BEAUTY /
THE EXPERTS
March 30, 2016
Michiko Fujiwara's Series - March 2016 | Solving Various Hair Concerns
Michiko Fujiwara's Series: March 2016 | Solving Various Hair Concerns
Keep Your Hair Beautiful with Japanese Boxwood Combs and 'uka'!
My go-to hairstyle is a natural wave in a semi-long cut. That said, my naturally curly hair already has a bit of a wave, so I just work with it. But I don't do nothing; I make a few small adjustments to achieve that look. After washing my hair and towel-drying it, I apply about three drops of hair oil and let it air dry without a blow dryer. This results in the wavy curl I mentioned.
Photographs & Text by FUJIWARA Michiko
While it's easy because I don't need to style it, I do have my concerns. My hair tends to get tangled easily, and on humid days, it puffs up and loses its shine. I was wondering what to do about it, but recently I've discovered products that have solved these problems. They are a Japanese boxwood comb and three types of hair oils from 'uka'.
Achieve Shine and Manageability with a Japanese Boxwood Comb and Camellia Oil
The Japanese boxwood comb is a traditional craft passed down through generations in Japan, meticulously carved by hand from the wood of the Japanese box tree. It's said that combing your hair with a boxwood comb, regularly treated with camellia oil, not only adds shine but also tames the texture of natural perms and frizzy hair, while reducing static electricity.
Actually, I first encountered Japanese boxwood combs as a child. I used to visit my mother's hair salon and play by combing doll hair with them. My mother also styled wigs for traditional Japanese brides, so I remember there being many boxwood combs of various shapes in the salon.
After I grew up and moved away from home, I completely forgot about them. But then, while reading Dominique Loreau's new book, 'Simplicity is Luxury,' I came across a passage about Japanese boxwood combs. Reading it made me think, 'I want to use one too!' I couldn't resist, so I searched online and ended up purchasing a boxwood comb from the long-established Kyoto shop 'Jusanya.' The moment I held it, the childhood memories I mentioned earlier came flooding back.
By the way, when using a Japanese boxwood comb for the first time, it needs to be infused with camellia oil. I saturated a cotton pad with plenty of camellia oil and wiped the comb with it to let it soak in. This way, each time you comb your hair, the camellia oil seeps into it, adding shine.
It's true that my hair has gained shine and become more manageable since I started using this comb. However, my hair, which tangles easily, takes a long time to comb with just the boxwood comb at first. So, I decided to use a cushion brush made of boar bristles to lightly comb through my hair until it settles, and then follow up with the boxwood comb.
Ultimately, whether your hairstyle looks good depends on having healthy hair. It's the same as how makeup doesn't look good without skincare for your face. I aim for beautiful hair with a Japanese boxwood comb.
'uka's 3 Oils: Protect Your Hair, Whatever the Day
* 'uka hair oil rainy walk' tames and adds shine to hair that puffs up or becomes unruly on humid, rainy days.
* 'uka hair oil windy lady' makes dry, brittle hair and static electricity disappear, as if they never happened.
* 'uka hair oil mist on the beach' protects against damage from UV rays and prevents color fading.
* Each contains plant-derived ingredients such as acai oil, moringa oil, and argan oil. Apply an appropriate amount to towel-dried hair after shampooing, then dry with a blow dryer.
※See also in the 'BEAUTY' section for more information.
My daily care routine involves a Japanese boxwood comb and camellia oil. For specific issues, I use 'uka's' three types of oils. With these, I fear nothing!