Why is hair being hated!?

Dec 28 12:44

I am a 27-year-old director of the Osaka Broadcasting Station.

“Hair removal” is a boom among friends of the same age.

A few months ago, a colleague who regularly goes to a hair removal clinic invited me to go with her because she was getting a discount through a referral campaign.

Taking this opportunity to remember...

Certainly, I have friends who are worried about having too much hair, and I myself have been told that my desk is filthy when there is hair on it.

We often see advertisements for hair removal clinics on street billboards, on trains, and on the internet.

I also had the impression that there were more “for men”.

When did "hair" come to be hated?

We covered the background of the “hair removal boom” that transcends gender and generation.

(Osaka Broadcasting Station Director Yusuke Sasaki)

Men's Hair Removal Clinic Holidays are prosperous

First, I headed to a hair removal clinic in Umeda, a downtown area of ​​Osaka.

This place is for men only.

It was a great success on Sunday when we interviewed.

Customers came one after another at the same time as the hospital opened at 11:00 am.

This hair removal clinic has 22 clinics nationwide.

In total, 60,000 people visit each month, which is three times more than three years ago.

I asked everyone why they cut their hair.

A 32-year-old office worker who came to shave his arm.

She started attending a hair loss clinic last summer.

Company employee (32)

“I take women’s opinions into account when I do hair removal. People notice me when I'm asked to wait, or when I'm told I'm younger than I look."

I also met a man who spent more than 500,000 yen on hair removal for three years.

It started with the loss of hair on his beard, but it gradually spread to his arms and legs.

Civil Servant (34)

"At first, I came to the clinic thinking that I didn't want to take care of my hair, but once I lost my hair, I started to feel like, 'I don't need this part, do I need that part too?'" I long for hairless and smooth skin.”

Young people were not the only customers.

A 58-year-old man came to our clinic because he was concerned about the hair on his ears, which had grown longer as he got older.

In the future, I am considering removing my pubic hair in preparation for receiving nursing care.

Company employee (58)

“I used to shave my ear hair myself, but recently I found out about a hair removal clinic and applied for it. Shigeo Nagashima and Yuzo Kayama also had chest hair.

Has the meaning of "cool" changed?

Using men's words as clues, we headed to a major men's cosmetics manufacturer.

Perhaps the perception of hair has changed over time.

When I asked this question, it was an advertisement that showed me, "Maybe it will be a hint?"

Comparing the past and the present...

Advertisements from the 1970s are impressive with strong beards.

There are probably many people who feel "nostalgic".

On the other hand, the latest ones have smooth skin.

I felt that the meaning of "cool" has changed with the times.

Keisuke Oku, Public Relations Manager at a Major Men's Cosmetics Maker

"From about five years ago, men's awareness of how they look has changed dramatically. This is especially noticeable among men in their twenties, who are now aiming for better skin. increase"

Hair loss that spreads to “children” Is it because of their sensitive age?

As we proceeded with the interview, we learned that hair loss is not only prevalent among men.

It was "child".

I wondered if I shouldn't have to go to the clinic since I was a child, so I asked the children what they had to say.

A woman in eighth grade was visiting a hair loss clinic with her mother.

I want to remove hair from below my knees and elbows.

It seems that he belongs to the volleyball club, but he is worried about the exposed part when he becomes "half-sleeves and half-pants".

A woman in the second year of junior high school said,

"I feel unclean when there is hair on the part where my skin is exposed. My school friends also go to the hair removal salon. In addition, my favorite YouTuber said in the video, 'This I saw her saying, "Which salon did you go to before?" or "It worked."

On the other hand, it was also found that there were cases in which ``mothers recommended hair removal to their children,'' rather than children showing interest in hair removal.

I was able to interview a parent and child who had already lost their hair.

Her mother has been worried about her daughter's body hair since she was in junior high school.

Mother

: “It would be embarrassing if only one of us had thick hair, and I was worried that he would make fun of me.

Daughter (2nd year junior high school student)

“Many of my friends in the club were grooming themselves, so I felt like I was the only one out there.

The total cost for two people is 230,000 yen.

I felt it was expensive, but I decided to go to a dermatologist to get rid of her daughter's anxiety.

In the background of children's hair loss, there was a situation due to their impressionable age.

Mr. Takaaki Hanafusa, a dermatologist who this family goes to, cannot hide his surprise at the high demand for hair removal for minors.

Hanabusa decides whether to perform hair removal for minors not only with the consent of the parents, but also after asking the children why they want to have the hair removed.

Doctor Takaaki Hanafusa

"When I was a student, I felt bad when I was teased about my dark hair. I'm not recommending hair removal for minors, but I want them to be able to go to school with confidence and live a bright life." I also hope that it will be less annoying for people who suffer from acne, atopic dermatitis, and rough skin.”

On top of that, Mr. Hanabusa said, "Currently, hair removal is effective for growing hair, but I would like you to understand that new hair may grow during the growth stage." .

When men and women of all ages hear the hair loss background...

What is behind these changes in awareness and behavior that transcend gender and generation?

We asked two experts.

Saeko Kawano, who studies makeup and fashion, says that the spread of SNS, where anyone can easily send photos and videos, has an impact.

Professor Saeko Kawano, Osaka Shoin Women's University

"As SNS became more familiar, 'how to show yourself and be seen' has been linked to the question 'what is yourself?'. 'I am being watched.' I think that the state of being unconsciously aware of that is what makes you want to remove hair.”

Cultural anthropologist Maho Isono believes that the flood of advertisements on the Internet has a strong influence.

Cultural anthropologist Maho Isono said

, "Most of the advertisements that appear on the Internet use words that create the impression that 'having hair is unclean.' There are stories such as ``I got a boyfriend, but he made a disgusting face because I had hair,'' and ``I got a bad impression when I saw my hair growing on my legs at a job interview.'' It was drawn. It's not that I'm being told to get rid of my hair, I'm just being pressured to do so."

In addition, he points out that the tendency to seek efficiency by eliminating waste in online operations is also having an impact.

Cultural anthropologist Maho Isono

"The idea of ​​'Let's cut off all unnecessary things' and the idea of ​​'If you grow a beard, it's a hindrance, it's useless.' It symbolizes the desire of an online society that wants to cut off the waste and live rationally.”

Problems among young people are rapidly increasing.

In the "hair removal boom", there are things we want to be careful about.

It's a contract problem.

The National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan receives many inquiries about hair removal treatments, mainly from young people in their teens and twenties.

"I made a reservation for a treatment that was advertised for several thousand yen, but when I went to the store, I was recommended an expensive course that costs several hundred thousand yen." I refused, but was forced to sign a contract."

The Kobe City Consumer Affairs Center has warned that troubles are increasing due to the deterioration of the business situation.

It seems that there are cases such as "The salon you are using went bankrupt, but you still have the number of treatments left during the contract period" and "I want to cancel, but I can't contact the operator."

We asked the Kobe City Consumer Affairs Center what measures should be taken.

▼Don't blindly read advertisements such as "unlimited number of times", check the actual contract details carefully

▼Consider carefully whether it is suitable for your ability to pay, and make a contract once you have calmed down

So that "my style" is accepted...

When I looked into it, I found that the hair loss was more widespread than expected.

If body hair is connected to worries and life difficulties, I felt that hair removal is one of the options.

On the other hand, it was only recently that hair began to be disliked, and there was a change in values ​​that changed with the times.

I felt that due to this social trend, there is increasing pressure to conform to the idea that "I have to remove hair."

It may be that it has become a cramped society.

I felt that I wanted society to become a place where the style I like is accepted.

Director of Osaka Broadcasting Station

Yusuke Sasaki

Joined the station in 2019 After working on "Good Morning Japan", he

is currently covering changes in young people's values ​​at

Osaka Broadcasting Station.