Meet the Stylists Aki Nagata (Master Stylist and Executive Director)

Stylist: Aki Nagata

Main Branch: Tillman

Q: Tell us about yourself. Where are you from? What are some of your career highlights?

A: After studying architectural design and experiencing a vast array of jobs, my career as a hair stylist started in Tokyo. I honed my craft of hair styling at a salon in the upscale Ginza district for 7 years. Longing for a fresh new start in my career, I decided to move to the U.S. 5 years ago, where I soon met our current owner. Together, we launched Viange Hair Tillman Salon. Since then, I’ve been involved in the launch and growth of the Saratoga Salon, Dublin Salon as well as the Plano, Texas salon opening this March. I currently work in all locations on rotation, sought out by many clients as a master stylist.

I truly believe in the magic and excitement one can experience in one single moment. I always strive to bring this instantaneous feeling in every one of my customers. To continuously provide my best performance for my customers, I’m always beating my record of “the best”. Today, I’m better than yesterday. Tomorrow, I’ll be better than today.

Q: What's your specialty?

A: I specialize in bringing out the best color and style tailored for each and every one of my clients. It’s about personalized design. I also have a unique blow-drying skill that distinguishes me from other stylists.

To me, there’s a clear distinction between an artist and a designer. An artist’s job is to simply express their own world, mind and style. But a designer wouldn’t exist without the client. A designer’s job is to maximize their performance to fulfill the client’s wants and needs with professionalism. We, hair stylists are designers. We spare no effort, waste no time to acquire the knowledge and skill to provide our best performance to satisfy our clients.

Q: What do you love about your job?

A: I love that I’m able to provide an impact on someone’s life. You know how an encounter with a particular person can change someone’s life? Well, I think people’s encounter with design can change people’s lives as well. That encounter can be either a positive one or a negative one. As a hair designer, I take that as a huge responsibility and that’s what I love about my job.

Q: Tell us about your aspirations.

A: My aspiration is to build the world’s best beauty brand. I want to become a person who can challenge the status quo and create a new standard. Through Viange Hair, I want to create a memorable brand forever touching people’s lives.

Q: Who’s your muse and why?   

A: Steve Jobs, Takafumi Horie (Japanese Entrepreneur) and Vidal Sassoon are all my muses. I love how they have a way of looking at things from a different perspective. The ideas that emerge out of that unique perspective is what makes all the difference in the world. The power to take those ideas and create something that changes the world. It all begins from that unique perspective.

Q: What do you do on your free time?

A: I don’t really have free time because I use all the time I have to be my best self and to live my best life. If I ever meet the person who decided there were 7 days in a week, I would ask that person to add 5 more days to the week. Then I would probably have some free time.

Q: What’s your favorite quote?

A: Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water, or do you want a chance to change the world? – Steve Jobs