatibility with textured hair. It works perfectly to smooth the cuticle, creating shiny, well-defined curls that are easy to manage.
By pulling each section of hair at the right angle to the scalp and wrapping it from the ends upwards, we created voluminous curls that enhance and embrace her natural texture, giving it a beautifully sculpted, three-dimensional look.
After rinsing her hair at the shampoo station, I styled the curls using a diffuser attachment, which gently enhances the shape and texture.
(Side & Back View)
The result was a sophisticated bob with the weight placed around the lip line. The curls, designed as a continuation of her natural waves, added softness and movement.
(Click to enlarge)
As we grow older, our facial features, bone structure, and body proportions naturally shift. As a hairstylist and designer, it’s my role to find a silhouette that complements each person’s individuality—both physically and stylistically.
Especially with aging, I believe that regular, mindful maintenance—like pruning a bonsai—brings out the natural beauty of the material. When we trim and shape with intention, we begin to see something quietly beautiful emerge.
It’s the kind of beauty that makes you feel a little more positive when you catch your reflection in the mirror.
This is something that can’t be created by machines or mass production. It’s the value of human hands crafting something made just for you.
The blue coat Ms. Maeda wore was hand-sewn by her. The contrast between the fine lines etched by time and the luminous shine of pearls further enhances the beauty of her gray hair.
Rather than chasing the hair texture or styles of our younger years, I believe it’s more enriching to seek a beauty that embraces individuality—like kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing pottery with gold. This approach, one that celebrates and highlights the beauty of what’s uniquely ours, brings true depth and color to life.
Chinatsu Sakamoto
She began her career as a hairstylist in 2010 in Omotesando, Tokyo. In 2024, she relocated her salon to Ginza and opened her private 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 https://www.chinatsusakamoto.com/
Instagram @chinatsu.hairdresser
Hair Salon CHINATSU SAKAMOTO
RoomB meby CURAGINZA7F, 5-12-6 Ginza, Chuo-ku Tokyo 104-0061 Japan
1minute walk from “Higashi-Ginza Station" A1 exit / “Ginza Station” A1 and A2 exit side, directly connected to Higashi-Ginza Station via the underground passage
Mon/Tue/Wed Closed Thu/Fri/Sat/Sun 10:00-19:00
