THE OWNER: HIROSHI
American culture had a huge influence on Japanese kids in the 70’s; fashion, music, cars, politics. Growing up in the city of Osaka, surfing was a faraway dream, but Hiroshi had the opportunity to try it, and that was it – California or bust! After training to be a stylist, he worked his way up to managing one of Osaka’s most prestigious salon companies. He had the opportunity to come to Los Angeles and he took it. Starting right from the bottom again, with the crazy idea to own a salon with an eclectic international team. Thirty-some years later, Object has been a consistently top-rated Westside salon. In 1989, Object opened on Third Street and moved to Santa Monica in 2008. Clients and staff have known each other for decades. We have been there for first dates, weddings, children and grandchildren and all the everyday stuff in between. Hiroshi has always believed that education is the most important foundation for the sustainability of any salon. He has trained many stylists, proving the theory that growing and supporting your staff creates a successful business.
He also believes that surfing whenever you can, brings peace and joy.
Masa
MASA grew up in Tokyo. He liked to style hair in high school and was always curious as to how a 2D photo translated to a 3D cut. He thought he could do better than his hairstylist, so, he had to study for that! He trained at Vidal Sassoon and Toni & Guy, in Tokyo and then London, blending travel and education. Every situation and head is different. You have to be able to listen to what a client requests, and rely on excellent technique to achieve it. Over the 20 years that he has been at Object, he has been a kickboxer, a tennis player, a fisherman but most recently, a very happy Dad.
Haircut/Blowdry 90+
Barbaring 75+
Single process color 120+
Balayage 230+
Highlights 270+
Permanent Wave 200+
Keratin Treatment 280+
Japanese Straight Perm 400+
Mayu
MAYU grew up in Fukuoka Japan, where she trained and worked before heading to California. She’s living out her high school dream of becoming a Californian surfing hairstylist! Always full of energy and joy, she loves the beach life. Her clients know that she’s on their journey, embracing all opportunities for interpretation. For her it’s fun. With over 20 years of experience in Japan and the US, she has mastered cut, color, Up-do and keratin treatment. For color, she loves the natural brunette looking balayage to platinum blonde, beachy style. For cuts to last longer, she often chooses the dry cut technique.
Haircut/Blowdry 100+
Barbaring 75+
Single process color 120+
Balayage 240+
Highlights 260+
Permanent Wave 200+
Keratin Treatment 280+
Japanese Straight Perm 400+
Miki
MIKI grew up in Hiroshima Japan. She began her career in Tokyo and then lived and worked in New York before coming to Los Angeles. She’s a thoughtful listener. A very focused and talented stylist at translating a client’s request into reality. She’s specialized in cut, color, balayage, highlights, permanent wave and Up-do. She won First Prize at the International Beauty Convention Long Beach for Up-do creation. Most importantly for her, Miki wants all her clients to feel happy and beautiful so that they can feel their best selves. Time off is not time off at all – she is mom to a super high-energy three year-old who makes us all laugh!
Mia
MIA loves color. Hair is her canvas. Her specialty is coloring, balayage, highlights, vivid color and color correction. She’s enthusiastic about seemingly impossible requests. She’s always taken on the challenges: travel, language, education and building a career. Undaunted, she draws from fashion and makeup, cool trends and unique styles. Constantly in pursuit of new techniques, Mia collaborates with co-workers or joins classes and conventions whenever she can. She lives with her chef husband who comes from the Czech Republic, and their four-legged child.
Haircut/Blowdry 95+
Barbaring 75+
Single process color 140+
Balayage 240+
Highlights 220+
Keratin Treatment 280+
Risa
RISA grew up in Nagasaki and arrived in Los Angeles in 2008. She has always been interested in hair, makeup and fashion. This holistic viewpoint has accelerated her technique and ability. For her, detail is everything and she is a master of cut, balayage, Keratin treatment, highlights and layers of colors that take time and focus. Her specialty is California Beach Blondes, she can create personalized color, particularly to match skin tone. She makes this experience really relaxing and restorative for her clients. It is their opportunity to feel taken care of. She’s a foodie and loves to find new restaurants, particularly Asian French.
Haircut/Blowdry 90+
Barbaring 75+
Single process color 120+
Balayage 270+
Highlights 270+
Keratin Treatment 280+
Noa
Noa grew up in Yokohama, Japan.
She has always been creative. In her early 20’s she was in a band, singing and writing songs. She came to California to visit a cousin and fell in love with LA, studied interior design here, and then transferred to computer design. But the digital world didn’t feel like a creative outlet. Hair styling made sense, it is a very satisfying medium with client interaction.
Noa’s great at both color and cutting, and has a list of happy clients who agree.
