Unattended self hair removal salon opens in Tenmonkan, Kagoshima, offering time-based pricing
ONESELF hair removal machine
Two months have passed since ONESELF Kagoshima Tenmonkan Branch, an unattended hair removal salon, opened in Tenmonkan, Kagoshima City.
The salon opened on November 22 last year on the third floor of a building on Nigiwai Dori. ONESELF is a nationwide chain of unattended self-epilation salons headquartered in Shizuoka, and as of December 20 last year, the company reported 28 salons across the country. Rieko Hidaka, a former beautician and a resident of Kagoshima City, opened the Kagoshima Tenmonkan Branch. The idea was that “customers would feel more comfortable if they could pay by the time, regardless of the section or area of the treatment, and if the pricing was a clear pay-as-you-go system.”
The 33-square-meter salon has a reception area and a treatment area. The treatment area is equipped with a treatment table and a hair removal machine with an LCD panel and instruction manual. A wagon with alcohol sheets and other supplies is also available for customers to clean the equipment after use. The reception area has a space large enough for small children to play so that mothers with children can enjoy a relaxing experience.
Three courses are available: a 20-minute course (3,500 yen), a 40-minute course (5,500 yen), and a 60-minute course (7,500 yen). Only a single group with a reservation can enter the facility. After registering as a member online and making a reservation, a passcode will be sent to the user. For payment, customers can use QR code payment, and there is also a box where they can deposit cash.
Since its opening, the ratio of male to female customers has been roughly even, and some customers make reservations in pairs with family members or friends. For those who are concerned about using the service for the first time, Hidaka holds a tutorial session on an irregular basis to explain how to use the system.
Hidaka added: “I want to make it easier for everyone to access hair removal services. As it is unattended, there is no solicitation. I hope people will try it out.”
Opening hours: 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.