I’d like to learn more about each culture, mix that up and share it. In the future, Watari hopes to open up a second salon in Japan, in a bid to further blend British and Japanese hairstyles with one another: “I feel as though both sides misunderstand each other. That doesn’t mean I want to strike a balance, though – I want to be able to create both extreme energies.” I like being able to create soft, nuanced, ambiguous styles, as well as edgy, sharp and aggressive ones. “I also don’t want to have a signature style. “I still have a lot of areas that I don’t like about my own look, but that sensitivity allows me to see and understand my clients’ own complexities,” he explains. When it comes to his own hair, Watari always cuts it himself, but he isn’t always happy with the final outcome. “Working with these people is one of the main reasons I want to stay in the UK.” “It made me feel like we were going through this difficult time together,” he says. He visited clients in their homes and was grateful for the opportunity to get to know them better. Though the ripple effects of lockdown came down hard on the beauty industry, it was one of the most memorable periods of Watari’s life. I want to translate their vibe after spending time together and make the hairstyles as alive as possible.” “Most of my customers leave it up to me to decide what style they’ll get. “I’m inspired by surrealism, daily life, dreams and encountering things I don’t like,” he continues. There’s also Sailor Moon styles, all preened and perfected, and post-mullets that look just the right amount of lived-in. Or a punk-inspired, hot pink mohawk and bright red cross sprayed onto bleach-blonde hair. On his page, you’ll find a take on Chinese queue hair, an ancient style worn by Manchurians since the 1600s, in fiery reds and ink-jet black. If you want tickets youll have to join the queue. Watari’s style flips between forms, finding references in both the historical and contemporary. queue noun C UK uk / kju/ us / kju/ (US line) B1 a line of people, usually standing or in cars, waiting for something cola, fila Are you in the queue for tickets There was a long queue of traffic stretching down the road. These things create chemistry and a one-of-a-kind, intense energy.” That being said, the hairdresser possesses an undeniable artistic flair. “I don’t see being a hairdresser as art – I work with real people, real characters who lead real lives. “My style falls between UK and Japanese, and between being an artist and a commercial hairdresser,” the 30-year-old says. Nameless and websiteless for the time being, his Instagram account and word of mouth do the talking, and it seems Londoners can’t get enough of Watari’s electrifying cuts. So when the UK’s first lockdown was lifted last April, Watari was well placed to open up a salon in Bethnal Green, East London. When hairdresser extraordinaire Keisuke Watari moved from Japan to London in 2019, the summer before Covid hit, he’d already undergone five years of intensive training in his home country.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |