Enhancing the Beauty of Aging : Embracing Gray with Highlighted Color
Hello, I’m Chinatsu Sakamoto, a hairstylist and the owner of the hair salon "CHINATSU SAKAMOTO" in Ginza, Tokyo.
With the concept of "positive use of aging in perm design," I mainly create hairstyles for clients in their 50s and 60s.
In addition to my salon work, I have had the opportunity to contribute to various media aimed at mature audiences, including photo shoots and interviews for "Croissant," "ku:nel" (Magazine House), "Precious.jp" (Shogakukan), and "Suteki na Ano Hito" (Takarajimasha).
In recent years, more and more women are embracing hair designs that highlight their natural gray, making such styles a common sight in the city.
Many people admire these looks and find themselves intrigued by how beautifully they wear their hair.
“I’m not quite ready to go fully gray, but I admire those who embrace their age with style.”
“I want to gradually transition away from constant gray coverage.”
For women who share these thoughts, highlighted color is a wonderful way to enhance and embrace natural gray in a stylish way.
In this post, I’ll introduce a natural highlight color design, especially recommended for those who are just beginning to notice their first grays.
BEFORE
Hair analysis
Gray hair ratio : 5%
The client is a woman in her late 40s with approximately 5% gray hair. Compared to others in the same age group, this is a relatively low percentage.
However, her gray hairs are concentrated around the surface and face-framing areas. She mentioned that whenever she notices them, she tends to cut them with scissors or pluck them out by hand.
She came for a consultation to discuss how to manage her hair as her grays increase over time.
Recommendation
Lighten the overall hair color to make gray hairs less noticeable.
Add highlights to blend gray hairs seamlessly with a mix of black, beige, and gray tones.
Since the contrast between her black and gray hair is quite strong, the priority is to lighten the base color.
Given that her gray hair percentage is still relatively low, I recommended avoiding full gray coverage dye and instead incorporating highlights.
By blending three tones—black, beige, and gray—her gray hairs will become less noticeable while also creating a foundation that will allow her natural grays to become an integral part of her hair design as she ages.
PROCESS
1. Highlighting Process
Highlights are applied primarily to the face-framing areas and the surface, where gray hair is concentrated.
A medium-light tone is aimed for, using a blend of color and bleach agents. The angle, thickness, and amount of highlights are adjusted according to the client's bone structure and hair texture, ensuring a customized and precise application throughout the process.
2. Processing Time
The product is left on for about 15 minutes until the desired brightness for the final highlight color is achieved.
3. Rinsing
Once the desired brightness is achieved, the highlights are rinsed out.
At this stage, the brightness is not the final result. To account for the color application after rinsing, the highlights are set slightly brighter than the intended final result.
The contrast between the black hair, mid-tone highlights, and gray hair brightness is clearly defined at this point.
4. Color Toner
A color toner is applied to the entire hair, which only reacts with the colored areas and gray hair, leaving the natural black hair unaffected.
Since Asian hair tends to have stronger red undertones and can retain yellow or orange hues, a mixture of light green and light blue, complementary colors, is used to tone the highlights to a soft beige tone.
AFTER
How does it look? A beautiful transformation into a natural beige tone.
This coloring is highly recommended for those just starting to embrace aging and dealing with the first signs of gray hair.
BEFORE → AFTER
Key points of the highlights
Highlights in a soft beige color are applied throughout, gently blending the contrast between gray and black hair.
Even as new roots grow out, the retouching becomes less noticeable, which is one of the key benefits of this technique.
The overall hairstyle gains dimension, creating a light and bright impression.
From my experience, I believe it’s a missed opportunity to only focus on covering aging as we grow older.
Rather, embracing the natural changes in hair texture caused by aging and finding ways to enhance them can be a much more proactive and enjoyable approach.
At the same time, it’s incredibly rewarding for us as hairstylists.
It would be wonderful if you could meet a hairstylist who shares your values and, through exchanging ideas, discover a unique hair design that suits you perfectly.
PROFILE
Chinatsu Sakamoto
In 2010, began a hairstylist career in Tokyo's Omotesando district. In 2024, relocated the salon base to Ginza and opened the hair salon "CHINATSU SAKAMOTO.” Actively involved in a wide range of activities, including photoshoots and interviews.
Particularly sought after by media catering to the mature generation such as 'Croissant' 'Ku:nel' (Magazine House), 'Precious.jp' (Shogakukan), and 'Suteki na Ano Hito' (Takarajimasha).
Supporting the beauty of the middle-aged and senior generations with perm designs that embrace aging and color techniques that stylishly enhance gray hair.
Custom-made hairstyles, designed with a blend of aesthetic senses gained from traveling the world and the Japanese spirit of craftsmanship, receive acclaim.
Website https://www.chinatsusakamoto.com/
Instagram @chinatsu.hairdresser
Hair salon CHINATSU SAKAMOTO
104-0061 Tokyo, Chuo-ku, Ginza 5-12-6 CURAGINZA 7F meby Room B
1minute walk from “Higashi-Ginza Station" A1 exit / “Ginza Station” A1 and A2 exit side, directly connected to Higashi-Ginza Station via the underground passage
Mon/Tue/Wed Closed Thu/Fri/Sat/Sun 10:00-19:00
