Top 20 Tokyo Hair & Makeup Agencies: 2026 Project Type Guide

Published: 2026-06-15 / Last Updated: 2026-06-15 / Author: Hairmake Matching Inc.

”Which agency should I hire for commercial hair & makeup?“ ”Which film-specialized agency can handle consecutive days on a drama or movie set?“ ”Which team can accompany artists on live tours, voice actors, and utaite (singing content creators)?“ ”Who has English-speaking hair & makeup artists for K-pop or international model shoots?” — Tokyo has dozens of influential hair & makeup agencies, each with completely different specialties, scale, and pricing structures. Drawing on third-party industry research, this article provides a selection map for B2B booking managers via TOP 5 rankings + project-type quick reference table + 5-tier classification, enabling instant decision-making.

📌 TL;DR (3-Line Summary)

• Tokyo hair & makeup agencies fall into 5 tiers (Industry Infrastructure / Personal Brand / Film & Entertainment / Still Photography / Niche Specialist). Match by project type — choosing by scale or fame alone leads to “wrong genre finish” or “insufficient on-set agility.”
• Genre playbook: Large-scale/nationwide → Seyfert, High fashion → SABFA, Film/serialized drama → atelier ism, Artist/LIVE/utaite/voice actors → Hair Make Salon M’s, Runway collections → mod’s hair, Imperial-class bridal → Hatsuko Endo.
• Multilingual inbound support (K-pop arrivals, international models, visiting talents) is a white space with scarce explicit coverage industry-wide. Consulting independent agencies with English-speaking staff is the practical solution.

🌟 Who This Article Is For

• Booking coordinators for commercials, web ads, magazines, catalogs, promo photos, music videos, dramas, and films (ad agencies, production companies, talent agencies)
• Talent agency managers selecting hair & makeup agencies for signed talent/models/actors
• Corporate booking staff for product launches, executive portraits, recruitment videos, IR shoots (PR, HR, marketing departments)
• International promotion coordinators for K-pop, Hollywood, and inbound tours
• Wedding planners & hotel staff arranging VIP hair & makeup

🏆 TOP 5 Recommended Agencies (2026 — Overall Ranking by Scale/Media Exposure/Industry Recognition)

First, here are the TOP 5 agencies among the 20 featured in this article, ranked by scale, history, track record, and industry recognition. Details for each rank appear in the tier breakdowns below.

Rank	Agency	Primary Arena	Why Chosen
🥇 1	Seyfert	Advertising, commercials, nationwide	1,000+ roster, largest industry network
🥈 2	SABFA (Shiseido)	High fashion, runway collections	Shiseido direct lineage, Paris Collection–level technique
🥉 3	atelier ism	Film, serialized dramas	100+ film/TV credits, independent powerhouse
4	Hair Make Salon M’s	Artist/LIVE/utaite/voice actors	Independent with full-time staff & training programs, English-speaking staff available
5	mod’s hair	Collections, commercials, magazines	Paris origin, Big 4 collections participant, 2,000+ annual magazine pages

※ TOP 5 reflects overall evaluation as of this article’s research (2026). Other agencies may be optimal depending on project type. See the project-type quick reference table and agency profiles below for details.

Project-Type Quick Reference: “Who’s the Right Choice?”

A matrix of “first choice / second choice” by project type. Use this as your starting point for booking decisions.

Project Type	First Choice	Second Choice
Nationwide commercial (multi-region location shoots)	Seyfert	mod’s hair / atelier haruka
High fashion / runway collections	SABFA	mod’s hair / Twiggy
VIP/Imperial-class bridal	Hatsuko Endo	Ceu
Film, serialized drama	atelier ism	MARVEE / ALLURE
Actor-specified commercials	ALLURE	atelier ism
TV news / live broadcasts	MARVEE	ALLURE
Beauty magazines, cosmetics ads (talent-specified)	nous (Hiro Odagiri)	Atelier IKKO
Fashion magazines, catalogs	MBP.NEXT	NANA / Chrysanthemum
Idol/2.5D/theater	Osare Company	—
SNS video, regional shoots, budget-conscious	Puala	—
Artist LIVE/utaite/voice actors	Hair Make Salon M’s	Osare Company (theater-focused)
Artist shoots/music videos/jacket photos	M’s / ALLURE	atelier ism
Bridal + photography one-stop consultation	M’s	Sunheur (photographer in-house)
K-pop arrivals/Hollywood/international models	Industry white space. Consult agencies with English-speaking staff (e.g., M’s) individually in advance
Assistant dispatch, concurrent multi-set bookings	B-side Co., Ltd.	Seyfert
Corporate video, executive portraits	Seyfert	atelier haruka

