Celebrating revival and vitality in nature, we wanted to pair ikebana with Saisei.

Our newest product, the Saisei Biomimetic Peptide Treatment Essence, brings new life to hair by visibly restoring its natural pigment, thickness, and strength. Perfected through 12 years of research, this cutting-edge anti-aging scalp treatment brings about the rebirth of your hair, visibly restoring its natural pigment, thickness, and strength. Just as it is important to care for plants from the roots, Saisei’s ingredients target cells within the hair root and bulb to prioritize scalp health at multiple levels. 

Ikebana, Japan’s traditional art of floral arrangement, has been practiced for over 500 years as a way of celebrating nature’s beauty in its many forms. The word ikebana (生け花) can be literally translated from Japanese as “bringing flowers to life”  – so it was natural for us to connect this heritage craft with our new Saisei collection that brings about hair’s rebirth and revival.

Rather than maximalist full bouquets of blooming flowers, ikebana seeks to recreate specific environments in nature and time, generally featuring fewer components for a more minimal atmosphere. The concept of expressing nature’s inherently imperfect beauty with simplicity and open minimalism is called “ma,” and focusing on this expression calls for intentional selections and placements of all elements. Negative space is key to creating movement and harmony between the different elements in the arrangement. Buds, flowers, and branches all hold their own importance in arrangement, their shapes and colors existing and interacting to depict a specific feeling or moment in time.

THE EXPERIENCE OF IKEBANA

In late spring, before the launch of the Saisei Biomimetic Peptide Treatment Essence, our team was able to take part in and invite guest editors to an ikebana class. Pictured are some examples of the final arrangements from the class:

 

The experience was relaxing but also full of creativity, education, and harmony, and it paired so well with the Saisei collection that we wanted to extend it to a wider audience via our PR launch gifting.

 

There are many different schools of ikebana, each with their own unique principles and techniques. In the present day, some ikebana artists include influences from Western floral arrangement to create their own fusion styles. Some general tips we learned for ikebana arrangement were: 

 

– The tallest stem, or “subject,” influences the entire arrangement’s atmosphere, so its placement is highly important. The secondary focal point, or “object,” is usually placed much lower, to create levels of interest. Remaining stems fill out the arrangement after the subject and object.

 

– Asymmetry and negative space are essential for infusing the arrangement with vitality, depth, and a dynamic flow.

 

– Consider the space you will house the arrangement in and adjust the size of your arrangement accordingly; if your ikebana piece will sit in a narrow space, less is certainly more. 

 

RETURN TO NATURE, RETURN TO YOU 

 

Ikebana is not just an aesthetic practice, but also a meditative one that encourages us to slow down and center ourselves in the present moment. By intentionally bringing the simple beauty of flora into our lives and appreciating these botanicals as they are, we are able to deepen our connection to nature. The harmony of traditional elements and modern adaptation in ikebana – and Saisei – is a reminder of our place in the world, how heritage evolves with time and resources and what we can learn from its wisdom. 

 

As you create your own ikebana, uniting nature and human creation, we hope it helps clear your mind and allows for a peaceful moment of focus where you can Return to You.