Kazuto Shimomura

Some people know what they want to be when they grow up. For some, it comes naturally and while for others, it comes along the way. Japanese hairstylist Kazuto Shimomura never imagined becoming a hairstylist.

 “I was not interested in hair. I was interested in fashion, music and art but not hair.” 

“I wanted to become a fashion designer or artisan because my both grandfathers and father were artisans. I used to play with my grand father to create something with wood, paper and something materials when I was a kid.”

When he saw some backstage pictures of comme des garçons Paris fashion week in a magazine when he was high school student, he was” really impressed”.

“Julien Dys made amazing hair props for it and I thought that I could create something art props in fashion!”

Prior to becoming a certified hairstylist, he was trained in Tokyo and London.

“My inspiration is from different industry as art, nature, creatures and my friends who are artists and fashion designers.”

Names such as Rey Kawakubo, Julien dys and Japanese manga artists inspire him in his work.

People may assume that all Japanese hairstylists can style a Geisha’s hair but there’s more to it. Kazuto works on more traditional Japanese hair.

“That’s is bit complicated to become Geisha hairstylist, but we have a specific traditional Japanese hairstyle for weddings or some traditional parties,” says Kazuto.

“They (Geisha hairstylists) have very original technic and tools to make Geisha hairstyles. That’s roots of Japanese hair technic. They have also very long history as Geisha hairstylist.” “The process and hair tools to make them are very different each other. But both looking are quite similar,” he adds

As an editorial hairstylist, he has “a lot of images of hair styles in his head and confesses that working with fashion designers is “always fun”.

“I try to make a kind of new hairstyle in my studio when I’m free. Then I pick one of them up for a shoot.”

Kazuto also works as a creative director and says that he’s always so happy seeing his name as creative director and hairstylist published on great magazine and considers it his proudest moment and biggest accomplishment. 

As for the hardest photoshoot he faced was working at the top of Mount Fuji with sun rise as it started to rain and it was freezing.

From all his years of experience, the advice that he would give to hairdressers that want to work in fashion shows and for celebrities is to not” be obsessed by technic”.

“An imagination and design are the most important,” he adds.

If you were told you have 3 minutes to pick up your styling tools for a photoshoot, what would you take? I’m gonna take a dryer, some water and hair spray. Which area in Japan would you have a photoshoot if you were freely asked to choose? Why?

Tokyo or Kyoto.

Tokyo has modern Japan.

Kyoto has classic Japan.

Favourite brand of hair and styling tools?

Bumble and bumble.

My hands.

If you could choose another career, what would it be? Artist or Musician.   What do you do in your spare time when you are not working? Doing my artwork or chilling with my dog.  

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