Today we’d like to introduce you to Toru Fujisaki.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Toru. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
I started hair when I was 18 in Tokyo Japan and got trained in Tokyo as well, not a lot of people know this, but I quit hair when I was an assistant because it was way too much and too strict and I lost passion for hair once.
Japanese hair Industry is completely different compared to over here, even Beverly Hills way more strict become stylist. For example, every Salon has different education systems, and it usually takes three years to be a hair stylist.
As an assistant, you need training right? In Japan training require before the business hour or after, or even both. So every single day, you working around ten hours plus couple hours training six days or seven days a week… and you passed the test every single step. Shampoo, color, Japanese straightening, perm, and haircut. So basically you have to be perfectly ready for everything.
So yes it was little too much for a young version of me, and I wasn’t ready… And I was bartender server and chef for little cute cafe style restaurant for a while, haha! But then, I still had a little bit of regret for not doing hair after went school for two year every single day and got a license. And I was fortunate enough to work in the Hairsalon again as an assistant one more time.
Again every Hairsalon has different education, so I had to start from the beginning.. but this time I was ready, and I work so hard to become a stylist! And 2011, move to the status and start a new life. I always wanted to move the status it’s just because not hair but just love the culture love everything about America!
But before I moved to here I thought it probably easy to learn English if I am just living status. That was totally stupid idea… I moved here knowing any of English, and that was the toughest moments in my life. Nobody understood me, and that was so stressed and frustrated me so much. And the worst part was the CA cosmetology license exam…
Of course, it was all English, and that was unbelievably hard for me as a foreigner! They have some different language but not Japanese. So let’s be honest, I failed six times, and I didn’t give up. Because I was the bottom, nothing to lose. And there is no going back for me but I’m so glad I didn’t give up.
Now, I’ve been the status seven years, one year in SF and six years in LA and last two years in Beverly Hills now.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There was a lot.
Living myself since 18, being assistant, moving to the status without knowing English lol! Cosmetology license exam, I mean living in any country as a foreigner is not easy!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Hair by Toru – what should we know?
I am hairstylist/ hair color specialist. I specialize Asian hair. I do any kind of hair, but a lot of Asian people more trust me for their hair.
For hair color, I do love natural brunette looking balayage to platinum blonde and silver, gray hair! For haircut, I do mostly dry cut which I use unique techniques that your haircut last longer than your usual hairstylist haha!
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Definitely my family, means my mom and dad and especially my fiancé. They are a huge supporter of my life so I can’t disappoint them I mean I won’t! My parents are in, so we do FaceTime once a while.
And my fiancé has supported me 24/7 she is the best! And I really appreciate my assistant too I’m so grateful every day he works with me!
Pricing:
- Haircut $200~
- Partial highlight $350~
- Full highlights/balayage $450~
- Men’s haircut~ $95~
Contact Info:
- Address: 9725 S Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills 90210
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: Instagram.com/hairbytoru
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/qTKq/CCgska3HXS
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