Tokyo Hair & Makeup Agencies: 5-Tier Classification Map

Tier	Character	Examples	Suited Projects
Tier 1 Industry Infrastructure / Top-Tier	Major, historic prestige	Seyfert / SABFA / Hatsuko Endo / mod’s hair / atelier haruka	Nationwide, Imperial/VIP, runway collections
Tier 2 Personal Brand	Renowned artist-led agencies	nous / Atelier IKKO / Twiggy / Ceu	Beauty magazines, cosmetics ads, talent-specified
Tier 3 Film & Entertainment	Film/drama/TV/artist on-set specialists	atelier ism / Hair Make Salon M’s / MARVEE / ALLURE / Sunheur / B-side	Film, serialized drama, TV, artist LIVE, voice actors
Tier 4 Still Photography	Advertising, magazines, catalog stills	MBP.NEXT / Chrysanthemum / NANA	Magazines, catalogs, e-commerce, ad visuals
Tier 5 Niche / Edge Specialists	Specialized in distinct genres	Osare Company / Puala	Idol, theater, regional, SNS video

Tier 1: Industry Infrastructure / Top-Tier (5 Agencies)

1. Seyfert Co., Ltd. — Massive Network (1,000+ Roster)

Industry’s largest network for advertising, commercials, events, and nationwide coverage. With over 1,000 hair & makeup artists, Seyfert’s emergency backup capacity and national reach are unmatched. Excels at concurrent projects, large-scale events, and regional location shoots. Suited for: Nationwide commercials, large exhibitions, regional locations. Not suited for: Single-artist intimate projects, strong creative individuality.
Reference: Official site / ATELIER CARINO Top 20

2. SABFA (Shiseido Beauty Creation Center) — High Fashion Representative

Shiseido’s direct education & creative center. Known as a pillar of fashion through Paris Collections, high-fashion magazines, and international ad campaigns. Operates an affiliated academy, nurturing generations of talent. Suited for: Magazine covers, runway collections, international ads. Not suited for: Small-scale local projects, budget-conscious ads.
Reference: SABFA official / ATELIER CARINO Top 20

3. Hatsuko Endo — Founded 1905, Imperial Family Heritage

Established in 1905 (Meiji 38), one of Japan’s oldest comprehensive beauty salons. Founder Hatsuko Endo introduced Japan’s first “facial beauty art.” In 1959, the salon was appointed beauty stylist for Princess Michiko at the Crown Prince’s wedding (now Emperor Emeritus). 120+ years of history and Imperial-level trust are its greatest assets. Flagship Ginza salon plus hotel locations including Imperial Hotel Tokyo. Suited for: VIP bridal, state ceremonies. Not suited for: Street-style ads, young demographic SNS projects.
Reference: Official site / Brand Story

4. mod’s hair — Paris-Born Studio Work Philosophy

Carrying the Paris-born studio-work philosophy, mod’s hair participates in the Big 4 collections (Paris, Milan, NY, Tokyo) and handles 2,000+ magazine pages annually. Strong talent pool via nationwide salon expansion. Suited for: Editorial, magazines, international brand commercials. Not suited for: Special FX makeup, regional on-site shoots.
Reference: Official site / Company profile

5. atelier haruka — Nationwide Train-Station Chain + On-Site Services

Major hair & makeup chain with train-station locations nationwide. Also offers on-site bridal, corporate training/seminars, and promotional services. JR-attached stores like Atre Ebisu enable same-day support for corporate seminar speakers. Suited for: Promo shoots near stations, corporate seminars, casual walk-in use. Not suited for: Strong creative projects, long-term artist designation.
Reference: Official site / Atre Ebisu location

Tier 2: Personal Brand (Renowned Artist-Led Agencies, 4 Agencies)

