Maddie the Coonhound

Do you know Maddie? She is quite an internet sensation at the moment.  Her owner Theron Humphrey started this really great project of traveling the 50 states of America and rescue one pet at a time.  He happens to also be a brilliant photographer and document his trips by photographing his oh-so-well trained traveling pal.  Maddie can model in any situation! She seems like such a great companion.

To find out more about the project and if you want to get involved please follow Theron's website This wild Idea. Or become a fan of their Facebook page.

Photographs © Theron Humphrey

Summer Saviors: Leave-in Treatments

 Last week's long heat wave has finally broken!

While many of us are rejoicing, all the UV exposure and mugginess during these summer months might have taken its toll on our hair with damaged, dry strands and unruly texture.
Fear not, that's where these products come in handy!

Here's a complete list of our salon's leave-in treatment products:

Moroccan Oil Leave-in Treatment - $16.00 (0.85oz)  - $44.00 (3.4oz)

A versatile and multitasking product, it is an essential foundation for hairstyling that can be used as a conditioning, styling and finishing tool. It even speeds up drying time and helps restore and revive hair damaged from chemicals found in shampoos, color processes and perms, as well as environmental factors. Infused with antioxidant-rich argan oil, strengthening proteins and shine-boosting vitamins. A completely transformative treatment that leaves the hair healthy, shiny and more manageable.









 
Elujuda 2-1 Leave-in Treatment/Styling Product - $34.00

Elujuda is a 2 in 1 Leave-in Treatment and Styling Product. Elujuda isn't a conventional leave-in treatment. It acts as a styling foundation because it immediately restores hair to its most ideal condition for blow outs. And the finishing is amazingly light! Extracted from the oils of the baobob tree, Elujuda leaves hair unbelievably soft, supple and smooth. Available in two formulas, one for fine hair and one for coarse hair.


Milbon Straight Liscio Crystal - $28.00
 

  
Liscio Crystal contains moisture and shine in hair by blocking out unwanted humidity absorbtion. The result is sleek, smooth hair without the unwanted frizz. The sandalwood, bark, and barley extract leaves a pleasant and light scent. A wonderful serum for achieving healthy looking blow-outs!













 




Largo Calot Hair Cream - $14.00 (3.5 oz) - $18.00 (5.29 oz)

      

Largo Calot gives light finish, smoothness, and luster to hair. Lightweight, leave-in treatment ideal for those who spend time in the sun. Makes hair look healthy. Reduces frizz and provides some hold. Protect your hair from split ends and the color from fading from the exposure to the ultraviolet rays that come the sun.

ID Care Heat Silk Lotion - $17.00

Meros ID Care Heat Silk Lotion Protein molecules polymerize with blow-drying or ironing heat and create large protein chains, preventing loss through cuticle breaks. Vegetable ceramide and wheat proteins coat and smooth down broken, lifted cuticles for great manageability. NMF maximizes moisture retention and silk proteins seal cracked cuticles to lock in the NMF molecules. Silk PPT polymerize with heat and form a silk film to coat each strand and lock in vital emollients and nutrients.








ID Care Hi Poffy - $16.00

 
Leave-in treatment with natural Hippophae vegetable oil restores lost matrix components to damaged hair and maintains manageability of chemically straightened hair. 
Hair is moisturized with healthy luster and natural bounce.

• Hippophae grows high in the mountains of Mongolia and Tibet.  It is renowned for its vitality and hardiness.
• Amino Acid is easily and rapidly absorbed by hair to restore damaged protein compounds for greater protection and strength.
• Lean Fat fills and seals porous internal structure of hair weakened by repeated coloring.
• Vitamin E infuses hair with moisture to create glossy luster.
  

Summer Festival Yukata Season

Summer festival season is well under way in Japan, with some of the major firework festival shows in Tokyo like Sumida River Fireworks and Tokyo Bay Fireworks coming up at the end of July and beginning of August, respectively. Although it's one of the hottest and most humid times of the year, going to a festival and dressing up in a summer yukata certainly makes up for it!

The yukata collar falls nicely behind the neck, making an up-do hairstyle an ideal way to show off the neckline and cool off from the summer heat. 

We love seeing a girl in a yukata and these styles make us wish we were in Japan!

Here's a list of summer festivals and firework shows for those planning to travel to Japan this year!

      

The Top Knot Bun

 

Many of us might be contemplating to chop off our locks during these hot months, but the lingering thought of not being able to put up your hair might be making some hesitate. 

 

The romantic neckline and the falling wispy hair strands...

It's a silhouette we can't help but love.

These photos of girls in buns make us sigh,

"Ah, summer."

 

 

 

The Art of Light

This summer, we are very fortunate here in new York.  The Guggenheim museum is curating an exhibition of the spectacular world-renowned light installation Artist James Turrell.

Entering in contact with the work of Turrell is for most of us comparable to a religious experience. It is a dialog with the inner self, a moment of quiet contemplation, a beautiful feeling.  The exhibition is running through Sept 25th. 
Don't miss it!

The video below is a great introduction to his work if you happen to not be familiar with him.

A Brief History of Western Salons in Japan

Look at those retro orange cushion dryers!

Hair says a lot about history. 

Coming across these old photos of Japanese hair styles makes you think about how western fashion was becoming an influence to Japanese women and how Japanese salons have adapted since.

The year is 1923. 

Japan is going through a cultural revolution as the Taisho Era (1912-1926) brings more influences from the West and push toward modernity. Chieko Yamano, a 27 year beautician who had come back from training in New York City, set up one of Japan's first western salons in the Maru building across from the iconic Tokyo station. With 20 assistants employed in western clothing, Yamano was among the many figures to help change the way Japanese women felt about hair.

Drastic setbacks like the Great Kanto earthquake and WWII made it more difficult for building new salons and many people didn't have the means to afford a new hair-do.



But Japan's rapid determination to recover during the post war period accelerated images of Western styles and soon new salon technologies made it possible for these styles to arise. Hair perms would become increasing popular.

Imagine walking into a salon and attaching this to your head!

Early Showa Era

1940's - 1950's Hair Styles

1960's Hair Styles

Sources: 

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2012/07/29/general/the-taisho-era-when-modernity-ruled-japans-masses/

http://wiki.livedoor.jp/makitaro999/c/3375/ (Japanese)

Nanbu Ironware from Hanamaki City, Iwate

Mt. Iwate at Sunset

Iwate, Japan.

A coastal prefecture located northeast of Tokyo, Iwate is famous for its wanko soba, morioka reimen and dairy. But perhaps it is most known for being the birthplace of Nanbu Ironware ("Nanbu Tekki"), a long and celebrated tradition of iron casting craftmanship.

A region already famed for its rich iron mineral deposits and casting, Iwate became the top producer of ironware when artisans from Kyoto brought their method of their iron production in the late 17th century. Craftsmen began to minimize their huge cauldron pots to the produce the now world renowned Japanese iron tea pot.

Nanbu Tekki Tea Pot

400 years of passed down regional heritage, iron production has expanded to many impressive crafts like pans, ashtrays, wind chimes, paper weights, bottle openers, and iron coasters.

Our gift section is proud to introduce this traditional aesthetic from Hanamaki city in Iwate. These coasters are beautiful as well as simplistic in design. 
Iwate was one of the grief-striken regions of the 2011 tsunami earthquake. We encourage you to learn about the history of Japanese craftware and hope you enjoy our other new additions from Japan.