Have you waited until the absolute last nanosecond – today is the day, February 14, Valentine’s Day – to realize that you still have not picked up something special for your honey or Mom? Instead of running out at lunch, or right after work, like a crazy person on a tear, or settling for something not so unique just to check off the I got you something, box, give the gift of a pampering beauty experience! It’s so easy to phone a spa and purchase a gift certificate, and it’s something you can give right away. Everyone will welcome the gift of self-care. An indulgent treatment can be just the thing your favorite person needs to unwind, not to mention the perfect treat that communicates how special he or she is to you. Here are some of our favorite beauty and wellness treatments.

Shiatsu Shampoo at Salon Ishi

The shiatsu shampoo and head massage at Salon Ishi to the rescue. This is the quintessential serenity now gift and can be particularly wonderful during the cold winter months when our immune systems could use a little boost. A Japanese treatment is applied to open pores and gently cleanse and nourish the scalp. The massage activates acupressure points stimulating blood flow and relaxation. Prepare to be magically transported to a very happy place.

Salon Ishi, 70 East 55th Street, New York, New York. Call: 212.888.ISHI

Gift Certificate to Yasmine Djerradine Institut de Beauté

Want to give someone a wonderful treatment experience but not certain what s/he would like? Yasmine Djerradine Institut de Beauté is one of New York City’s preeminent spas. Yasmine has been written up in Vogue, New York Magazine, Allure and New Beauty – just to name a few – and offers a wide variety of world-class treatments including massage, cellulite and body treatments and semi permanent makeup sessions. Yasmine’s Remodeling Facial is the spa’s signature treatment. Be prepared to look 10 years younger by the end of your session! We also love the 60 minute Seaweed Wrap Treatment.

Yasmine Djerradine Institut de Beauté, 60 East 30th Street, New York, New York. Call: 212.588.1881

Colonic at Exhale Healing Arts

At first blush this might seem like an odd gift, but for a wellness-minded individual, a colonic is a wonderful  - albeit unique – gift. Gina Mikan is as good as it gets. She uses the Woods Gravity Method, essentially an internal bath (possibly the best euphemism ever) that helps cleanse the colon of gas, mucus and accumulated fecal matter. There is no discomfort (really!) and only slight internal pressure, just a gentle flow of water in and out of the colon, expertly controlled by the therapist. During the procedure Gina explains the process step-by-step so your friend (or you!) will feel as at ease as possible, given the circumstances. The colonic appointment is one hour.

Exhale Healing Arts, Brooklyn: 71 Eighth Avenue (corner of Union Street) & Manhattan: 124 East 40th Street (corner of Lexington Avenue), Suite 703. Call: 787.406.8061. Email: ExhaleHealingArts@gmail.com

Hair & Scalp Treatment at The Philip Kingsley Trichological Clinic

Treat him or her to a one-of-a-kind custom hair treatment. A one hour session which includes the application of hair and scalp cream and of course, Philip Kingsley’s world famous Elasticizer which was created expressly for Audrey Hepburn. Also includes infrared, radiant heat and/or ultraviolet light therapy, depending on your unique hair and scalp concerns and a heavenly scalp and neck massage. Whether you have hair loss, texture and/or scalp issues or just want to give your hair a boost of health and radiance, this gift is aces.

Philip Kingsley Trichological Clinic, 16 East 52nd Street, New York, New York. Call: 212.753.9600

Aesthetic Treatment With Dara Liotta, MD

If you know someone who’s been considering a little cosmetic “tweaking”, but has been nervous about finding a quality doc, a gift certificate to Dr. Liotta’s practice is just the thing! Dr. Liotta is masterful at what she does. She is board certified in Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery as well as Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Liotta spent five years training in Ear, Nose and Throat and Head and Neck Surgery before going on to complete fellowship training in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. She is intimately acquainted with, and comfortable manipulating, the delicate and complex anatomy of the face and neck from its most superficial to its deepest layers. As a Board Certified ENT surgeon as well as a Facial Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon, she believes her job is not complete until everything looks good, functions well, and feels healthy.

Dr. Liotta does it all: from Botox, fillers and laser treatments to rhinoplasty, facelifts and necklifts (and more).

