Yasuhiro Chika became famous in the mid-1990s for his belief that “make all women beautiful; where there are women’s smiles, there is happiness and peace.” His attention to detail, refined cutting techniques, and innovative design sensibilities brought him widespread recognition. Since then, supermodels, actors, musicians, celebrities, athletes, and artists who wear his rich hair designs have graced the pages of women’s magazines, beauty industry publications, as well as TV shows, advertisements, photo collections, commercials, and films. He has won numerous grand prizes in hair contests over the years and currently works as a master hair designer at a hair salon – artifata in Tokyo, while traveling the world as a judge, instructor, and artist, wielding just a pair of scissors.
Born in 1964 in Okayama, Japan, Yasuhiro was a soccer enthusiast during his childhood, dreaming of becoming a professional soccer player. However, an injury forced him to give up that dream. His passion for styling his friends’ hair led him to shift his focus from sports to beauty. He moved to Tokyo, where he studied the fundamentals of beauty at Yamano Beauty College. After graduation, he joined HAIR DIMENSION, one of Japan’s top salons at the time, and continued honing his skills as a hairdresser’s assistant. At the age of 21, he made his debut as a stylist, and the following year, after winning the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Award in the cutting category at the INTERNATIONAL BEAUTY FORUM, he developed a passion for cutting techniques and a creative approach that continues to define his career.
Yasuhiro gained nationwide recognition when he appeared as a regular on the TV show “Scissors League,” which became explosively popular despite its short broadcast time. This not only helped raise the social status of hairdressers but also made him a key figure in the “charismatic hairdresser” boom ; a term that sparked a major trend in Japan that swept across the country. In 2000, he opened his own salon “artifata” in Omotesando and began expanding his work beyond Japan to international projects, creating groundbreaking beauty concepts for celebrities and artists.
From 2003 to 2014, he led the team artifata in hair shows such as “Splash” and later took on shows in Shanghai and Taiwan. From 2005 onwards, he began teaching internationally, passing on his unique cutting technique, “CHICUT,” to the next generation of hairdressers. During this time, he also served as a judge for numerous hair contests, including those hosted by Milbon, across Japan. In 2011, he produced salon music, participated in the hair and makeup team for the Cannes Film Festival in 2012, and co-developed hair products the following year, steadily broadening his range of activities.
After years of working between the glamorous worlds of entertainment and the beauty industry, Yasuhiro found new meaning in salon work, focusing on lifelong relationships with each individual client, serving over 600 customers a month. This shift aligned with his deep belief in being a lifelong hairdresser who contributes to the happiness of everyone he encounters. His dedication to this belief solidified his understanding of the true essence of being a hairdresser.
In recent years, Yasuhiro has collaborated with photographer Mamoru Moriguchi, who creates dynamic and ambitious photo series featuring athletes. Through this project, which blends his roots in sports with his passion for beauty, Yasuhiro began sponsoring athletes. His work now extends beyond the beauty industry, continuously exploring and pioneering new fields.