MASA-KANAI NEWYORK

OUR SIGNATURE

ARTISTRY & CRAFTMANSHIP

　MASA.KANAI introduces its own signature haircutting technique that will revolutionize the beauty industry. By following an intricate process while utilizing special patented scissors, MASA.KANAI guarantees to create the perfect style for each and everyone’s unique image and finesse.

MASA.KANAI’S PROCESS

CONSULTATION
Every haircut starts with a consultation! Our stylists will discuss what kind of look the client is envisioning and how to adjust the style to best suit the client’s personal features.
SHAMPOO
A few minutes of massages and pure bliss...
WET CUT
The haircut begins with a wet cut, which is mainly done to remove length and to create an overall shape.
STANDING CUT
For longer hair, we may ask clients to stand behind the chair to do the wet cut. When seated, the back of the chair and sitting posture can affect how the hair falls. As such, an initial standing cut is ideal as the true length and the natural fall line of the hair can be easily seen.
BLOW DRY
After getting the basic shape of the haircut, we then dry the hair before continuing the rest of the cut.
DRY CUT
Texture and layers are added while the hair is dry. If the detailed cuts are done while the hair is wet, there is a chance of over-cutting. Wet hair makes the hair strands clump together and hides its natural movement. As such, the intricate and thorough part of the haircut is mostly done at this stage.
DETANGLE CARE
We introduce brand new scissors that are designed to detangle and straighten your follicles at a microscopic level without cutting a single strand of hair. Detangling your roots helps with hair density and volume, transforms hair parts, softens the cuticles, and improves hair growth. Click here to learn more. Click here to learn more.
STYLING
Time for the final touches! All haircuts are finished with the styling of your choice. Whether you were looking for sleek & straight, clean & gelled, or chic & messy waves, our stylists will deliver.

WHY CUSTOM SCISSORS MATTER

　Like the importance of a sushi knife for a sushi chef, the right tools are necessary for creating the best results. Although a skilled chef can use a simple kitchen knife if needed, the same level of quality cuts as with a sushi knife will never be achievable. This same rule applies to the art of hair cutting.

　At MASA.KANAI, we have developed our own unique scissors to enhance every aspect of your cut. With custom scissors that allows our stylists to get into the finer details, a more flawless result can be delivered. These specialty scissors are handcrafted by our partners in Japan and then import directly to our salon. Please click the below to read more!

CURVED SCISSORS

When it comes to thinning and texturizing the hair, the Curved Scissors are the ultimate tool!

　True to its name, the Curved Scissors are designed with a purposed bend to its blades. With its unique shape, each snip cuts at a curved angle, making it easier for the stylist to plan exactly how much hair is removed. If the stylist were to attempt the same cut with normal scissors, it is inevitable that more hair is removed in comparison. Normal scissors are only able to cut at a diagonal direction meaning a whole bunch hair will be taken off at once. This creates too much space.

　A good balance of spacing is the most important factor for a good haircut. To ensure that a haircut lasts 3 months’, 5 months’, or even a year’s time while still looking beautiful, the hair should have alternating pockets of heavy areas and light areas. This would allow the hair to grow beautifully over time as there are spaces for the hair to naturally fill as it gets longer.

  1. MASA.KANAI's Curved Scissors(Deep Incisions & Keeps Length)

  2. Regular Scissors(Attempting Deep Incisions)

  3. Regular Scissors(Trying to Keep Length)

　 With the Curved Scissors, each cut is done with the purpose of creating texture and planning purposed spacing. The scissors help the stylists cut in only places that need it; allowing the stylists to design exactly where these heavy and light areas should be. As such, each haircut would require less maintenance and will last much longer.

Grow Out Over Time - Comparison

  1. MASA.KANAI's Curved Scissors(Deep Incisions & Keeps Length)

  2. Regular Scissors(Attempting Deep Incisions)

  3. Regular Scissors(Trying to Keep Length)

STROKE SCISSORS

The Stroke Scissors are unmatched when it comes to performing conscientious and precise cuts.

　Standing apart from the typical dual-bladed scissors blueprint, our Stroke Scissors are designed with a single sharp blade that is mirrored by a blunt blade.

　By using the blunt edge, the scissors can glide smoothly along the hair surface which allows the stylist to see and dictate exactly where to cut when needed. The Stroke Scissors also enable the stylist to cut the hair at more extreme angles which reduces the potential for split ends. In the same situation, normal scissors with dual blades tend to tug on the hair surface, causing unneeded friction and damage.

　The Stroke Scissors ultimately give the stylist more control over the hair. More meticulous textures, more natural layers, and better planned weight reduction can be achieved exactly as the stylist envisions.

