Expert Q & A with Ishi

Travel Beauty sat down with Ishi for an exclusive interview.

TB: What do you love most about what you do?

Ishi: Seeing a smile on my client’s face once I’ve finished their hair.

TB: What is the single most important, best piece of hair care advice that you can give?

Ishi: There isn’t an overnight fix for anything. It takes continued use of good products to improve and maintain your hair’s condition.

TB: If someone can only splurge on one or two essential hair care products, which product(s) would you recommend they choose?

Ishi: In terms of hair care products, a Kent or Mason Pearson brush. They’re more expensive, but an investment for a lifetime. These brushes are made with natural boar bristles, which polish hair as you brush it.

TB: Has there been a single defining moment in your career?

Ishi: As a young hair care professional, it took me a while to understand how to “hold hair”. At first it didn’t make sense. Then, it clicked! Different procedures require hair to be held in different ways; select tensions are required for varying tasks in hairdressing. Cutting hair requires hair to be held firmly, exactly in the direction that it’s to be cut. But too much tension pulls the hair at the roots and causes it to fall unnaturally once it’s cut. Styling hair requires it to be held loosely, therefore allowing natural movement. You don’t want to crush or force hair into shapes that it can’t do naturally. I tell my clients to keep in mind the natural state of their hair when choosing a cut or style.

TB: How do you determine which hair care products are the best?

Ishi: Results! Results! Results! I try products that incorporate healthy, effective ingredients and deliver desired results. If the products deliver on a consistent basis, I include them in my practice.

Read more about Ishi.

Repair your hair from the inside out while you’re coloring, relaxing or perming!

There are so many new and exciting technical developments taking place in the hair care industry aimed at improving the condition of chemically treated hair. Being a partner of Arimino, one of the largest beauty product manufacturers in Japan, has given Salon Ishi an edge. When Japanese relaxers first exploded onto the American scene, my salon had already been doing them for a while. The chemists who developed the technique were always available to keep us up to date on their latest discoveries in this area. This allowed us to relax difficult hair that others wouldn’t – even to several levels of straightness.

Cell Membrane Complex: A Leader Among Damaged Hair Repair Products

Cell Membrane Complex is the latest thing in hair relaxing technology. When we relax, color, perm, etc., we impact the integrity of the hair’s Cell Membrane Complex and the cuticle layer. Cell Membrane Complex is the liquid of protein that holds the hair’s cuticle layers together. When it is depleted, hair looks fried and dry. You can’t just apply it to hair and expect results, though. The process of adding it has to be incorporated into other procedures that open up the cortex, such as color application, relaxers or perms. It can require several additional steps, based on the condition of the hair, but the results are worth it.

Repair Color Treated Hair

Cell Membrane Complex improves the depositing of color. For example, with Cell Membrane Complex, resistant gray hair that usually required permanent color can now achieve good coverage with semi-permanent color.  This is very exciting. The condition of the hair after color application is amazing – smooth and tangle free…like nothing we’ve experienced before. As an additive to your color application, it replenishes the liquid thus making your hair more than shine…. it sparkles!

Enhancing Relaxers and Perms

The same is true of relaxers and perms. Included in these texturizing procedures it is the replenishing quality of the protein liquids that helps deposit chemicals and nourishment to the layers of the cuticle. The hair is actually left in better condition than before!

Cell Membrane Complex penetrates into the moisture layer to hydrate hair. Restoring this vital liquid is a major breakthrough. This is the first time that we are actually going to the core of the hair to replenish what is missing and needed. Stay tuned for more breakthroughs…

As the days get longer, the sun shines brighter, and outdoor activities (thankfully) return to our lives. The wool hat that limited your hairstyle options is no longer needed. The scarf that half covered your face is folded and put away.

How The Weather Affects Your Hair

After a long, cold winter, a glance in the mirror can be a shocking peek of someone else: Drab, needing a change, something to brighten, to refresh. It’s spring – the hair care routine you followed during the dry winter months of weekly deep conditioning treatments to keep your hair looking healthy may require an adjustment.

How Will Moisture Affect Your Hair?

As the weather warms up, there is increased moisture in the air. Balancing moisture, as opposed to adding it, now becomes the issue. Luckily, your hair will let you know what it needs.

Care For Frizzy, Dry Hair

If your hair is frizzy, dry and tangles easily, or if your hair feels rough to the touch, you hair is lacking moisture. You’ll need to keep up the deep conditioning treatment, and/or add a moisturizing conditioner to your hair routine, gradually transitioning to a two-week schedule.  Caretrico Moist Bounce Treatment is an ideal product for this. It can be used everyday as a conditioner and/or weekly as a deep moisturizing treatment.

Care for Limp Oily Hair

If your hair becomes limp or oily, cutting back on added moisture will rebalance your hair. Only deep condition your hair twice a month, and apply your daily conditioner by running it quickly through the bottom half of hair.

Apple Cider Vinegar

The change of seasons is a good time to rinse your hair with apple cider vinegar- like spring cleaning for your scalp!  Mix a tablespoon (make sure to use Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar) in a glass of water to run through your hair. Leave in for a moment and then, rinse, rinse, rinse. The apple cider vinegar removes the build up of conditioners and treatments. The acid also closes the hair cuticle making your hair shine.

Nothing is better than the warm sun and fresh air after you’ve been trapped inside avoiding the extreme cold that we’ve experienced this winter. While there’s no need for all the layers of clothing on the beach, you do have to layer product to protect your hair. If you don’t, intense sun and salt water will dry your hair out.

Going to the Beach Should be Glamorous

Beyond big sunglasses, think updo or bun for longer hair, slicked back for short hair. Wet your hair and spray it with Vine Minus Ion Care Water, it works as a driver for other products, depositing them into the hair shaft. Coat your hair with conditioner like, Caretico Moist Bounce Treatment then layer it with Arimino Aqua Moisture. The silicone based Aqua Moisture acts as a sealer, locking in the treatment and keeping your hair from wicking up the salt water. S-Heart-S Scalp Brush Mini is perfect for applying products and is designed not to stress the hair, even when it’s wet. For short hair, just brush it neatly back, with or without a part. For longer hair, twist it into a chic bun after brushing.

Try Braids

You can also make braids and wrap them around your head for a more exotic look. All sorts of fun looks are possible with braids. It’s a good time to experiment with creating new styles that you can incorporate into your life back home. If you just have to have your hair blowing in the breeze…wear a hat or cap. Keeping the sun’s rays off your hair helps keep it in good condition.

Use a Gentle Shampoo

There’s little need to shampoo on a daily basis. If cleansing is needed use a gentle shampoo- Caretrico Moisture Bounce Shampoo is a really good choice. It nourishes without weighing your hair down. Use conditioner or treatment only daily. Oils work as cleaners too. Then, rinse, rinse, rinse.

Give Blow Dryers and Curling Irons a Rest

Give your hair a break from blow dryers and curling irons…let it dry naturally. Work the smallest amount of Aqua Moisture in your hands and lightly touch it throughout your hair, starting at the ends. It adds shine and tames any unruly hair.