Haircut/Blowdry 85-95
Barbaring 75+
Single process color 140+
Balayage 260+
Highlights Half 180+
Full 240+
Keratin Treatment 280+
Marie
MARIE has been styling hair since she was a child in Tokushima, starting with her sisters. She is licensed in Japan and California. She worked in Osaka for nine years and has been at Object since 2015. She loves getting to know her clients as much as she loves to do their hair. Understanding her client’s personality and lifestyle helps to create the best look for each individual. Her favorite thing is to see her clients smile after their service is finished. It’s a great reward. Marie specializes in color, highlights, balayage and cutting.
She enjoys being in nature; hiking, going to the beach, spending time with her family and friends and also her beautiful tuxedo cat named Suki.
Erica
ERICA is not only a well-trained stylist, but also has a degree in economics. She uses both every day. So, it’s no surprise that she’s a big advocate for ongoing education – she wants to keep up and also share knowledge with her clients. Making people feel at their best and most confident has a big impact. Erica does all cuts and colors, she is a blonde specialist and an extension specialist. Her husband and daughter are her world, but she also loves to travel, garden and scrapbook.
Rion
RION was born in Japan but grew up in Los Angeles. She has a degree in Psychology Art Therapy. This passion to help others through creative expression is completely suited to being a stylist. During her studies in Rome, she was able to shadow a hairstylist and it all made perfect sense. Rion enjoys natural, seamless balayage, finely sectioned foil work and highlights, creative color and long-layered cuts. She loves creating artwork, rock climbing, spending time in nature and making her clients feel great.
Haircut/Blowdry 95+
Barbaring 75+
Single process color 120+
Balayage 250+
Highlights 250+
Keratin Treatment 300+
Chocky
CHOCKY grew up in the Paradise island of Bali. Intrigued to broaden his world and learn more about music and style, he traveled first through Europe and on to the US. He has a degree in Industrial marketing from Michigan State but didn’t find that world interesting. So, inspired by the idea of styling models for fashion shows, better to head to the Jean Louis Salon in France to pursue a position in the franchising division. He has been in Los Angeles for the last couple of decades. Travel is still his greatest inspiration whether for a new haircut, color, or human connection.
Haircut/Blowdry 95+
Barbaring 75+
Single process color 175+
Balayage 300+
Highlights 350+
Keratin Treatment 300+
Meg
MEG is from Fukuoka Japan in the south of Japan. She worked as a stylist in Fukuoka and Tokyo, bringing her experience to the US in 2018. She specializes in haircut and balayage, and loves to work with color, from natural bleach to very creative designs. She is very collaborative with her clients and enjoys the discussion of options to suit a lifestyle.
She loves music, enjoys performance art and dance with her husband, and is interested in creative crafts including making coffee. She and her husband love the outdoors.
Haircut/Blowdry 90+
Barbaring 75+
Single process color 140+
Balayage 260+
Highlights 260+
Keratin Treatment 320+
Natsumi
NATSUMI grew up in Tokyo and was inspired by the unique fashion, makeup and hair of Harajuku. As a ballet dancer from three years old, Natsumi has been conscious of hair and makeup as presentation. She loves color and the process of analyzing what will look good and how colors will react differently on each client’s hair; it depends on individual natural hair color, condition and texture. It’s a science project! Her other passions are shopping, 90’s music, watching movies and playing with her dog.
Haircut/Blowdry 90+
Barbaring 75+
Single process color 150+
Balayage 260+
Highlights 260+
Keratin Treatment 340+
Umi
UMI grew up in Nagoya, Japan. She studied for a year in the US in high school, and then spent a year at University in Chicago before heading to LA for better weather.
Freedom of expression is important for Umi and a love of k-pop culture lead her to think about hair/makeup/fashion and ultimately into cosmetology school. Hair is a profound and complex form of self-expression. She still enjoys Korean culture for beauty, music and food. And the Us lifestyle for conversations about skin, hair, makeup and fragrances.
Hair should suit a client’s lifestyle. A hairstyle should be current and achievable.
Haircut/Blowdry 90+
Barbaring 75+
Single process color 140+
Balayage 260+
Highlights 260+
Keratin Treatment 320+
Mayuu
MAYUU is from Tokyo. In teenage years, she became interested in transformation through makeup and also by experiencing different cultures. Which lead her to Los Angeles, cosmetology and ultimately to specializing in lash extensions. What she loves most about this field is enhancing someone’s natural beauty and giving a boost to their confidence, helping them to feel more glamorous and self-assured. Mayuu is an avid reader and draws inspiration from classic times of beauty and glamor. She’s and easy-going person and really loves to connect with her clients hear their stories and aspirations.
Miki
Originally from Osaka, Japan.
Miki has been a professional in the beauty industry for over 8 years beginning as a receptionist and assistant manager, then moving into Eyelash Extension and Permanent Makeup with Microblading, Powder Brows, Lip Blush, Eyeliner
Miki has been certified by the best Eyelash extensions and Permanent Makeup Academies, PhiLash and PhiBrows also Beauty Angels Academy.
She believes in beauty at every age and tailors her approach to meet the vision of each client across the generational.