City Aesthetics, 154 E. 85th Street, New York, New York. Call: 212.288.2222. Email: facialplasticsnyc@gmail.com

By: Travel Beauty Editors

When cold, crisp winter weather makes our hair and skin freak out (i.e., break out…dry out…frizz out…), we make sure to stock up on our favorite multitasking product from Japan. No one can sing the praises of Vine Minus Ion Care Water better than Travel Beauty’s hair care expert, Ishi.

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Where do I begin? Vine Care Water is negative ion water that was first developed in Japan for NASA to clean the lenses and mirrors on space bound vehicles and satellites. Bacteria cannot live in a pH 12.5 environment, so it was made as a germ-killing cleanser. Negative ion water is 170 times more absorbent than water, so on its own it provides moisture. Used in conjunction with hair and skin care products, negative ion water works as a driver – so it boosts the effectiveness of products used subsequently.

Negative Ion Water Benefits for Hair Care

The negative charge of the water is attracted to – and bonds to – hair.  It helps strengthen fine hair, making it feel thicker. It boosts the strength of conditioners, treatments and styling aids to amplify the benefits of these products. It can also be mixed with your shampoo or conditioner at a rate of 10%, or can be sprayed onto hair, roots to ends, before leave-in conditioners or styling aids are applied. This is a fabulous tool for thick, curly hair as well; read more here about how to use it.

Negative Ion Water Benefits for Skin Care

Care Water works well as a moisturizing skin toner or clarifier (most products that clarify tend to dry the skin). Many of my clients have had success clearing up some forms of acne with Care Water as well. Layered with other products, it boosts the benefits of those products. Here’s an easy experiment to give you an idea of what Care Water does:

• Put a few drops of oil into water. You will see it separates.
• Then spray the oil and water with Care Water.
• You will see it actually reduces the size of the oil drops so that the water and oil mix together.
• This is the same way Care Water breaks up and clears away oils on the skin.

Negative Ion Water Benefits for Scrapes & Cuts

Sprayed on scrapes or cuts, Care Water cleans the wounds (by killing bacteria) and moisturizes, therefore promoting healing. It’s currently being used in research at burn hospitals in Japan with very positive results.

Negative Ion Water Benefits for Teeth

Care Water also works for brushing your teeth – both cleansing and whitening. Read all about our smile-cleaning secrets here. Don’t swallow it, though! It is not for internal use. The pH is too extreme for that. Care Water is the ideal multi-tasking travel companion. You can find this cure-all wonder water in travel size here at Travel Beauty.

How seldom you wash your hair has become a bragging right among women. (E.g., “My blowouts last 5 days!”) Those of us who wash our hair every day are called crazy, foolish and misguided, among other things. Whether to shampoo hair daily is one of the longest-standing, most heated debates in beauty.

Are you in the scant shampoo camp?

Perhaps a dry shampoo devotee? Or maybe a cleansing conditioner practitioner? Since I’ve learned the hard way that trying to get a once or twice a week hair washer to switch to washing every day is about as easy as getting a staunch republican to vote for Hillary, I won’t bore you with the benefits of a super-clean scalp. I will ask you, though: Since you’re only washing your hair once or twice a week, don’t you want every washing your hair gets to be as effective as possible? Then what you want—what you need—is the S-HEART-S Scalp Brush.

Haven’t heard of a scalp or shampoo brush?

That’s ok. Though this brush won over Japan a decade ago, and though Ishi brought the brush to the U.S. a few years after that, it has remained a relatively unknown beauty tool to most of the world. This recently started to change, however, when the brush landed in France and caused a complete sensation with hair stylists and beauty editors alike. Team Travel Beauty totally gets it. Almost everyone who tries this magical brush, Refinery 29 included, is an instant convert, wondering how they ever cared for their hair without it. This is because this brush elevates the simple act of washing your hair into a deep cleansing ritual.

Since 2004, S-HEART-S has been on a mission

to revolutionize shampooing with its brushes. S-HEART-S invented and engineered its Scalp Brush and Scalp Brush Mini to create beautiful, voluminous hair by deeply cleansing and invigorating the scalp. The Scalp Brush is designed to thoroughly clean and massage your scalp—while you shampoo. How, you ask?

