This native of Japan honed his hair styling skills by studying with the top stylists in the beauty capitals of the world, including Tokyo, Paris, London and New York. Ishi has been strongly influenced by the elegant, soft and sexy look of French hairstyling, as well as the impeccable level of customer service traditionally found in Japanese salons. Ishi has combined these influences to create his own salon, Salon Ishi, in midtown Manhattan, New York City.
A humble and deeply spiritual man by nature, Ishi has devoted himself to the unique individualized attention he pays to each and every one of his clients. While always abreast of the mercurial tastes of fashion, Ishi maintains a strong belief in the importance of “classics". For Ishi, style is that which makes someone his or her most beautiful. According to Ishi, the most important beauty secret is enabling a person to feel good about him or herself. Understanding real beauty is both a personal and professional practice for Ishi.
Expert Q & A with Ishi
Q: What do you love most about what you do?
A: Seeing a smile on my client’s face once I’ve finished their hair.
Q: What is the most important piece of hair care advice you could give?
A: There isn’t an overnight fix for anything. It takes continued use of good products to improve and maintain your hair’s condition.
Q: If someone can only splurge on one type of hair care product, which product would you recommend they choose?
A: 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.
Q: Has there been a single defining moment in your career?
A: 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.
Q: How do you determine which products are the best?
A: 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.
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