Careful skin care and casual coolness
In May 2025, hair and makeup artist AMANO finally opened his long-awaited barbershop in Sasazuka, Tokyo. The shop is called "handsam."
"I aimed to become a barber like Cuts, a hair salon that used to be in London. When I thought about my future, I wanted to become the 'local barber dad' that would be frequented by everyone from local men to kids, as well as famous creators."
AMANO started his career as a hairdresser, but he always wanted to work in a barbershop. The biggest difference between the two is whether or not you can use a razor. The cleanliness that AMANO proposes also begins with shaving.
"Shaving not only removes beard and facial hair, but also removes dead skin cells. Therefore, after the treatment, your skin tone will brighten up and look healthier, so I actually recommend it for women as well. Also, as men get older, hair starts growing in strange places, like the corners of their ears (laughs). Just by carefully shaving those areas, you can create a clean, hygienic look."
Many people use electric shavers when shaving at home. However, no matter how powerful they are, they cannot shave as closely as a razor. Even if it doesn't come close to the results you get at a barber shop, switching to a razor at home might be a shortcut to achieving a more mature and clean look.
"Even though the packaging of aftershave lotions is cool, I just can't stand the smell. It has a certain peculiar 'old man smell' to it (laughs)."
After shaving, AMANO took out a moisturizing cream from KIEHL'S.
"This product has a light scent and reduces shine and stickiness, so it's very useful. Men's skin tends to be oily and prone to shininess. If you can reduce that, it will make your skin look more refreshed."
Even if you shave frequently, your skin cannot be considered clean if it is oily. Aftercare, which is often overlooked, is an essential step.
A clean hairstyle shows your ears and forehead
Now that the base is in place, all that's left is the hairstyling. However, actor Eita Okuno, who served as our model this time, cannot significantly change the length of his hair due to his work. So AMANO taught us some styling techniques that can be applied to any length.
"For men, I think that a hairstyle that looks natural and has not been done at all is the coolest. I kept that in mind this time as well. On top of that, the key to creating a clean look is to expose your ears, and if you have long bangs like Okuno-san, to avoid creating a sharp part and style them in a way that shows your forehead. I think it's good to keep your bangs short enough to not cover your forehead, as I do."
In this case, it is said that a matte type styling product is preferable.
“If it’s too shiny, the ‘set look’ will stand out in a bad way. This time, I finished by blending FIRSTHAND’s clay pomade thoroughly. It’s a pomade, but what’s great about it is that it doesn’t give off too much shine. It has good hold, so I recommend it for people who have curly hair or a stiff scalp that tends to make the sides of their hair look unfashionable.
What's more, it's made with eco-friendly ingredients. The O,Douds pomade we sell in the shop is also a cream type, made from natural ingredients, which is very trendy. Incidentally, I've never really liked perfume before, but since opening the shop, I've been wearing O,Douds perfume. Body odor is also directly linked to a sense of cleanliness."
Cosmetics for a clean look