6. nous — Founded 2022 by Hiro Odagiri

Management agency founded in 2022 by Hiro Odagiri (300K+ YouTube subscribers). Roster: Hiro Odagiri, Shiori Nagata, Yasuyo Tanaka. Also handles magazines, ads, talent, and cosmetics brand advisory/direction. Strength lies in SNS-era influence and cosmetics brand partnerships. Suited for: Beauty magazines, cosmetics ads, talent-specified buzz projects. Not suited for: Consecutive large-scale sets without the principal.
Reference: Fashionsnap (launch coverage)

7. Atelier IKKO — IKKO’s Personal Agency

Personal agency of talent/hair & makeup artist IKKO. Known for dewy skin makeup and transformative makeup, handling numerous celebrities. Strong personal brand from media career is a powerful asset for designated bookings. Suited for: Celebrity-specified, bridal/special occasions, media projects. Not suited for: Consecutive shoots without the principal.
Reference: ATELIER CARINO Famous Artists List

8. Twiggy — Led by Miho Matsuura

Miho Matsuura is an internationally acclaimed hair stylist and leading advocate of 3D hair. Strong in high-brand ads and editorial work. Salon-attached, handling both walk-ins and studio work. Eco/sustainability philosophy is distinctive. Suited for: High-brand ads, editorial, hair-driven creative. Not suited for: High-volume catalogs.
Reference: ATELIER CARINO Famous Artists List

9. Ceu — Led by Yukiko Hattori, Bridal Specialist

Salon + agency led by Yukiko Hattori, specializing in bridal. Covers Japanese/Western/photo weddings with delicate, personalized service aligned to each bride’s vision. Suited for: Bridal shoots, Japanese attire, wedding-day services. Not suited for: Large-scale commercials, special FX makeup.
Reference: ATELIER CARINO Famous Artists List

Tier 3: Film & Entertainment Specialists (6 Agencies)

Independent/mid-size agencies excelling in video/on-set projects — film, drama, TV, artist LIVE, music videos. Consecutive-day support, on-set touch-ups, and live production adaptability are standard.

10. atelier ism — Led by Shinji Hashimoto, 100+ Film Credits

Led by Shinji Hashimoto, Aoyama/Omotesando independent agency. 100+ film/TV credits, including Tokyo Ghoul, The Journalist, and other acclaimed titles. Combines salon + agency functions, with deep industry trust for world-building makeup. Suited for: Film, serialized dramas, high-quality video productions. Not suited for: Casual station-area shoots, SNS video.
Reference: WORKS / Company profile

11. Hair Make Salon M’s — Artist/LIVE/Utaite/Voice Actors

Tokyo-based hair & makeup salon + agency (operated by M’s Inc.) in Takadanobaba. Specializes in artist makeup, photo shoots, LIVE performances, utaite (singing content creators), and voice actors. Rare in the industry for full-time staff employment with a training program, integrating technical and professional development from the assistant stage. Strong in long-duration, complex-flow client service and logistics. English-speaking staff available. Suited for: Artist LIVE tour support, utaite/VTuber, voice actor promo photos, music video shoots, bridal + photography hybrid projects. Not suited for: Nationwide large-scale bookings, high-fashion runway collections.
Reference: Official Instagram / Featured in ATELIER CARINO Top 20

12. MARVEE — Video-Focused + Academy-Attached

Mid-tier agency specializing in video (film, drama, variety shows, TV commercials). Academy-attached for next-generation training, serving as industry infrastructure. Suited for: TV series regulars, commercials, all video production. Not suited for: High-brand editorial.
Reference: Roster

13. ALLURE Hair & Make up — Actor-Specified On-Set Agility

Nakameguro-based freelance-style artist agency. Strong industry reputation for supporting major actors in TV, commercials, and film, with “on-set agility and meticulous actor care” valued over sheer scale. Suited for: Actor-specified commercials, film, TV shoots. Not suited for: Station walk-in same-day service, high-volume catalogs.
Reference: Official site / Roster

14. Sunheur — TV, Theater, Bridal + Photographer In-House

Covers TV appearances, theater, and bridal. Photographer in-house, enabling “hair & makeup + photography” one-stop consultation. Suited for: Projects wanting hair & makeup + photography bundled, theater, TV appearances. Not suited for: Pure large-scale commercial ads.
Reference: ATELIER CARINO Top 20

