The story of Yume - perfection built on time, patience and dedication

For more than a century, Takara Belmont has earned a global reputation by putting imagination, passion and visionary ideas at the heart every equipment concept.

In a world that often prioritises commercial interests, instead our company built its foundations on heritage Japanese values and culture, and by focussing on turning possibilities into reality. By setting on a course for the future while staying true to our original philosophy, we develop new technologies and innovations that continue to evolve and transform the experiences of people and businesses in the global salon, beauty and wellness, and dental industries.

A distinguishing force behind the YUME concept

What really distinguishes Takara Belmont is our motivation and perspective. Equipment concepts do not start with an idea, a design or a commercial imperative. They start by looking at the people and businesses that will ultimately use our products. By studying the experiences and needs of patients, clients and professional users, and by looking at how services are changing, what new treatments and techniques are emerging and different cultural references, we look to create solutions that redefine the present, and reshape the future.

The YUME concept is a perfect example of how we've applied innovation and technology to deliver the ultimate user and customer experience. As salons began to embrace luxury and wellness, and introduce new treatments and services, we looked into the future potential of how equipment could transform everyday services into the exceptional. We also anticipated the future trajectory of beauty, spa and wellness and how the hair and beauty industry would interconnect.

The result was YUME - a new concept in backwash technology that redefined luxury, revolutionised client experiences and created a new benchmark for innovation.  

THE STORY OF YUME

The Japanese word “yume” means “dreams”, so this was considered the perfect name for a luxury shampoo system that also facilitates longer treatments, like Head Spas. 

Launched in 2009, the YUME transformed backwash services by introducing a fully motorised shampoo system that elevated customer and operator experiences. More than 15 years later, the original YUME is as popular as ever, while other innovations have expanded our YUME SERIES to offer a range of shampoo systems that have evolved from this original version.

Today, YUME has secured its place among our equipment icons such the Roller Ball F and Spa Mist II processors and the Apollo 2 grooming chair series.

Achieve the ultimate shampoo experience with YUME

Most salon professionals recognise the YUME as a full lie-flat backwash developed for extremely comfortable shampooing services. The main feature of YUME is that it enables the client to fully relax, even during extended services like Head Spas. Incidentally, Takara Belmont was the first company to develop and introduce authentic Japanese Head Spa technology to the industry.

Another advantage of the YUME is that it significantly reduces physical discomfort and stress on the hair stylist and/or backwash technician. The basin position can be raised and lowered, making it possible to treat clients while sitting on a YUME stool - which is custom designed to accompany the YUME system. Moreover, hair can be shampooed while standing up from behind.

How YUME was created

At the time of YUME’s development, Takara Belmont already held the largest share of the Japanese market and was one of the leading hair, beauty and dental equipment companies in the world. However, with no truly outstanding backwash units, we set about developing a ground-breaking new concept based on research that would transform the global salon industry.

Understanding and overcoming the issues…

As a result of our research, we set out to solve three major industry-wide issues:

• The first and most important was the beauty salon stroke syndrome. This can occur while the neck is flexed over the wash basin during shampooing.
• Second: there was a need to develop new services that would relieve fatigue and pamper an ageing population.
• Third: hairdressers often suffer from work-related fatigue and injuries. With ergonomics in new salon settings always a major consideration, essentially our objective was to add value to an otherwise basic salon service.

The design evolution of YUME

After discovering that a shampoo stand with a sleeping posture was popular in some Asian countries, our goal was to create an original design and perfect the supine shampooing technique. Shampooing had to be relaxing, safe and comfortable for customers and less physically demanding for hair stylists, barbers and backwash technicians. We also decided on the name “YUME” to evoke the “dreamy” comfort that clients would experience during treatment. When seeking the ultimate form, designers drew their inspiration from a leaf floating on water.

The YUME solutions…

There are three major features of YUME that succeeded in attaining our objectives.

• An exclusive YUME neck device was created featuring a double gel-filled neck cushion and two gel-filled head pillows that fully support the neck and head. The neck supports the greatest load when shampooing, which can compromise client comfort and, in some cases, lead to hairdresser stroke syndrome.
• In order to solve this issue, the entire neck device and neck cushion rotates on two axis. In this way, its position adapts intuitively according to the shape, size, weight and length of the clients neck and head to create a comfortable position for everyone.
• The materials of the neck device are just as important as the mechanics. The special neck cushion and head pillows consist of a soft memory gel that envelops you, yet returns to its original form once the head is lifted. Moreover, the YUME design guarantees that the nape of the neck is washed thoroughly.

YUME adds value to “Head Spa technology” for salons

The introduction of the first YUME shampoo system successfully met our aims of adding value to shampoo and spa services for adult customers.

Before YUME, shampoo equipment was in the back of the salon to provide a functional service. As the first equipment that clients encounter in the salon, not only did YUME put the backwash at the forefront of salon experiences, combining the YUME with Head Spas has seen a transformation of how backwash equipment now plays a leading role alongside cutting, colouring and treatment services, as well as Japanese Head Spa and scalp care.

Our vision to provide a seamless flow of services is now possible. The basin design made it possible to install the faucet inside it, thereby changing the position of the shower head. Moreover, the shape of the basin does not interfere with the hairdressers' hands to minimise splashing.

Other services that are now possible thanks to YUME’s unique design are the YUME Head Bath which, along with Spa Mist II, is integral to our Yume Head Spa treatment.

Yet another advantage to YUME is that there is also a coordinated stool to guarantee the ergonomic comfort of the salon professional as well!

The beauty and practicality of our YUME shampoo system and its new iterations make it a true luxury that adds both aesthetic and professional value to any salon.

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