Keiichiro Hirano’s hair journey harks all the way back to his days as shampoo boy in mid-1980s Japan — the inevitable result of being born to a mother with her own hairdressing salon.
Almost half a century in the industry later, and the stylist, now based in London, has a roster of clients that spans Harrods to L’Officiel magazine.
None of that would have happened, though, without the “passion” Hirano developed for his craft during his time spent as a session stylist back in 1990s Japan. “We all worked 365 days a year nonstop,” he reminisces. “It was competitive.”
When discussing this portion of his life, Hirano’s words are flavoured with the anachronistic feel of Tokyo — the varieties and “textures” of an era marked by volume and colours. It’s unsurprising, then, that Hirano views hair as an expression of character. “Hair texture is my signature,” he tells me. “But it’s all about the people.”
This excerpt was taken from HUNGER Issue 34: Fight Back. Stay tuned for the full story.
- Photographer Mark Cant
- Beauty DirectorMarco Antonio
- Hair StylistKeiichiro Hirano
- WriterScarlett Coughlan
- ModelsOli Cook, Louis Dupin, Callum Simpson, Bunny Syxes, Qinuo Wang, Hugo Hodgson, Oliver Graham-Horneat and Euan Sukul at SUPA Model Management