It has 376 round-tipped nylon bristles

specially designed to remove dirt, buildup and excess oil from the 40,000 follicles on the scalp, giving a deeper, more invigorating cleaning of the pores than you’ll ever get with your fingers alone. The bristles’ ball tips also massage and stimulate your scalp (promoting microcirculation) while hair strands slide easily through the brush, allowing an even distribution of shampoo and conditioner along the entire hair shaft of each and every strand of hair. Your hair and scalp are left completely build up-free. The brush also makes applying a hair mask or conditioning treatment easier and more effective, because no strand is left untreated. I’ve also gushed before about the Scalp Brush’s amazing detangling abilities particularly when it comes to kids,—achieved without the creation of static electricity. With regular use, hair looks and feels revitalized from the root to the tip, with an glossy, smooth finish.

As a Scalp Brush devotee,

I can tell you without a doubt that my hair is noticeably cleaner—and stays cleaner longer—when I shampoo with this brush. My blowouts last an extra day at least, and when I finally do wash my hair after a blow out, this brush is unparalleled at removing all the dry shampoo I put on my hair to stop it from shining and smelling. Quite simply, it is a necessity for anyone who tries to keep shampooing to a minimum.

Best brush for kids

Another benfit of this brush is that if you choose to use it while your hair is dry, you will find it painless, even for those with long, thick or course hair. For many parents, brushing their childrens’ hair can be a daily drama. With S-HEART-S Scalp Brush your children will be lining up for hair brush time. The brush is not only painless but massages the scalp. Kids also love the sleek modern shape and gold shimmer. Makes brushing hair more fun!

Intrigued? Watch this how to use the Scalp Brush video:

By: Claire McCormack, Twitter & Instagram

“But you don’t know MY hair!” many of you are saying right now as you read that headline. You’re right, we don’t know your hair. But whether it’s long or short, curly or straight or in between, dry or oily, color-treated or natural, there are certain principles that apply to everyone (everyone, who has hair, that is). Here are our top 10 universal guidelines for helping your locks look their best.

Let It Be

That is, let your hair be itself, let it live as it wants to live. Embrace your natural texture, growth patterns, and color. You can beat your mane into submission with heat, chemicals and brute strength, and you may get the look you’re aiming for. Hair strands can be shaped, to an extent. But if the manipulation is too severe, over time you’ll create damage and your tresses will eventually rebel. Accepting what you have is freeing, encourages you to work with your best features, and will result in healthier, better looking hair.

Shampoo Less Often

No more than twice per week, once a week if you can do it. Simply rinse your hair and scalp when you shower. You can always condition, just don’t use shampoo every time.

Add Moisture

Conditioners and treatments give moisture back, which is critical for healthy hair. Think of your fingernails and cuticles. In the winter you may apply lotion or oil to your fingernails several times a day because you can readily see the dryness. Hair strands have a cuticle also. Dryness leads to cracked cuticles which leads to frizziness and breakage. Caretrico Privy Treatment Slim Though is a deep conditioning treatment that can be used as a hair mask twice per week as well as a daily conditioner. Ideal for thick, course and/or curly hair. Caretrico Privy Treatment Moist Sleek  is a moisturizing treatment for those with finer or wavy hair.

Deep Condition With a Professional

Good salons have thorough conditioning treatments that include several steps using rebuilding products and heat and/or mist processes that help deliver the products into the hair. Do a bit of research in your area to find the salons with the best recommendations. Doing this on a regular basis will make a big difference in your hair. At Salon Ishi we have a number of deep conditioning treatments including our exclusive Sherpa Treatment.

Use Protection

On your hair, we mean. After shampooing and conditioning, or anytime you style, give your hair some protection from the strong heat of your styling tools and from dehydrating environmental elements by using products specifically designed to give your hair a bit of armor for defense. Caretrico After Treatment Enrich Milk is a leave in conditioner and styling treatment that not only infuses the hair with moisture but protects it from pollution, the elements and heat damage from styling tools.

Take Care Of Your Scalp

Healthy hair grows from a healthy scalp. Keep your scalp clean. If you have a problem with dryness, oiliness or fungus, treat it. While you may need to see a dermatologist, there are steps you can take on your own. S-Heart-S Scalp Brush Mini is a great tool for massaging and cleaning the scalp, removing dry flaky skin and product buildup from the scalp and hair cuticle. For a flaky or oily scalp, you may also want to try a scalp toner.  The skin on your head requires care too.

