Articles

Nero, Known for Styling Naomi Watanabe's Hair, Discusses His Hairstylist Craft

2024.12.06

With globalization advancing, more Japanese people are thriving abroad. We spotlight Yuhei Nerome, known as "Nero," who styles hair for New York shows and brand advertisements. After moving overseas solo, he established his atelier and is now involved in styling for international magazine covers, pushing boundaries and achieving success. Many in Japan recognize him as the hairstylist for Naomi Watanabe.

In this interview, we explore how he pursued a career as a hairstylist and built his career abroad. From Nero, who repeatedly expressed his stance on doing what you love, we received an inspiring message for dream-chasers.

PROFILE

Nero/Yuhei Nerome

Born in Tokyo in 1986. After graduating from Japan Beauty College, he worked in a hair salon in Japan for four years before moving to the U.S. in 2014. Following his time assisting world-renowned hairstylist Bob Recine, he became independent in 2019 and has since been based in NY. He works on editorials like "Vogue US" and "Another Magazine" and commercial projects for brands including Supreme, adidas, Nike, Y3, and Helmut Lang. Meanwhile, inspired by Andy Warhol's Polaroid series, he began creating self-portraits with his own hair wigs. His portrait series documenting friends who visit his studio for haircuts, using Polaroid's Big Shot and the 1960s large-format camera Deardorff 8x10, sparked interest. His editorial "Nero’s World," where he handled shooting, hairstyling, and casting, graced the cover of "Office Magazine" in 2023, reflecting his vibrant activities as a photographer. In May 2024, he will host his first solo exhibition at Harajuku's concept store "Under R" by Ron Herman, drawing over 1,000 visitors. Additionally, in December, he will hold an exhibition at "authorized gallery" in California, USA.
Instagram / Official Website

Turning Points Come Suddenly

Please tell us about your current activities.

I am a hairstylist based in New York. While the term 'hair and makeup artist' is used in Japan, I specialize solely in hair, not makeup.

I belong to an agency called MA＋Group, where I propose hairstyles for magazine shoots and brand advertisements.

On days without shoots, I spend time cutting friends' hair in my studio or atelier and doing personal shoots.

What inspired you to enter the beauty industry?

In my second year of high school, a renowned hair and makeup artist named Koki Takano opened a salon in my hometown. I was awestruck by the flowers celebrating the opening, with the names of celebrities lining up.

After visiting there, I decided to become a hairstylist. I was filled with amazement, realizing such a wonderful job existed.

After graduating from a vocational school, what path did you take?

After graduating, I joined a salon called RITZ and worked for about three years.

Later, I went to Paris for about a year to study makeup. However, while studying magazines and fashion history, I noticed that everything caught my eye had to do with hairstyles. So, I boldly pivoted to become a hairstylist.

I also had a lasting fondness for 80s and 90s New York culture, so after returning to Japan, I saved money and relocated to New York quickly.

Hair Stylist & Photographer Perspectives

Where do you get your hairstyle inspirations?

If I had to say, I think it comes from movies. When music, visuals, costumes, and hair & makeup are skillfully combined, they can create a futuristic piece or a medieval one. I believe this is a kind of comprehensive art form.

For me, I imagine myself responsible while watching a movie, and then try working with wigs in the studio.

Could you tell me about a piece of work you have fond memories of?

Last year, I was in charge of the cover for "Office Magazine," and that shoot was really enjoyable. I was able to create the entire work—from choosing the model, stylist, costumes, to the composition.

The cover featured Naomi Watanabe, and adding a Bandai figure to the headband was such a clever idea; now, I think it was quite an innovative concept.

The cover of "Office Magazine" handled by Nero ©️NERO

How did the opportunity to work on "Office Magazine" come about?

I basically cut and shoot in the studio as part of my personal projects from the planning stage of a shoot.

I continuously posted my works shot there on Instagram, and an editor noticed them. They thought giving Nero the job might result in an interesting cover, so they reached out to me in that way.

Have you been working with Naomi Watanabe for a long time?

When Naomi moved to New York, she seemed to be looking for a hair and makeup artist. The person she consulted happened to be my acquaintance, a nail artist. They recommended me, saying "Nero is good," and that's how we started working together.

