MICHELLE TAKIJIMA

The founder of Tokyo GLAM is all about the business of beauty

- TRINA EPILEPSIA BOUTAIN

The halcyon days of spending hours pampering one’s self inside a salon, chatting with favored technicians and artists are long gone. Today, it’s all hazmat suits, temperature checks and the pervasive smell of disinfectant. While salons typically employ the strictest hygiene practices, they were no match for the government’s even more stringent health guidelines. Tokyo GLAM, a luxury lash and nail salon, experienced the full brunt of the COVID-19 catastrophe, having opened just before the lockdown began. It faced months of limbo waiting for the signal to open again and for jittery customers to venture out. But instead of simply weathering it out, Tokyo GLAM founder Michelle Takijima, went full speed ahead—albeit in a slightly different direction.

“Since the pandemic has started, a lot of changes had to be made because I had to prioritize the safety of the clients and technicians, which included multiple health protocols,” she shares. “This resulted in me working extra both at home and at the salon itself to ensure that Tokyo GLAM continues to provide quality but safe services to its clients. During the pandemic, the demand for home service arose, which pushed me to make extra effort to make this possible.” Quiet and unassuming, Takijima’s soft-spoken approach belies a firm determination and an obvious passion, not just for beauty, but for her brand and the many people who rely on her for their livelihood. When asked what a typical day is like for her, she responds with a jam-packed schedule. “Communicating with my clients, ambassadors and staff has kept me busy throughout the pandemic. Additionally attending meetings to secure deals for the company has taken much of my time,” she says.