Beauty Pop

  • Genre: comedy romance
  • Author: arai kiyoko
  • Artist(s):
  • Year: Sep 2003 to Feb 2008
  • Original Publisher:
  • Status: Finished

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First-year high school student Kiri Koshiba is a talented hairstylist. Whenever someone is bullied or ridiculed for their appearance, she steps in to work her "magic," giving them makeovers that highlight their natural beauty. At Kiri's school, three second-year students form the popular Scissors Project (SP): Shougo Narumi, the hairstylist; Kei Minami, the nail artist; and Kazuhiko Ochiai, the overall beauty consultant. The SP carefully selects one female student to transform, always achieving stunning results. When Kanako Aoyama, Kiri's childhood friend, confesses her feelings to Ochiai by giving him a gift, she is accused of trying to bribe her way into becoming the next SP makeover candidate. Kiri defends Kanako by performing her own "magic" on her, leaving the SP amazed at Kanako's transformation. Not knowing who is responsible, the SP searches for Kanako's hairstylist, leading to a haircutting showdown between Narumi and Kiri. Included one-shots: - Volume 2: Dream Come True - Volume 3: Teen Drop - Volume 7: Twisted Typhoon, I Want to Be a Prince - Volume 10: Shampoo's Concern, Hysteric Heart, Daily Life in the Narumi Family

Beauty Pop was published in English by VIZ Media under the Shojo Beat imprint from September 5, 2006, to April 7, 2009.

Associated Names

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Synonyms: Beauty Pop Stage 2, Dream Come True, Teen Drop, Twisted Typhoon, I Want to Be a Prince, Shampoo's Concern, Hysteric Heart, Daily Life in the Narumi Family
Japanese: ビューティーポップ
English: Beauty Pop

Official Webtoon

  1. Official Site
  2. Wikipedia
  3. Wikipedia
Characters More characters
  • Kiri Koshiba (小柴綺里)

    Koshiba Kiri

    Main

    A gifted stylist with no interest in pursuing fame with her talent. Kiri will occasionally give makeovers to girls having certain problems. Kiri tends to have a nonchalant attitude that gets on Narumis nerves. Her hairstyle annoys him, as well - she wears...

  • Kei Minami (南啓)

    Minami Kei

    Main

    The member of the Scissors Project that does nail art. Kei is playful and is often seen eating junk food and candy. Kei likes to come up with nicknames for his friends like Naru-Naru and Narurin for Narumi while he calls Ochiai Occhi. He also serves as em...

  • Shougo Narumi (鳴海彰伍)

    Narumi Shougo

    Main

    The only son and heir to the Salon de Narumi. Narumi seems to hate his father and wants to be the best in Japan. He is a talented hairstylist that has won every competition except for the contest in fourth grade where he lost to a mysterious, cute third g...

  • Kazuhiko Ochiai (落合計彦)

    Ochiai Kazuhiko

    Main

    The overall beauty consultant of the group. He is the brains behind the operation and acts like a human computer, with "data" on every girl in the school. He's at the top of his class. Ochiai loves to mess with Narumi and is often scheming. Later on in th...

  • Kanako Aoyama (青山加奈子)

    Aoyama Kanako

    Supporting

    A friend of Kiri's who admires her talents. Kanako tends to be shy and bookish. When she was rejected by Kazuhiko Ochiai, Kiri gave her a makeover to teach the Scissors Project a lesson. Kanako still likes Ochiai, but she found out that Ochiai likes Kiri,...

  • Billy Iketani

    Iketani Billy

    Supporting

    A famous cute hairstylist from LA who is always shown with headphones around his neck. Billy works for Narumis father. Billy takes the legendary Golden Scissors away from Kiri on Narumis fathers orders, but later on returns them....

Rating(3.9 / 5.0, 21 votes)
5 stars
5(24%)
4 stars
9(43%)
3 stars
7(33%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
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Popular Reviews All reviews
  1. Naruto2121
    Naruto2121 rated it
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    Beauty Pop is an excellent manga for laughter. The genre is comedy, and it truly delivers.

    Kiri Koshiba, the daughter of legendary hairstylist Seji Koshiba, has a golden touch when it comes to styling hair, just like her father. However, she doesn't really care about this fact, which is what makes it amusing, in my opinion. Kiri always finds herself in trouble with her rival, Narumi. He is the son of the owner of Japan's largest hair salon and is quite skilled at hairstyling too.