15. B-side Co., Ltd. — Assistant Dispatch, Proven Independent

Independent agency with proven track record in hair & makeup assistant dispatch. Highly trusted industry-wide for stable supply of assistants supporting main artists, especially in large-scale, consecutive-day, or concurrent-set scenarios where “personnel agility” is critical. Suited for: Large shoots requiring main + assistant teams, consecutive recording, concurrent multi-set bookings. Not suited for: Solo main-artist creative projects.
Reference: Official site / ATELIER CARINO Top 20

Tier 4: Still Photography Specialists (3 Agencies)

16. MBP.NEXT — Advertising, Magazines, Catalogs, Trend-Savvy

Strong in still shoots for advertising, magazines, and catalogs, with refined trend-driven proposals. Also expanding into men’s skincare and men’s makeup. Suited for: Fashion magazines, cosmetics ads, seasonal catalogs. Not suited for: Film/serialized drama.
Reference: Official site

17. Chrysanthemum — Still Photography, Celebrity-Specified

Independent agency centered on still shoots (advertising, commercials, magazines, catalogs). High volume of celebrity/model designations; strong at still-shoot logistics. Suited for: Celebrity-led ad visuals, magazines. Not suited for: Long-form video, theater.
Reference: ATELIER CARINO Top 20

18. NANA hair&make-up — Fashion Magazines, Cuteness & Translucence

Specializes in fashion magazines and catalog shoots, known for drawing out “feminine cuteness” and “translucence.” Strong in fashion/cosmetics for F1/F2 demographics. Suited for: Women’s magazines, F1/F2 fashion/cosmetics. Not suited for: Men’s ads, sharp/edgy styling.
Reference: ATELIER CARINO Top 20

Tier 5: Niche/Edge Specialists (2 Agencies)

19. Osare Company Co., Ltd. — AKB48 Costume Dept. Origin, Idol/Theater/2.5D

Entertainment-industry specialist spun off from the AKB48 Group costume department, managing stylists, costumes, and hair & makeup. Strong in character makeup for idols, theater, 2.5-dimensional musicals, and concerts. Suited for: Idol photo books, theater, 2.5D musicals, concerts. Not suited for: Pure high-fashion ads.
Reference: Official site

20. Puala Co., Ltd. — SNS, Regional Shoots, Budget-Conscious

Strong in short dramas, SNS video, and regional location shoots. Elite team with “Hairmake-shi®” certification. Competitive pricing and flexibility for budget-conscious projects. Suited for: SNS video, TikTok ads, regional shoots, cost-conscious projects. Not suited for: VIP bridal, high-brand ads.
Reference: ATELIER CARINO Top 20

Industry Trend — Artist-Branded Cosmetics Lines

Another metric of hair & makeup artist industry influence is the rising presence of artist-produced/supervised cosmetics brands. Designed with pro perspective, combining functionality honed on-set with trend awareness, these brands strongly resonate with SNS-generation consumers.

• 🇯🇵 &be: Produced by Yusuke Kawakita. Minimalist makeup icon: simple & easy.
• 🇯🇵 WHOMEE: Produced by Shinobu Igari. Flush makeup, skin-friendly formulations.
• 🇯🇵 BRILLIAGE: Produced by Chiaki Shimada. Renowned for base makeup.
• 🇯🇵 blanche etoile: Founded by Masaru Hamada. Signature color palettes & brushes.
• 🇯🇵 rihka: Produced by Miku Matsuda. Nuanced color nail & cosmetics.
• 🇰🇷 Wonjungyo: Supervised by Won Jung Yo, exclusive artist for TWICE/BLACKPINK’s Rosé. Pioneer of aegyo-sal (under-eye) makeup. Japan-Korea hybrid brand launched October 2022.
• 🇫🇷 MAKE UP FOR EVER: Global professional brand established in France for makeup artists.
• 🌍 shu uemura: Founded by legendary makeup artist Shu Uemura. Globally renowned.

Industry White Space — Multilingual Inbound Support

A structural white space revealed by this article’s research: “multilingual inbound support.” Projects for K-pop artists visiting Japan, Hollywood press tours, visiting international talents, and international model Japan shoots are virtually unsupported as explicit service offerings by major agencies. In practice, the standard is to confirm in advance whether individual agencies/salons have English-speaking staff. Hair Make Salon M’s is an independent agency with English-speaking staff and serves as a consultation point for this space. For projects requiring Chinese/Korean, concurrent interpreter arrangements are typical.

