Ah Good Hair Days can be so elusive!

Whether you are Indian, Malay or Chinese, all of us struggle with hair issues of our own.

With Deepavali just round the corner, we had Agent C share with us some of her hair issues and try out Koinonia Hair Salon to help prepare her hair for this upcoming festive occasion!

October 2015

Hi, I’m Agent C!

The woes of curly hair are a never-ending struggle. Add in the texture of Indian hair and that equals double the struggle! Sure, we have people admiring our natural curls and constantly telling us how lucky we are that we don’t have to spend a fortune at salons for voluminous curls.

While we love the compliments, maintaining our curls to look effortlessly sane is not as easy as most think and the bad hair days of non-curly-haired ladies are nothing compared to ours!

This is what others think our hair usually looks like or more accurately what we wish it did look like daily…

Our struggle is real! Running our fingers through our hair are nowhere as similar as seen in shampoo commercials, and don’t bother asking us to brush our tangles …

If you are like me, your only desire when it comes to your unruly and curly tresses is for a look that is easy to style and most essentially frizz-free!

Too much to ask for? We’ll see …

PS. There is no photoshop, no intentional actions done here to make it look worse than it is… This is just what I have to live with every morning!

Quite the hair horror, isn’t it?

There’s no saying how frizzy and dry my hair can get with the hot weather. To simply put it, my mane has a mind of its own and the back view of my hair has always been a concern of mine as I usually only shape the curls that fall to the front.

Since I have been lusting over good hair days since forever, I head to Koinonia Salon at Pacific Plaza to get the trusted experts to revitalize my curls.

Why Koinonia, you may ask?

Other than being a Korean salon that’s really good with volume rebonding, I’ve heard that Cynthia from Koinonia Salon is really popular among Indian expatriates for being able to tame their unruly manes!

I’m therefore really hopeful that Cynthia can do something about my long and frizzy hair!

The Consultation

As soon as I step into the salon, Cynthia greets me with a smile and wastes no time in asking what look I would like to achieve and then assesses the current condition of my hair.

I request for sun kissed highlights but fear the colour might make my hair look even drier than it actually is. However, Cynthia’s willingness to listen before giving recommendations puts me at ease.

Knowing that almost half of her clients face the same type of problems I do, I feel reassured that my hair is left in capable hands.

Cynthia then suggests keeping my existing colour while adding in lighter highlights to the ends. However, she advises that it would be best to not go too light, as this will result in my already dry and frizzy hair looking even more dry and frizzy.

Pre-Treatment

Salons would normally ask you to put on an unflattering hair cutting cape but the one at Koinonia is a little different … I’m handed a Korean Kimono to wear.

Now I’m all set for colour and curls!

A pre-treatment serum is applied to my hair before applying the hair dye to prevent my hair from drying out even further.

Cynthia makes sure to nourish my ends especially, which is the most dry.

The Pre-Treatment that Cynthia used was the Kinessences oil and mask, which has won several beauty awards this year!

This is however just the pre-treatment… more details about Kinessences later on when she uses it post-treatment!

Highlights

It’s time for the highlights!

Instead of starting all over, Cynthia mentioned that it will probably look more natural if she added highlights on top of the existing hair colour that I already have.

Highlights will also be less damaging to the hair as compared to full head colouring… since my hair is already very frizzy!

Cynthia and her assistant Gino begin parting sections of my hair and dyeing it with a golden colour… don’t expect it to be too bright though since no bleach was involved!

Maybe it’s just me but when two stylists work on my hair at the same time, it makes me feel like a celebrity with my very own beauty entourage!

Although we did not use bleach, they tried to lift the colour further with a lightening agent!

Hair Wash

The hair wash has always been my most favourite part of a salon experience as this is when the true pampering session kicks in!

I love the massage that comes along with the hair wash and it can either make or break ratings when it comes to salons offering the full experience.

Gino’s scalp message is like a slice of heaven. He is skilled at focusing extra pressure at the right points with a soft touch. The massage lasted longer than I had expected, but no complaints there … it was bliss!

Kinessences Post Treatment

To repair the my already dry and frizzy hair, I was recommended the Kinessences Treatment – a fusion of 5 pure ancient oils that each has its own unique benefits to revitalize hair from the first use. Sounds lavishly nourishing, doesn’t it!

Though certain natural oils can have an unpleasant scent, the soothing aroma of Kinessences Treatment is a treat for both your hair and sense of smell.

Can’t wait to see the end result!

Unlike typical hair treatments which may require steamers or some level of heat to boost penetration and seal the treatment into the hair, Kinessences opted for a very different approach.

Instead of using heat, Gino used a freezing cold flat iron to encourage absorption of the hair treatment into the hair.

Yes, that’s right! The tool you see in the image above is not a heated straightening flat iron… but a Freezing Cold Flat Iron!

This is the FIRST time I’ve heard of such a distinctive method of treatment… definitely interesting and reassuring to know that even the slightest damage is minimized!

I sit and (literally) chill for about 10-20 minutes for the treatment to penetrate my hair and work its magic.

Thankfully, the wait is not a dull one with the latest magazines to read and hot green tea to sip on.

