Eiji Salon’s exclusive beauty experience

Eiji Salon is a rare gem, in the beauty industry, mixing traditional Asian hospitality with innovative style techniques. Located on Madison Avenue, Eiji offers clients a relaxing environment where they feel welcomed and comfortable- an escape from the fast- paced environment, high voltage, trendy salons that New York City is known for. The salon is designed clean and sleek with refined décor, including contemporary furnishings alongside ancient Japanese artifacts and modern works by San Francisco interior designer Koichi Hara. Eiji is best known for its dry cut technique mastered by salon owner Eiji Yamane. The salon is staffed with the finest colorist and stylists New York City has to offer.

Asiance was invited to an exclusive beauty experience at Eiji Salon for a highlight and haircut like no other from Akira, Eiji Yamane’s son, who has mastered the “dry cut” technique.

Eiji working the “dry cut”

Eiji Yamane is a fresh, honest and undisputed leader in the world of beauty. Before opening his eponymous salon on Madison Avenue, he studied for 10 years under the direction of the late stylist-guru John Sahag. Eiji quickly mastered and re-defined Sahag’s brilliant and legendary technique known as the “dry cut” and still believes today there is no other option in cutting hair than to cut while dry.

“The dry cut is the only way to see the hair’s natural shape and create styles based on the weight and texture of each person’s hair,” says Eiji.

It is Akira’s belief that the texture of everyone’s hair varies, and that no two haircuts can be the same. He aims to custom tailor each cut to perfectly suit a client’s individual needs.

Akira trained under his father, Eiji, since he was a teenager and has perfected the “dry cut” perfectly. I received over an hour and a half of Akira’s trained time, cutting and shaping my hair to perfection!

Colorist Michael Murphy

With over fifteen years of experience, Michael Murphy, has become a premier colorist in the celebrity, editorial, fashion and consumer arenas.

Murphy has worked with a wide range of high-profile personalities and celebrities including Katie Holmes, Carolyn Murphy, Celine Dion, Cyndi Lauper, The Dixie Chicks, Ivana Trump, Prince, Jon Bon Jovi and Steven Tyler.

Michael has created this new color for Asian hair called “Bronde”. It’s a Carmel colored, JLo blond/brown and looks entirely natural on Asian hair!

Murphy’s philosophy on hair color “is to make each individual look the very best that he or she can. Before I formulate color, I consider the person’s eye color, skin tone, hair pigment, maintenance and cost, while preserving the integrity of both my work and my client’s hair.” Murphy believes that a well-balanced face defines beauty. “The magic of color is that it can be used to elongate, widen, shadow or minimize the face. The wrong combination can exacerbate flaws so I try to educate the client on why something will or will not work for them.”

This philosophy helped to establish Murphy as a leading colorist in the editorial world. In the mid 1990s, Murphy began working with renowned photographers including Gilles Bensimon, Steven Meisel, Wayne Masor and Francesco Scavulo. His work has appeared in publications such as Elle, Glamour, GQ, Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue to name a few. Additionally, Murphy has created the colors behind many designers including Versace, Gucci, Thierry Mugler, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Valentino and Chanel.

Murphy is a native Texan who discovered his love for hair color at the early age of twelve while experimenting with his own hair. In 1991, Murphy moved to New York City and began his career as a colorist at Oribe where he quickly became a favorite with the salon’s celebrity clients.

In 1998, Murphy became the Italian spokesperson for leading hair care brand, Pantene. He has also worked with Clairol as a Color Master and he held an exclusive design and consulting contract for the brand’s professional hair care collection. Most recently, Murphy has been a Matrix Color Educator and in 2007, he was a Latin spokesperson for Dove’s “Campaign for Real Beauty.”

If you choose to not color or cut your hair Eiji Salon offers several different hair treatments that will leave your hair looking and feeling like no other.

Try the MEU treatment which is a 3 step deep conditioning treatment that helps restore you hair and improve its appearance. In addition Eiji Salon also offers the “Cashmere Treatment” which restores all the natural ingredients in your hair leaving it noticeably looking straighter, smoother and healthier than before.

Please visit www.eiji-newyork.com