Scissors Usage - Comparison

  1. MASA.KANAl's Stroke Scissors

  2. Dull Regular Scissors

  3. Sharp Regular Scissors

THINNING SCISSORS

Standing apart from normal scissors, our Thinning Scissors create invisible cuts every time.

　Every stylist has a pair of thinning scissors in their arsenal. Thinning scissors are classified based on the percent of hair that is removed with each snip. The standard ranges from 20% to 40%. As an example, if a stylist has a 40% thinning scissor and cuts the same patch of hair two times, that patch would have an 80% reduction in volume.

　What makes MASA.KANAI’s thinning scissors unique is that it is designed to be 14%, much less than the industry standards. After many tests, we have found 14% to yield the best results. Too much reduction at once is not good for the hair. Higher percentage scissors leave a distinct line of where the cut was made. It is then up to the stylist to try to hide this line and unfortunately, the hair often gets over cut in the process.

　Teeth design also makes a huge difference in the thinning process. The tip of our scissors features two round valleys. When making cuts, hair that are caught in these valleys would roll around until they either snipped or pushed out of the valleys. This effectively allows some hair strands to be cut twice, and at different points. As such, a single snip is able to created staggered cut lines in the same batch of hair. This new sense of "two-stage cutting" ultimately guarantees that a visible cut line will never appear.

　Heavy reliance on thinning scissors often leads to uneven hair lengths and random gaps. If you ever had a haircut where you liked the length, but it just didn’t feel right and didn’t look good unless it was styled, too much thinning was probably the reason why. Unfortunately, these situations are hard to fix without letting the hair grow out. Overusing thinning scissors is the number 1 reason for bad haircuts.

　With the 14% thinning scissors, there is less margin to make this mistake. Our stylists can reduce volume at lower increments, allowing them to calculate exactly when and where to stop. The teeth of these thinning scissors are also designed to ensure that a visible line is never seen. As such, the 14% thinning scissors can freely be used without the normal risks that comes with other thinning scissors.

Scissors Cut - Comparison

  1. MASA.KANAI's Thinning Scissors

  2. Standard Thinning Scissors

HSS SCISSORS

The world's sharpest scissors. The highest quality High-Speed Steel for the cleanest cuts.

　Up until now, scissors have been made using cobalt steel. However, there is a superior material called High-Speed Steel（or HSS for short). Commonly used for knives, drills, and saws, HHS is extremely durable and rigid; but so rigid that every scissors manufacturers have refused to use or process it. In a world’s first, our partners in Japan have discovered a method to utilize HHS to produce revolutionary straight and sharp scissors.

　With the HHS Scissors, the grow out of the hair is completely transformed. Say good-bye to split ends for good! Many people believe that split ends are due to poor hair maintenance. However, that is only 50% true. The other 50% may actually be your stylist’s fault for using bad scissors.

　When a hair strand is cut, the strand will have ridges and uneven texture at cut area when observed under a microscope. This is a common occurence. no matter how great the scissors are. But if poor-quality scissors are used, the ridges and texture are even worse! The hair strands will eventually break over time and this ultimately becomes split ends

　This will never happen with the HHS Scissors. Each snip with the HHS scissor produces clean and smooth cuts, even when observed under a microscope! As such, the hair strand will grow out cleanly and perfect every time.

HAIR LINER

Could tangles be the ROOT cause of your hair woes??

　You may not know, but your follicles are a hot mess. Your hair naturally grows in random clusters. The strands may be spaced out, super close to another, or even have 2 to 5 strands emerging from the same pore! Unfortunately, each strand grows out in different directions. This results in unwanted tangles on a microscopic level. Masa.Kanai introduces brand new scissors designed to detangle and straighten your follicles without cutting a single strand of hair!

DETANGLING YOUR ROOTS WILL ALLOW YOU TO:

  • Transform the flow & direction of natural hair parts
  • Cover bald spots & eliminate sparce hair whorls
  • Intensify or diminish volume at will
  • Achieve more density & a cleaner scalp
  • Instantly discover smoother & softer hair
  • Experience beautiful & healthy hair growth

The difference catapults with routine!

Recommended at least once a month for best results.

　Our hair cutting process and these custom scissors were invented to help us achieve the best cut for our guests. We believe that little-by-little is the best approach. As opposed to "just cutting hair," we pay attention to every small aspect: reducing weight only where necessary, creating purposed texture, and envisioning how the hair would look as it grows out. We aim to create the perfect look to match the client’s unique charm and lifestyle. Get ready to have a fresh look of confidence! We look forward to your visit!