Get Your Hair Cut Regularly

There is no “treatment” that will fix split ends. They will keep on splitting, higher and higher. Weak ends result in breakage and unhealthy looking hair. Regular cuts get rid of weak ends and give a fresh appearance.

Take Your Vitamins

Yes, they help. Hair and nails are made of protein and a healthy diet that includes vitamins created to promote the growth of hair and nails is helpful. Vitamin A, Omega 3s and B-complex vitamins like folic acid and biotin all promote cell turnover.

Have a Personal Consultation With Your Hair Care Professional

Okay, we agree, your hair is special. Therefore, talk with your hairdresser to get personalized recommendations for products, treatments, regimens, schedules, and processes that will help you have the healthiest, most beautiful hair possible

Use Color and Chemical Treatments Sparingly, and Have It Done Professionally

Sometimes we just gotta have that color, cover that gray, or get those curls. If that’s you, go to a reputable salon and work with a professional who knows how to use the products while maintaining the integrity of your hair. It is undeniably more expensive than doing it yourself. But your hair will be much healthier in the hands of a professional and you’ll end up with much better looking hair.

The good news is that with a little effort you CAN have healthier, better looking hair. Here’s to you and your best hair!

Hair brushes are so basic and taken-for-granted that it’s easy to overlook their importance. Using the right hairbrush properly has direct effects on both the health and appearance of your hair.

You’ve heard it many times before

Brushing is very good for your hair! It stimulates blood circulation to the scalp, bringing it nutrients and oxygen. It helps cleanse the hair, removing dirt, skin cells, and product. It smooths the outer layer of each hair strand and the cuticle, promoting shine. It also separates the hairs, incorporating air for a fresh bounce.

Sounds simple enough

until you notice that your stylist uses a selection of about a dozen brushes, all different sizes and shapes while doing that killer blowout. To help guide you through the process, here are just a few of Salon Ishi’s brush basics – a hair brush 101 if you will.

Detangling brush

I’ll put it gently: if you don’t have a detangling brush, get one. These are especially necessary for long hair. Detangling brushes are specially designed to distribute the tension in interwoven hair evenly and typically have nylon bristles designed to glide through hair easily. When detangling hair, be gentle so you don’t cause breakage. This is why special detangling brushes are valuable. At Salon Ishi every one of our shampoo sinks is equipped with the S-Heart-S Scalp Brush. It’s our go-to tool for brushing wet hair.

This brush is extremely valuable. It’s also perfect for people with:

• fine or weak hair who are afraid of brushing
• thinning hair who need to stimulate the scalp with gentle yet penetrating bristles

Pro tip: if hair is really tangled, start brushing from the ends, not the scalp. And take in small sections.

Scalp massage brush

A healthy scalp yields healthy hair, and massaging the scalp to stimulate blood flow and relax tight muscles is an important step to a healthy scalp. The S-Heart-S Scalp Kassa Massage Brush, available at Salon Ishi, is a wonderful, versatile tool. It not only has soft, pliable bristles for the scalp but also has a special shape for fitting the hand and has three round points that can be applied to pressure points on the head, neck, shoulders, scalp, the inside of the hands and even feet for an invigorating muscle massage. We use this brush in our famous Shiatsu Shampoo treatment. Massage, ahhh.

Brushes for blowdrying and styling

With regard to the material construction of the brush bristles you have basically two choices:

• natural
• nylon

For brush shape you also have two main choices:

• round
• flat

In terms of size, there many choices from small to large:

• smaller is preferable for short hair
• large brushes for long hair

Let’s break down the advantages and uses of each

For everyday brushing: natural bristles are best. Natural bristles have varying lengths which touch more hairs, and the natural material cleans and smooths the hair for a healthy shine.

For blowdrying and styling: choose nylon bristles. You’re wanting grip, control and durability. Nylon bristles perform better under high heat than natural bristles.

When selecting the shape of your brush consider the end result you’re looking for. If you want volume and some curl, use a round brush. If you’re aiming for a straight, sleek style, use a flat brush.

Pro hair brushing tips

• Watch which brush your stylist uses on your hair.
• Tension is key to smoothness and uniformity, whether you’re going for volume or sleekness. Practice keeping the section you’re working on tight.
• Work in small sections. Yes, it will take longer, but you have better control.