Futuristic '80s movies predicted 2019 would be complete with flying cars, robotic clothing, and incredibly realistic holograms — and that vision becomes a reality every time Perfume takes the stage. Their electro-pop tunes, hi-tech sets, light-up dresses, and bionic-like choreography brings the futuristic fantasy to life. Coachella 2019 was no exception. Back in April, Perfume was officially the first Japanese girl group to perform at the music festival.

The group may be making history in America, but Perfume has been in the music game since the early 2000s. A-Chan, Nocchi, and Kashiyuka formed their trio as high schoolers in Hiroshima and rose to fame in 2007. For nearly two decades, they've consistently delivered two major things I look for in a girl group: signature looks and concerts that double as spiritual experiences.

While in New York City on their recent world tour, I got to sit down with Perfume to talk about all things beauty, including, but not limited to, well, perfume. Honestly, I wish this was a video interview because A-chan had me cracking up with dramatic reenactments of her most prominent scent-related memories and dream beauty technology devices. Alas, I'll do my best to use my words to describe both instances and the rest of my time with the group.

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Perfume's signature looks

For those unacquainted with Perfume, one of the group's defining aspects is its members' individually distinct aesthetics. Since around 2007, all of them have stuck to specific hairstyles. I recently saw a photo of them from 2011 and could have sworn it was taken this year. That's how stringently the trio has adhered to their looks.

Nocchi always has a chin-length bob. "At one point, I actually had long hair," she recalls. "But I saw a picture of all three of us lined up and thought it was a little too heavy, so I decided to cut my hair." Nocchi loved the result so much that she's kept it up ever since. Every three weeks, she gets her bob cut to keep it short and sleek. When my eyes widen at her trim frequency, she asks if that's a lot. My hair is a similar length, so I tell her I often get too lazy and only go to the salon every two months or so. "I’m like that a little bit, too," she admits.