Best of Masters: Yosh Toya

Far from his modest beginnings and childhood home in Japan, Yosh Toya established himself as a successful multi-salon owner in the San Francisco area. A premier educator with over 45 years of salon experience, his artistry, philosophy, and sensitivity to change are integral to his continued success. With an innate talent for creating timeless styles, Yosh is best known for his fluid hands and incredible talent for creating fresh new looks with classic lines and has become internationally recognized for his expertise in hair design. 

Among his numerous credits, Yosh has received American Salon’s Hairstylist of the Year award, Aveda’s Master of the Art award, Logics University’s Award of Distinction, Modern Salon’s reader's choice "75 Top Educators of the Century," and North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Yosh is devoted to developing a stronger future for our profession. His realistic attitude and concerns for the profession, his amazing energy level, his enthusiasm for both sharing and seeking out the new, and his desire to share with industry professionals have earned him worldwide recognition. 

Yosh is absolutely beauty industry royalty, along with the likes of Vidal Sassoon, Trevor Sorbie, and Vivienne Mackinder,” Winn Claybaugh says. “He had a goal (which I believe he reached) to teach in 200 beauty schools. And how much do you think he charged for that class? ZERO! He is a true example of how everyone in our industry needs to give back by mentoring the next generation. 

For more information about MASTERS Audio Club, visit www.winnclaybaugh.com/masters. To purchase: $12.95 CDs; $9.94 MP3 download. 

About: Winn Claybaugh is the author of Be Nice (Or Else!) and “one of the best motivational speakers in the country,” according to CNN’s Larry King, who wrote the foreword for the book. A national speaker for major corporations and a business owner for more than 30 years with over 16,000 people in his organization, Winn is the founder, co-owner, and dean of hair care giant Paul Mitchell’s school division. Under Winn’s leadership and in keeping with their unique culture of giving back and building self-esteem, the 100-plus schools in the nationwide network have donated countless volunteer hours and raised more than $15.2 million for multiple charitable organizations.