You might call Richie Miao a hair whisperer.

As he runs his hands through clients’ hair at Dada Salon, which he co-owns with Khoi Lieu, he’s not just admiring it, but reading its texture, health, tensile strength and moisture levels. Most often the diagnosis is not good, and even while making small talk, he’s really formulating a plan to combat the drying, damaging effects of coloring, blow-drying, exposure to the elements and aging.

At Dada Salon, in the new 808 Center complex, he’s introducing technology from Asia to help restore hair’s shine and luster, as well as "head spa" services to help people relax and unwind over the busy holiday season and beyond.

This comes after a detour into the fashion business, which had hairstylist Miao — inspired by Hawaii’s nascent fashion scene — designing men’s and women’s streetwear under his own LovelessiZm label beginning in 2010. After opening his first boutique on Kapiolani Boulevard in the summer of 2011, he quickly expanded into Asia.

"I was going back and forth to China. Running a fashion business is so stressful I ended up going to head spas there twice a day, at 3 p.m. when I felt tired, and at 10 p.m., just before going to sleep."

The service, involving a shampoo and pressure-point head massage, helped to relieve his headaches. "I felt happier and slept better," he said. "The whole time I was thinking, ‘This is so cool. I have to bring it to Hawaii.’"

After opening his 15th boutique, he realized that continued growth would require a minimum $5 million investment. He decided he no longer had the stomach for fashion.

"I had no life," he said, and sold the business in favor of returning to his roots in hair. Now he’s able to offer head spa services as a revitalizing escape. The basic treatment involves two cleansing hair washes, pressure-point scalp, neck and shoulder treatment, and a blow-dry, starting at $35 for 30 minutes. A men’s treatment starts at $30 for 20 minutes.

A deluxe treatment is $45 and ends with a round-brush blow-out or heat-styling geared toward those seeking a moment of calm before heading out to a special occasion.

Other hair treatments involve more technology that Miao says is more commonplace in Asia "because they’re obsessed with beauty, and they all want to have silky, conditioned hair.

"They keep innovating and have found a way to repair hair, to bring damaged hair closer to its original state."

Toward this end he’s offering a Nano Mist Infused Restorative Hair Treatment that creates minuscule water particles four times smaller than hair cuticles to drive proteins, collagen and other beneficial elements beneath the cuticles, which control water content and serve as a defensive barrier preventing damage to the hair’s inner structure.

After a single treatment, Courtney Coleman, who’s striving to become Miss Hawaii USA 2016, said, "My hair was really dry and not that shiny. Now I can feel the difference and it looks much more healthy."

At about 2 feet long, her hair represents three to four years of growth and the attendant damage that comes from blow-drying and sun exposure.

"Before, I never would have been able to run my hands through all the way," she said, running her hands through her hair from top to bottom.

Miao will be introducing more treatments soon, but would be the first to admit such treatments would not be necessary if clients listened to their stylists more.

"They might be Asian, but they’ll come in with a picture and say, ‘I want to look like this,’ and it’s totally blond."

At that point he will try to talk them into undergoing the metamorphosis gradually, but they usually insist on taking the fast, harsh chemical route. And while they end up loving the look, they realize the toll when their brittle hair starts breaking off. Miao said he has no trouble saying, "I told you so."

Dada Salon is at 808 Center, 808 Sheridan St., Suite 309. Call 683-8015 or visit dadahawaii.com.