By Yuko Enomoto

Promaster EX Pigment Hair Coloring at eN Salon

If you haven't made a trek to Bellevue's eN Salon yet, this might be the perfect time, especially if you are looking to retouch your roots before the colorful fall gives way to winter. Until recently, eN was the only beauty salon in this state to carry Hoyu's damageless hair-color selections, the Promaster Ex Pigment. Ideal for pre-colored hair, it is an excellent touchup for covering re-growth and blending over old color. It is also gentle enough to be used repeatedly while the beeswax helps your hair maintain lasting shine. The salon carries about 120 items from Hoyu's Promaster EX series — about 35 of those are from the damageless pigment line. It is an excellent line for, but not limited to, Asian hair, according to salon stylist Hiro. "The hues that Asian women generally seek — the ash (brown) and matte-type colors — were often not vivid enough and underwhelming," said Hiro. "But Hoyu has faithfully recreated the colors coveted by Asian women." Unlike other hair-coloring products, the pigment works on the cuticles as well as the cortex. The colorless cuticle doesn’t contain any melanin, so the result is a truer, deeper and more vibrant color without causing damage to the hair thanks to its minimum alkaline content.

Hairstyle by Hiro / Model: Patty Lin
Stylist Hiro used ash brown and warm brown lowlights from Promaster EX Pigment to complement model Patty Lin's loose curls that frame her face. The pigment brings back gloss and silkiness that were lost to repeated colorings.


Hairstyle by Mika / Model: Mari Kitajima
Stylist Mika gave model Mari Kitajima an understated feminine style with a semi-layered do. Ash brown highlights on a copper base lend texture and movement to create a perfect look for fall and winter.

eN salon
13112 NE 20th St #550, Bellevue
(425) 883-1010

Detox Body Wrap at Aisha

This little oasis in downtown Seattle run by Akemi Shull, a massage therapist and esthetician, offers a detox body wrap whose benefits read like a wish list for women over 40: “Weight loss, decrease body fat, detoxification, reducing cellulite, stretch marks, sagging skin, poor circulation, dull dry skin.” The 90-minute session at Aisha began with dry exfoliation to get the blood circulating, followed by a vigorous massage with a gel made from essential oils that stimulates the lymphatic system. Shull then wrapped the entire body from the neck on down in a thick thermal blanket infused with far infrared heat that forces the body to burn stored fat and release toxins through perspiration — while you nap. Most salons market this treatment — also known as the Sudatonic System — as a weight loss regimen complete with body measurements before and after to reveal its amazing effects. But not Aisha. “The main goal is detox,” Shull said. “Weight loss is just a byproduct.” To demonstrate that Sudatonic’s results are not due to water loss, Shull had me measure my body fat and BMI before and after. I had lost 4 points off my body fat — not surprising given that the treatment can burn up to 4,000 calories in one sitting. I left the spa feeling light, but best of all completely relaxed and calm. Shull recommends a total of six weekly visits for optimum results.

Far infrared rays from this thermal wrap (top) forces the body to sweat and release toxins. AISHA esthetician Akemi Shull (right) massages a generous amount of a gel made from essential oils (above) over the entire body before the infrared wrap treatment.

AISHA
509 Olive Way # 1201, Seattle
(206) 621-9494

Facial at Savvy Cosmetics

The unassuming Savvy Cosmetics housed within the Uwajimaya supermarket in the International District does not stand out the way cosmetics counters do in high-end department stores. Which is why an encounter with resident beautician Harumi Branch is often a happy surprise to lots of new customers. She can seemingly do anything beauty-related with the calm demeanor of a meditation guru and at prices that are reasonable. And right now, Savvy is offering a free half-hour facial with the purchase of a Shiseido massage cream along with your next skin-care purchase. Leave your jar of massage cream at Savvy and get a relaxing facial free of charge by Shiseido-trained beauticians for as long as the cream lasts, which is about four to five times. With the introduction of Shiseido’s luxurious Cle de Peau BEAUTE series last year, Savvy has become one of the main carriers of the high-end skin-care line alongside Nordstrom and Barney’s. And what makes Cle de Peau BEAUTE one the most coveted skin-care products in Japan? “When Shiseido comes up with a new formula, it goes first to Cle de Peau BEAUTE,” explained Branch. Another reason to pick up your next Shiseido skin-care product at Savvy: better bonus gifts than at department stores.

Shiseido's Fall palettes greet customers at the entrance.

Savvy is one of a few Seattle retailers that carry the high-end Cle de Peau BEAUTE line of skin-care products.