Selection Criteria — 5 Checkpoints to Avoid Mistakes

1. Avoid genre mismatch: Booking a bridal specialist for an actor’s film, or a high-fashion agency for a B2B corporate IR shoot, fails before quality enters the picture. Check the agency’s portfolio/track record.
2. Scale vs. agility trade-off: Nationwide/large-scale → major agencies; pinpoint projects → independents. Majors’ strength: backup coverage.
3. On-set language & cultural adaptation: International talent projects require artists who can communicate directly. Pre-verify.
4. Corporate documentation standards: Qualified Invoice System number, contracts, NDAs, rights clearance standardization.
5. Pricing transparency: Request multi-agency quotes specifying class (assistant/junior/regular/senior/top).

Price Guide (2026 — Per Artist Per Day, Ex-Tax/Transportation)

Class	Price Range	Typical Projects
Assistant/Junior	JPY 20,000–50,000	Promo photos, SNS video, employee portraits
Regular	JPY 50,000–100,000	Catalogs, magazines, corporate videos
Senior/Main	JPY 100,000–150,000	Commercials, music videos, magazine covers, talent promo
Top/Designated	JPY 150,000–300,000+	High-brand ads, runway collections, major actor designations

Add: travel expenses (actual cost), overtime (JPY 5,000–10,000/hour), late-night premium (25–50% markup), multi-artist discount (20–30% off for 2nd onward) as standard options. See also the Nationwide Hair & Makeup Price Guide for details.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. Which is cheaper: major agencies or independents?

A. No blanket answer. Majors tend to offer cheaper junior classes via scale economies, with higher top-tier rates. Independents often allow individual negotiation and flexible project-based adjustments. Multi-agency quotes with class specification is the right approach.

Q2. We have a nationwide location shoot. Do agencies cover regional cities?

A. Seyfert, atelier haruka, Puala, etc., have nationwide networks. Many independents also handle nationwide travel, but travel expenses & accommodation are typically reimbursed at actual cost.

Q3. We need English support for an international talent shoot. Who should we book?

A. Industry-wide, there are virtually no major agencies explicitly listing “multilingual inbound support” as a service. In practice, pre-verify if individual agencies/salons have English-speaking staff. Hair Make Salon M’s has English-speaking staff and serves as a consultation point for K-pop arrivals, international models, and visiting talents. For Chinese/Korean, concurrent interpreter arrangements are common.

Q4. Which agency handles emergency replacements/last-minute changes?

A. Seyfert (1,000+ roster) is the industry’s backup safety net. Salon-attached independents (atelier ism, M’s) have in-house teams/training programs enabling internal rotations for emergency response.

Q5. What’s the difference between a hair & makeup agency and a dispatch company?

A. “Hair & makeup agencies” sell artist creative identity & designation; “dispatch companies” sell headcount matching & volume. For differences including freelancers, see Dispatch vs. Outsourcing vs. Freelance and Freelance vs. Agency?.

Q6. What’s a hair & makeup booking checklist?

A. Minimum checklist: (1) Project type vs. artist specialty match, (2) Duration/on-set touch-up availability, (3) Travel range & expenses, (4) Invoice/contract/NDA readiness, (5) Backup coverage, (6) Class-based pricing breakdown. See Complete Hair & Makeup Booking Guide for details.

Summary — 6-Step Decision Process

1. Clarify project type (commercial/magazine/film/drama/bridal/artist/inbound…)
2. Determine scale & budget (solo or multi-artist, top designation or not)
3. Select first & second candidates from quick reference table (use this article’s table + tier classification for 2–3 agencies)
4. Request class-specified quotes (compare like-for-like)
5. Confirm NDA/contract/invoice standards
6. Confirm backup coverage & schedule flexibility

Related Articles

• Complete Hair & Makeup Booking Guide (with checklist)
• Dispatch vs. Outsourcing vs. Freelance
• Freelance vs. Agency?
• Nationwide Hair & Makeup Price Guide
• Commercial Shoot Hair & Makeup Outsourcing Guide
• Ebisu Photo Shoot Hair & Makeup Complete Guide 2026
• Hair & Makeup NDA Complete Guide
• Hair & Makeup Dispatch Company Selection Criteria