Actually, during my assistant days, I met Naomi once at a shoot for her brand "PUNYUS." So, seeing her in New York was the second time, but I thought she would never remember me—yet she was like, "We've met before, right?" Based on that, we ended up getting along very well.

Not just with Naomi Watanabe, but do you research the preferences of models before working with them?

I don't research model preferences beforehand. I work on fashion shows or brand photo shoots, tailoring the hairstyles to match the brand's clothing and overall aesthetic.

I always focus on "spontaneity." Creativity and flair at moments are crucial. Anyone can create desired works if they have time, but in shooting environments, unforeseen situations always arise, so handling them becomes an essential skill.

For such spontaneity, you need a considerable arsenal of ideas, don't you?

There are 24 hours in a day, but you can only think while you're awake. Even on days off, I don't stop contemplating.

For me, being a hairstylist doesn't feel like work; it's more like doing what I love. So, I'm never tired, even if I'm thinking about hair or photos all day.

I don't jot down ideas that come to mind. Ideas needing notes aren't of much value, in my opinion. While information is abundant, I remember little because it's not important to me.

Therefore, I always go with the ideas lingering in my mind.

Self-portrait using a handmade hair wig inspired by Andy Warhol's Polaroid series.

Where do you find fulfillment as a hairstylist?

I feel it when shooting photos, knowing that the readers might want to buy the clothes, dress up, or try out a certain hairstyle. That's an amazing thing.

From the standpoint of a hairstylist, cutting hair has the power to significantly change a person's life.

There was a time not long ago when a woman cutting her hair short was often said to have gone through a breakup. It makes sense in a way. A hairstyle can change one's impression, and with it, the direction of their inner self or energy. Only a hairstylist can support that.

Pursuing What You Love Deeply

Looking back at your career, was there any job that served as a turning point?

There wasn't one particular project. It's important to consistently work and make a name for myself in this industry; you don't become famous overnight here.

For instance, if you wanted to work on Naomi Watanabe's hair, people would think it's impossible for a hairstylist in their first year. But if you keep pursuing that goal for ten years, the chance will come at least once. I think I managed to seize that one opportunity.

It's the same for other jobs. I don't think clients would suddenly discover and give work to someone unknown. There's a world that only becomes visible through perseverance.

Sometimes you may hit a big wall. How do you keep working continuously in such situations?

My creed is that "with passion, you can do anything." Delve deeply into what you love and never lose interest in it. That's key.

It's important to always stay interested in various things, go see them, talk with others, and take action yourself. Nothing happens if you don't.

I often get to hear concerns from students because of my job. Some want to work in beauty in Korea. To them, I advise going to Korea over the weekend, seeing what cosmetics are in vogue, and experiencing the latest fashion.

It might sound harsh, but if you don't have that level of passion and action, you might be on the wrong path.

In May 2024, an individual exhibition will be held for the first time in their career at Ron Herman's new concept store "Under R" in Sendagaya, Tokyo.

Can you tell us about your future prospects?

I’m glad that more people have gotten to know me thanks to Naomi, but I myself haven’t changed a bit. I just want to continue doing what I want.

When I came to New York, I had a vision of the future, and I’ve only realized about 20% of it. About 80% of the things I want to do are still pending.

I want to work for that magazine, take that kind of photo, visit that place. There are too many things I want to do, and I feel like there’s not enough time.

I also love fashion shows, and I want to challenge myself with the hair there, but I believe that the time will come someday when circumstances align for that.

Please share a message for those considering a career in the beauty industry.

I’ve never felt I have any special talent. I think the result I’ve achieved now comes from wholeheartedly engaging with what I love.

I believe the beauty industry, including hairstylists, makeup artists, and hairstylists, is about directly working with people and making them happy, and there aren’t many jobs like that.

So, I hope all of you continue to carry passion and move toward your dreams. If you have an intense feeling that you truly love this, it will surely take shape someday, even during tough times.

If anyone watching me wishes to become a hairstylist, I want to say, “If you truly love it, you can absolutely make it.”

Header Caption: ©️NERO