SUKI TAKAGI

Suki Takagi was a prestigiously trained and award-winning hair professional who founded Suki's in the early 1970s. Originally from Tokyo, Japan, she completed both high school and hair school in Los Angeles, USA.

Suki began her career as an apprentice at Gene Shacove’s Salon, one of the most esteemed salons in Beverly Hills, before moving to Vancouver, Canada, with her husband and two young sons.

In 1972, Suki opened her first salon in the upscale South Granville neighborhood, quickly adapting her work to the city’s rainy climate. She created unique hairstyles tailored to each guest, considering their hair type, bone structure, lifestyle, and profession. Her distinctive approach and impeccable cutting skills soon caught the attention of the global hair industry.

In 1979 and 1981, Suki was invited to showcase her expertise at the largest and most prestigious international hair show in London, England. As a result, many top hair designers and educators joined her team.

In 1994, Suki was named the YWCA’s Woman of the Year in the Entrepreneur Category, and in 2016, she received the Sans Bias Lifetime Achievement Award at the Intercoiffure Fall Atelier in NYC. Most recently, Suki was honored with the 2020 Nikkei Community & Business Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award in Vancouver.

After retiring, Suki passed the torch to her son, Ken Takagi, who continues to lead and grow the business. Today, 50 years after opening her first salon, Suki's operates five locations across three cities, employs 150 staff members, and boasts a highly regarded Apprentice & Training Program.