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DA INSPIRE LIVE Finalist Interview

Keeping up the hard work as the area representative and doing for all members!

名古屋エリア・準グランプリ：

arte HAIR

小林 圭介

（KOBAYASHI, Keisuke）

/ DIRECTOR / 1986.10.20 Born

NAGOYA Area

Nagoya, the battle field with competitons as fierce as in Tokyo. From there, we have Keisuke Kobayashi, a semi-finalist from arte HAIR who attained the admission ticket for the champion final. Though he is joining for his first time, he did attracted attention as he has previously received the design award. This time we have him to talk about the course of his first participation, challenges he went through, his standard, as well as things happened before the final competition. It is definitely a good reference for those who are thinking to have a try.

I. The big influence of the first competition from the changes in DA rules

--Last year, you participated in the Nagoya competition for the first time, what drove you to join indeed?

I have been constantly told to join by my boss, he said to me, “participating in the competition does bring customer, you go join!”, and finally I was there. Before it became a competition, it was like a forum with presentations, wasn’t it?

--Yes. There was only causal interviews as the quality check. That was six years ago though.

Honestly, I am not good at presenting like “the customer is like this, so I am doing this, and this.” I understand stating the judgement and the direction is somehow a way to improve though. It was also why I didn’t join. [Laughter]

-- Oh, I see. [Laughter] And yes, there was a big change that we have rules and regulations. How did you feel when you first come to know those rules and regulations?

We had to send a photo to the judges, and we could not use that same model in the competition. That’s a constraint indeed. That’s a change, and I think that’s something different from other competitions. Plus, the theme “Realitive” is too natural and too much like a mode that I felt like I couldn’t do anything more beside doing something just fit my customers but it was very practical as a promotion, and that’s something worth learning.

--When you said it’s practical for your work at your salon, does it mean you have to suggest something to the customers instead of just to do as told?

Right. In most cases, customers want to change but they don’t know how to, or they are not sure whether they can change, and they need the suggestions from stylists. Relalitive is an important concept for capturing customers words of “ I wanna change” then head for that change with a clear mind.

--Were there any concrete images about that?

That’s not doing something simple and just fit the customer but one step further to do the cut, color, perm and design a style for the customers. Customers are shiny. And they are, and for, realitive. (P)

II. Creation with consideration and strict requirements even to the angles of hair

--So after you decided to join the competition, were there any particular difficulties? Or any things you paid effort for, or anything you felt difficult?

Since it was my first time, in fact, I was confused for the quality of the photos. When looking at the past works, Penal A was very much realistic and natural. Then I tried to do something neutral but you know, it’s very difficult to study all the trends and I felt like my work was not impressive enough, to be frank. And as I have seriously took those past works as reference, I am not sure whether they should still be the standard this time. Now, I realized that I should have deeper thoughts about what is real, what is realitive, and tried a bit more in that aspect.

--When you create, are you the type who discuss with anyone or do you prefer working alone?

Hair design is something being constantly judged objectively and so I always try to seek other’s advice. Certainly, I have my own image but I am not stubborn on that. I always talk with my boss before I start, I shift myself if the words from others are convincing. If they were not, I discuss with them and explain myself clear. The key is to think of what to do next for improvement to the next level.

--Could you explain about your designs then? You said you tried to be natural when you create panel A. Were there any points you especially paid attention to?

I tried to fit the model, and have some rhythm in the flow of the hair. When I searched by the keywords “trend, 2019, spring summer”, it said marigold is the new trend so I tried to add some marigold colors in the outfit and the ear rings.

--What about penal B then?

The model was originally in short hair and when it comes to design, you know short hair is a limitation. Thus, instead of the form, I tried to change the angle of her hair. The hair grows radially in a random manner, right? Actually they were newly added, the balance of the long and short layers and the asymmetric shape were all planned.

--C should be an elaboration from A and B, what was your idea when you created that?

I aimed to create something in between A and B, and was thinking how much from B should I retain. A is something natural and realistic while B is something playful, so it all depended on how I arrange the outline and the bangs all in all.

--Did you do perming on that?

Yes, I did.

--Are you satisfied by the outcome?

Considering I am already a semi-finalist, I can say I have done what I expected myself to while I was practicing. Still, there are a lot of rooms for improvement and I thought I should have do better, when I look back.

--It’s not easy to go straight to the final round in the first trial. Besides, some of the judges even said that the quality in Nagoya is really high, even higher than Tokyo. Please let us know how you feel when you became a semi-finalist in such a place with fierce competition.

The title is what every participant wants, so when I have it, it’s merely joyful. And now, I am doing what every participant from Nagoya would like to, so I will try my best and work for all the members from Nagoya. That’s a new responsibility on me.

--You were granted with the design award. How did you feel when being awarded with that?

That’s selected by Mori Kaori, and I am a big fan of Shigemori and I love his designs. So, I feel really thankful.

III Competition is the additional value of stylist.

--Have you ever participated in other competitions?

Yes, many many.

--What I want to ask is, you know there are stylists who are not really into competitions, they don’t understand the value. What about you? What are the reasons and objective for yourself indeed?

I strongly believe that stylists can transcend when we spend a long time to design and try to go deep and pursue something in the style. If we can receive some awards at the end, that’s like a bonus. Customers definitely want to have their hair done by “awardees who have good skills”. There are always customers who clap, and feel happy for the award we receive. It’s really great when you receive some heart-warming congratulations from them.

--So to perfect your skill is like to raise the satisfaction from your customers at the same time.

There are still a few months to go before the final round, what will you do as preparations?

--I will brainstorm how much I shall impress, and kind of amaze the judges. In order to show the styles that match with my models, I will work on the design and collect attractive elements, and practice more.

I will brainstorm how much I shall impress, and kind of amaze the judges. In order to show the styles that match with my models, I will work on the design and collect attractive elements, and practice more.

--Please share with us how much do you want to win the competition.

There are only 16 finalists remained at this moment, of course I want to grasp this chance for sure.

Salon Data
arte hair

http://www.arte-hair.net/

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