[August 2026 - Sapporo Odori] Why did I, a former salaryman, become a 'Henna Specialist Hairdresser'?

Hello everyone! I am Shinichi (Shin) Ichikawa, a henna specialist hairdresser.

I currently work at the henna specialty salon 'Tsuki to Kaze' (Moon and Wind) in Gifu Prefecture, but I have decided to move to Sapporo Odori, Hokkaido, in August 2026 to open my own independent salon.

Click here for reservations (Henna and Cut Shin, Sapporo Odori)

It is said that there are more hair salons in the world than convenience stores.

In that environment, I am not what you would call a 'normal' hairdresser who does everything from cuts and perms to trendy colors.

I only use '100% natural henna,' 'scissors,' and items I truly love.

'Why did I abandon convenient chemical agents?'

'Why did I choose henna, which takes so much time and effort?'

Today, please let me talk a little about the philosophy of 'Slow Beauty' that I arrived at after becoming a hairdresser as a former salaryman, and experiencing skin irritation and the illness of an acquaintance.

A late-blooming hairdresser stumbles right away.

My career path is a bit unusual.

I didn't become a hairdresser immediately after graduating from beauty school.

Until I was 23, I was a normal salaryman who wore a suit to work.

The turning point was meeting a charismatic hairdresser. My smiles increased, I made more friends, every day was fun, and I even got a girlfriend.

I was shocked by the realization that 'a single hairstyle can brighten a person's heart so much,' and with the desire to 'directly brighten someone's life,' I decided to quit my corporate job.

However, starting at 23 is considered a late start in the industry. I spent my days practicing desperately to catch up.

But what awaited me there was not a glamorous world, but a battle with 'chemical substances.'

Shampoo, color agents, perm solutions.

As I touched these every day, my hands became rough and ruined.

'This is a job to make people beautiful, so why is the body of the person performing the treatment being eroded?'

Furthermore, in my private life, an acquaintance developed severe atopic dermatitis.

Myself, with hands roughened by work, and my customers suffering from sensitive skin.

When these two pains overlapped, a definitive question was born within me.

Is this really the 'hairdresser' I longed to be?

The destiny of 'Henna,' and an obsessive dedication

At that time, a senior hairdresser I admired, who was in charge of celebrities, declared, 'I am quitting color and switching entirely to henna.' It was an era where people would say, 'How can a colorist quit coloring?'

But to me, it looked like a light toward the future.

That was the start of my 'Henna exploration.'
However, just saying 'henna' doesn't mean much, as the market is flooded with products mixed with chemical dyes (diamine) or those with many impurities.

As a henna instructor, I conducted thorough comparative verification.

I tried other famous henna brands, and the one I finally arrived at is 'Sun and Earth Henna' from Econowa Inc., which I currently use.

The reason is clear.

It is reliable and safe because they conduct their own local inspections, testing, and blending in Rajasthan, India.

I also have the teachings and direct communication from an Ayurveda doctor, as well as ingredient analysis results from testing institutions.

There is also a commitment to manual labor, machines that create finer powder, and drying processes that bring out more color.

Because there are no fine twigs or sand that cannot be removed by machine sorting, the smoothness and ease of absorption when made into a paste are completely different.

Friction on the hair is also reduced, and the finish is significantly better.

I now use this highest-quality henna to blend it in '1g increments' tailored to each individual customer.

Do you think 'henna only turns orange or black'?

By precisely calculating and blending herbs like indigo, amla, and turmeric, it is possible to bring out beautiful browns and treatment effects tailored to your hair quality.

Making the hair salon a 'sanctuary for allergies'.

Many of my clients are people who have suffered from diamine allergies, chemical sensitivities, or atopic dermatitis.

The smell and irritation of chemicals typical of general hair salons are nothing but terrifying for such people.

That is precisely why I want to make my salon a 'place where you can breathe with peace of mind'.

Completely non-chemical → I never use henna containing chemical dyes.

Skin-friendly shampoo → I use 'Hugme Shampoo', which has saved many people's skin.

Careful counseling → To alleviate anxiety, I thoroughly explain the ingredients and how they work.

'I can trust you with my hair here.'

Every time I see clients tear up saying this, I am convinced that choosing this path was the right decision.

To Sapporo in 2026.

Currently, I am working in the wonderful environment of Gifu, but in the summer of 2026, I am planning to move to Sapporo, Hokkaido, and start my own business as my next challenge.

Why Sapporo?

It is because I am seeking a lifestyle that is more in harmony with nature, just like the 'henna (plant)' that I love.

For someone like me who loves mountain climbing and walking, Sapporo, where the city and great nature coexist with rich four seasons, is the ideal place.

My stance will not change in Sapporo either.

'I will not take my clients with me (while cherishing my existing clients, I will build trust from scratch in a new land).'

This is a debt of gratitude to my current company and staff, and it is also my own challenge.

To everyone in Sapporo, and to everyone who has allergies or hair concerns.

I am steadily preparing to deliver 'authentic slow beauty' that does not rely on chemicals and uses only the power of plants.

I will be posting about my future activities and the progress of my opening preparations in Sapporo on this Note.

Please watch over the new journey of 'Henna Specialist Hairdresser Shin'.

[Profile] Shinichi Ichikawa (Shin)
Henna specialist hairdresser. After transitioning from a former salaryman, he aimed for the 'non-chemical' path due to his own hand irritation and his family's experience with atopic dermatitis. As a certified instructor of 'Sun and Earth Henna', he specializes in precise herb blending by the gram. Scheduled to open his own business in Sapporo Odori in August 2026.

Click here for reservations (Henna and Cut Shin, Sapporo Odori)
(We are happily open for business starting 8/1!!)