    The artwork is outstanding; it is enjoyable to read and looks incredibly cute, even the 'bad' guys!

    Beauty Pop features a sweet story, but even a sweet story can be exciting. Some characters are a bit quirky, but I like them all. If you're into action, this one might not be for you. It is one of my favorite manga.

    I hope you'll enjoy it!

  1. FBILOLI
    FBILOLI rated it
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    Beauty Pop is a commendable manga that leaves you feeling satisfied in every aspect. If you don't have a masterpiece at hand, rest assured that Beauty Pop will not make you feel like you've wasted your time while searching for another great read. If you're still unsure, continue on and read the rest of my review.

    Story: 7 (Good)
    Sure, the 'genius meets hidden prodigy' concept isn't exactly groundbreaking. But let's face it, how many truly original ideas are there nowadays? It all depends on how you weave the narrative, right? While the plot may not be highly original, the focus on hairdressers is quite unique (though it might be common; I'm not sure). The story doesn't just revolve around two characters clashing; to find out more, you'll have to read it yourself. No spoilers here!

    Art: 8 (Very Good)
    I'm not an art critic, but the artwork throughout isn't terrible and is better than merely readable, so it deserves a 7. Why an 8? Well, I added that extra point because of the stunning character transformations by the hairstylists. Not incredibly detailed, but good enough.

    Character: 8 (Very Good)
    The character development isn't deep enough for you to fully relate or empathize with them, but there are enough hints provided for you to understand each character. The interactions between characters help too. There aren't many interactions, but they cover the crucial points, making it all worthwhile.

    Enjoyment: 8 (Very Good)
    I was simply looking for something decent to read and stumbled upon Beauty Pop. As someone who appreciates beautiful characters and romantic interactions, Beauty Pop has offered me a thoroughly enjoyable experience. It isn't outstanding, but it doesn't have any glaring flaws either. Just a well-rounded manga.

    Overall: 9 (Great)
    Overall, Beauty Pop is a fairly enjoyable manga with both a beginning and an end (literally). I gave it a nine because it had a conclusive ending, and the characters didn't spend time being indecisive or overly stubborn.

    Thank you for reading my first review. See you around, I guess...
    ~In the far away land of Gensokyo~

  1. FallenAngeIWjE
    FallenAngeIWjE rated it
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    When I first learned about the story from the following summary: "Although a truly gifted hairstylist, Kiri Koshiba has no interest in using her talent to pursue fame and fortune, unlike the three popular boys in the 'Scissors Project' at school. They give showy makeovers to handpicked girls, determined to become the best makeover team in Japan. As much as Kiri tries to shy away from the Scissors Project spotlight, she finds herself responding to beauty's call..." The part that interested me most was a gifted hairstylist girl who doesn't want to become a hairstylist and other guys who wanted to be famous.

    So I gave it a shot... And I say it is one of the best shoujo manga I've read besides Fruits Basket and Hana Kimi.

    Story:

    For a shoujo manga, which usually focuses heavily on romance with obvious hints, I was surprised because in this one, romance isn't the real focus. It's a story that unfolds and flows with a different rhythm than the usual shoujo manga. The only problem is that the story development can be a bit slow.

    Art:

    I like the art a lot, especially the clothes and perspectives. It's not a masterpiece, but to me, it's good. I appreciate how it shows the emotions of the characters.

    Character:

    To me, this is what this manga does best – the characters with their unique ways and personalities, and their beliefs in development. They always have great development, showing more of their personality as the story progresses. Very entertaining characters XD. One of the good points is that they are not those fancy characters found in typical shoujos.

    Enjoyment:

    This manga is certainly enjoyable because I've re-read it twice, finding it very entertaining with good comedy and cool moments.

    Overall:

    I say it is really good, too bad it's not an anime. It has 10 volumes, enough for 26 episodes D:

    We could say it is part of my wish list of mangas to turn into anime.

  1. TiagoMaia1922
    TiagoMaia1922 rated it
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    I'm surprised this comic isn't one of the most popular. It's a beautiful storyline that makes me laugh, cry, scream, and worry. It's about a girl named Kiri, an incredibly talented hairstylist who doesn't initially want to embrace her talent. She's far from being a Mary Sue because she has flaws, like a very limited emotional range. If you ask Narumi, the main guy, he'd say she's not even girly.

