Job-Hunting Hair Guide: Best Hairstyles for Your Japanese Job Application ID Photo – Long Hair

Hair, Makeup & Outfits #Job-Hunting ID Photo #Hairstyle & Hair Color #Job Hunting

March 23, 2022November 6, 2026 Chiharu

This one is for job seekers whose hair is longer than collarbone length.

What hairstyle are you planning to wear for your job search?
If you've worked hard to grow your hair out and don't want to cut it just for job hunting, here are some styles we recommend.

Make your ID photo look as close as possible to how you'll look at interviews
A clean, neat hairstyle is best for job hunting
A chignon makes a great impression and stays in place
Does your hair color have to be black?
Summary

Make your ID photo look as close as possible to how you'll look at interviews

When you have your ID photo taken, it's best to wear the same hairstyle you plan to wear to interviews.

Interviewers look at the photo on your entry sheet (the standard application form used in Japanese job hunting, which includes a photo) before meeting you. If your photo looks very different from how you appear on the day, it can be a problem, since the photo is also used to confirm that you are the same person.

So it's best to decide on your interview hairstyle before the photo is taken.
If you're planning to cut your hair short before your interviews, it may be better to get the haircut first and then have your photo taken.

That said, most people have their photos taken right at the start of their job search, and many aren't sure which hairstyle is best or what to pay attention to.

If that sounds like you, keep the points below in mind when choosing your style.

A clean, neat hairstyle is best for job hunting

The most important point for job-hunting hair is a clean, neat look.
To achieve this, start by keeping the hair around your face tidy.

Don't leave loose strands around your face, and part or sweep your bangs so that at least a little of your forehead shows. This works for almost any industry.

Bangs worn down are fine, but they shouldn't hang over your eyes or cast a shadow on them. Style your hair so your eyes show clearly in the photo.

With long hair, we don't recommend wearing it down.
When you bow, down hair inevitably falls forward and can look untidy. In winter, static can also make hair frizz and spread, so tying it back is more convenient when you need to tidy up on the go.

We recommend tying back the hair around your face in a low ponytail or a half-up style.
Split ends and stray hairs are easy to notice on long hair, so take extra care with them.

If you choose a half-up style, letting the rest of your hair hang down your back for the ID photo gives a clean, tidy look.

A chignon makes a great impression and stays in place

A chignon is a bun.

It's a familiar style for students aiming for airlines, weddings, or hotels, but it's also a good choice for other industries.

That's because a chignon is a neat, clean style where your hair won't fall forward when you bow and it holds its shape over time.

It also takes a certain amount of hair length to make, so it's especially well suited to long hair.

As with a low ponytail or half-up style, pay attention to height when making a chignon.
We recommend about ear level.

For a polished finish, or if you have thick hair that's hard to keep together, use a bun net.
Avoid nets with scrunchies or ribbons, and your style will work for any industry.

Does your hair color have to be black?

When people think of job hunting in Japan, many assume hair must be jet black.

If the company doesn't specify, a dark color such as dark brown is fine in most cases. However, if you plan to apply to a wide range of industries and job types, a color close to black is the safer choice.

You may be thinking, "I plan to dye my hair black for interviews. Do I need to dye it black for the photo too?" If you only need the photo, it may be possible to darken your hair color through photo retouching. If you can't get a salon appointment or aren't sure whether to dye your hair black, ask the photo studio where you plan to be photographed. When hair color is changed by retouching, making it fully black can look unnatural, so we recommend a dark shade that still looks natural.

If you have inner color or earring color (colored highlights hidden underneath or near the ears), we recommend tying your hair so the colored parts don't show, or having those areas retouched to black.

For more on hair color for ID photos, see the article below.

Example of an ID photo with hair darkened by retouching

Summary

In this article, we introduced hairstyles we recommend for long hair.

Growing your hair out takes time. Make the most of the hair you've worked so hard to grow, and approach your job search with a style that feels like you.

At 19Studio, our staff check for hairstyle flaws you might not notice yourself during your shoot. We also offer professional retouching for any areas you're concerned about. Retouching to darken your hair color is available at no extra charge, so please feel free to ask if you're unsure about your hair color.

We'll help you convey your best qualities with an ID photo that looks like you!

Chiharu: Loves writing articles and is studying copywritingI love writing and I'm currently studying copywriting. I turn the questions our guests often ask and the things I notice in the studio into easy-to-read articles about job-hunting and ID photos, so that even first-timers can understand them.