By Wonsuh Song
“You only pay 4,000 yen for a haircut.”
That’s what the sign said. But once you’re in the chair, the story changes. “How about a scalp cleansing?” “This regular dye will fry your hair—you should go with our organic color.” “You must do a treatment or your hair will snap off.”
In both Japan and Korea, salon services often come with add-on pressure disguised as friendly suggestions. The problem is, it’s hard to say no. Many fear they’ll be treated poorly if they refuse. So we give in—again and again.
But there’s a simple and effective line that works almost every time:
“I’m sorry, I just don’t have the money right now.”
This honest sentence can stop upselling in its tracks. Just the other day in a Tokyo salon, when a stylist suggested a 3,500 yen treatment, I replied that I didn’t have the budget. In response, they offered it to me for 1,000 yen instead. The pressure melted away, replaced by a surprising look of understanding. Sometimes, even sympathy. It’s as if the stylist thinks, “Oh, you’re struggling too.”
A salon is a place of service, but also of sales. That’s natural. But so is your right to say no. Saying you don’t have the money is simply a way of stating your financial boundary. There’s no shame in that. In fact, it can be empowering.
So the next time you’re offered something you don’t want, just try saying it.
“I don’t have the money today.”
It might save your wallet—and your confidence.
Wonsuh Song (Ph.D.)
Full-time Lecturer, Shumei University / NKNGO Forum Representative
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