    Narumi is also a gifted hairstylist but nowhere near Kiri's level of talent. He dreams of becoming Japan's top stylist. This boy has a wide emotional range; I haven't found a part where he's not freaking out about something. He's allergic to girls (which I find hilarious) and can be a bit of a jerk.

    I laugh at all of Kiri's relationships. One is with a little girl who thinks Kiri is her prince. Another is a boy obsessed with Kiri because he's obsessed with her mother. There's also a makeup artist who was best friends with Narumi, another great hairstylist who's been through rough times, and last but not least, Narumi himself.

    I love how Kiri helps people. While Narumi and other hairstylists choose clients who are already beautiful, Kiri always goes for those who need it the most.

    I'm hooked on Beauty Pop for its comedy, storyline, art, characters, romance—pretty much everything in it. It's an awesome comic that I hope you'll love too.

  1. AK_P1030401634
    AK_P1030401634 rated it
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    Story = 10

    Beauty Pop was an excellent read overall, with a compelling plot that kept me engaged from start to finish. There wasn't much left unanswered, and it managed to be both humorous and romantic at the same time.

    Art & Character = 10

    Although transforming people's appearances wasn't something I initially found appealing, this manga changed my perspective. The characters were well-developed, and their expressions felt authentic. The art style remained consistent throughout, which is not always the case in many manga series. The character designs, especially the bodies and hairstyles, were beautifully executed, leaving no room for disappointment visually.

    Enjoyment = 10

    This manga was fantastic and had me laughing out loud multiple times. It kept me eagerly anticipating each new chapter, and before I knew it, I had finished the entire series. XD

    Overall = 10

    Beauty Pop was a wonderful manga. :3

  1. Lolbroman25
    Lolbroman25 rated it
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    I stuck around for the entertaining characters, but ultimately, it felt like many things went from unresolved to magically "fixed" just to fit into an ending. The plot sort of meandered aimlessly towards the end, leaving me disappointed that in the five or so years it took to complete this manga, a more coherent storyline wasn't developed. The author even admitted around chapter 6 that the story wasn't progressing quickly! That should have been my warning sign.

    I might be feeling bitter because I'm tired of stories that seem to conclude but don't really wrap up, only to jump ahead with a massive time skip where everything is already resolved, sparing the author from having to illustrate those developments. It's frustrating when you invest so much time and emotional energy into a series, only to feel let down by its conclusion.

  1. NunuXD
    NunuXD rated it
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    I truly loved this series, and I'm glad I finally decided to give it a chance. I remember seeing it in bookstores all the time, but the storyline didn't appeal to me at first; it seemed too cutesy, and I figured a manga about hairstyling would be boring. However, this wasn't the first time my initial judgment was off.

    Indeed, it was cute, but not excessively so. Everything about it felt charming. The characters grew on me, and by the end, I even found Iori's annoying way of speaking somewhat endearing.

    Though I know nothing about hairstyling, the story was thoroughly entertaining. It was the characters that made it stand out and kept the momentum going, making them my favorite part of Beauty Pop. Initially, I wasn't sure who I liked best, but by the end, I realized Narumi had won me over.

    The art can be summed up in one word: cute. This term is overly used when describing BP, but it's undeniably accurate. Every aspect of the series struck me as adorable, from Narumi's angry outbursts, Kiri's nonchalant demeanor, Ken's constant apologies, Kei's love for sweets, or Ochiai's little crush... to the clean and sweetly drawn facial expressions with large eyes, the bright, colorful volume covers, and the artistic panning out of random story events.

    It was a great read. Any fan of the shoujo genre shouldn't miss this one.

  1. Yajin3004
    Yajin3004 rated it
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    I'm still engrossed in the thrilling universe of the Scissors Project. Initially, I picked up the first volume merely to pass some time, but soon found myself rushing to the library every weekend to get my hands on the subsequent volumes. The storyline is fantastic, filled with endearing characters and adventures that had me laughing out loud. Despite its generally upbeat tone, there are poignant side stories that almost brought me to tears.

    The only drawback is that the series comprises just ten volumes, which made the conclusion feel somewhat hurried. It was an acceptable ending, though certain plot threads could have been better resolved. Overall, it stands as one of my favorite manga series so far, and I would absolutely recommend it.

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