The Story of Being Told 'You'll Never Be a Proper Hairdresser'
"You'll never be a proper hairdresser anyway, so quit already."
When I was told that, I silently scribbled something on a piece of paper.
Then, I bowed deeply.
Let's rewind.
I was an assistant back then.
A so-called "shampoo boy."
"Apprenticeship days are tough, aren't they?"
People tend to think that about hairdressers, but being on shampoo duty was the most fun time because I could interact with every single customer who came in.
I think of it like this.
"Welcome!"
"You're looking energetic today! I keep coming to this shop because you're here."
"Thank you! (Oh no, please don't say that in front of the stylist.)"
I could feel the gaze of my senior with the glasses.
I was called into the staff room.
"Are you here to chat with customers, or are you here to work?"
"No, I'm working normally. What do you mean by that?"
"Stop talking back every single time."
The eyes behind the glasses narrowed quietly.
"I believe I answered your question. I am here to work."
"You, stop talking now."
I made an "OK" sign with my index finger and thumb.
I went straight back to work.
I bowed deeply to a customer waiting for a shampoo.
"What's wrong? You're bowing so low and grinning so much (laughs)."
I made a "wait a second" gesture with both hands and scribbled on a piece of paper.
I tapped the customer on the shoulder.
I handed them the paper.
"I was told to stop talking!"
I pointed at my senior with the glasses while showing them the paper.
"You! What did you do to get told that!? That's hilarious!"
The whispering was incredibly loud (laughs).
It was just a joke, of course. That's what I thought.
I made a shampooing motion with my hands and guided them to the shampoo station.
"Oh, shampoo time! How long are you going to keep up this 'not talking' thing?"
I tilted my head five centimeters and made a "who knows?" gesture.
Of course, I could feel the gaze.
Business hours ended, and it was the time I had been waiting for.
"You're mocking me, aren't you?"
I scribbled on a piece of paper and showed it to him.
"I'm not mocking you, I'm just doing what I was told."
The senior with the glasses went silent.
I wrote on the paper again.
"I'm not mocking you, I'm just doing what I was told ♡"
"You'll never be a proper hairdresser anyway, so quit!"
When I was told that, I scribbled on a piece of paper.
"I was told to stop talking and I followed instructions, but is this what a proper hairdresser does?"
I tucked it into the senior's breast pocket.
Then, I bowed deeply.
This person only ever says things to annoy me.
When someone like that tells me, "You'll never be a proper hairdresser,"
"Ah, this senior is convinced that I'm going to surpass them."
That's what I felt.
Another day.
The senior with the glasses told me, "Stop talking."
"I checked with the owner, and I was instructed to keep talking. I will follow the owner's instructions. Excuse me."
When I said that, he stopped talking.
Several years have passed since then.
I opened my own hair salon.
"Welcome! Have you decided on a hairstyle?"
"When I got a short bob last time, my child said, 'Mommy, you're cute,' so I think I'll leave it up to you this time!"
"Well, summer is coming, so how about a mohawk?"
"I think I'll pass on leaving it up to you. Haha."
My senior's words,
"You'll never be a proper hairdresser."
They were spot on.
#CreativeAward2026