Coming from a family of hairdressers, Ryuta Saiga was immersed in the craft from a young age. His father, Kenji Saiga, was an integral force in bringing hairdressing brand Toni & Guy to Asia, heading up the Tokyo branch for many years. Meanwhile, his brother, Hide Saiga, is currently the CEO of Toni & Guy Japan.

Following his training, Saiga spent three years assisting the renowned South Korean session stylist Shon. It’s an experience he counts as a pivotal moment in his career, igniting his love for session styling over salon work. ”I was very much into only cutting hair until I met Shon, he completely changed the way I thought about hair,” Saiga explains. “I learnt a lot of skills from him, most importantly, how to create work really quickly. Now I always start shoots with a good foundation and hair texture, and as the shoot progresses I try to go with the vibe, pushing my imagination into the hair.”

Citing street style as a constant source of inspiration, Saiga nods to both his current London base and his Tokyo roots. “In Shibuya and Harajuku, where I grew up, people are very individual and not scared of being different,” he says. “In London there is no limit, the street style is constantly changing. I like how things like fashion, hair and make-up come back around, but with a modern edge.