The music that has been playing since the time I entered the salon has been pretty awesome, so I ask Gino about the music playlist and before I know it, he trails off and returns back with the band’s name written down on a piece of paper.

(Bonus points for customer service!)

Blow-Dry and After-Care

The final step before the big reveal!

To ensure I can re-create similar curls at home, Cynthia teaches me the simple blow-drying technique of twisting sections of my hair with my fingers to help enhance the shape of my natural curls while slightly tugging the top to keep it straight.

My curls are already looking curl-tastic!

Cynthia goes on to explain that I can loosen the curls with my fingers and the curls will bounce back without loosing its natural shape.

Yay to sane curls!

I know it looks like permed hair but trust me… this is just the result of a very effective Kinessences Treatment!

My hair is nourished and most definitely frizz-free!

The End Result

From frizzy mane to silky smooth sun kissed curls.

Just to give you a reminder of how it looked before:

Before

After

What a transformation!

For the first time in months, I feel that I’m actually having a good hair day… and that I’m that much closer to Deepika Padukone’s gorgeous hair than before.

THANK YOU Koinonia Hair Salon!

I’m exceptionally happy with the results of Kinessences Treatment as the curls look and smell GREAT!

(If only you could smell them from your mobile or laptop screen, you would know I wasn’t exaggerating.)

On the other hand, the highlights were however not as bright as I wished it could be. This may be because no bleach was used since my damaged frizzy thin hair can’t take it anyway!

Still, I’m glad that my hair looks and feels great after the hair service… compared with having fried and damaged hair, I would choose more muted highlights anytime!

Ultimately, it all boils down to one crucial question: Would I go back? 

Koinonia Salon did a great job recommending the best treatment for my hair and choosing the right colour to ensure my hair wouldn’t look frizzier.

A day later and my hair still smells wonderful, and my curls still look as pretty as they did when I left the salon. Koinonia’s customer experience from start to end was a delight and did I mention there’s no hard selling at all, which is usually not the case whenever I step into a salon since my hair is dry and frizzy.

The staff at Koinonia are also very open and honest in sharing their knowledge about various hair products and what is truly suitable and value-for-money for you, whether it is about hair services or hair products.

Best of all, the stylists are patient and very willing to listen to your preferences and needs, making the entire experience a wonderful one.

While this may not be the salon I would unequivocally recommend for vibrant hair colours that require bleaching, it is a definite YES if you are looking for a salon with trustworthy hairstylists that prioritises your hair health to help you revitalize your curls!

MSF D&D 2015 is finally here!

To help you look your best at the D&D this year, the MSF D&D Organizing Committee has partnered with Beauty Undercover to bring to you exclusive hair promotions.

3 hair salons will be having Exclusive Promotions for you!

Simply make an advance appointment and show your work pass on your appointment date to enjoy the following promotions!

Salon 1: Chez Vous Hair Salon @ Takashimaya Ngee Ann City

The first salon we’re introducing to you is one of Beauty Undercover’s top ranked hair salons in Singapore. On top of its excellent level of service, all its stylists are hair directors who went through gruelling skill tests before being employed by Chez Vous! That is why almost 100% of its customers who go to Chez Vous are satisfied with both their hairstyle and their service.

Chez Vous is also conveniently located in Level 5 of Ngee Ann City, making it a great place to get your hair done after work or during weekends!

Read reviews about Chez Vous Hair Salon and see actual customer photos here!

25% off Hair Services from now to 5 November 2015 (MSF exclusive)

As the salon is usually packed on Fridays and Saturdays, they can only offer MSF a special promotion on their hair services from Sundays to Thursdays.

This means that you can’t get your D&D styling done that day but you can still avail of their makeover haircut services, volume rebonding and sophisticated hair colours to prepare for the upcoming D&D and festive season!

This is the first time they are giving away 25% discount so do grab this opportunity to get your hair done at Chez Vous!

Terms and Conditions

Salon 2: The Cottage by Devonshire Selected Beauty Salon @ Somerset

The newly opened Japanese salon helmed by Obara Noritoshi, The Cottage is located in a quaint shophouse near Somerset MRT. It has been featured in the latest Channel 5 drama Tanglin and is highly popular among Japanese expatriates and lovers of Japanese hair salons in Singapore! Other than their fantastic service and relaxing ambience, their hairstylists are really good with Men’s Haircuts, Stylish Ladies’ Cuts as well as Chic Hair Colours suitable for working professionals.

Read reviews about The Cottage by Devonshire Selected Beauty Salons @ Somerset and see actual customer photos here!

20% off Hairstyling (MSF exclusive)

If you are looking for sophisticated braiding and elegant updos, The Cottage is definitely the salon we would recommend.

With 4 Japanese stylists and a local stylist skilled in creative styling techniques, this is very possibly the place that can help you achieve the look you desire!

For best results, we would recommend that you find a few styling pictures you like and show it to the stylists on the day itself!

Prices may  be a little steep at $80 but with 20% off their hairstyling price ($64 after discount!), this is possibly one of the best times to try hairstyling by a Japanese stylist!

Terms and Conditions

20% off Hair Services from now to 6 November 2015 (MSF exclusive)

For the first time, The Cottage is having a special promotion of 20% off hair services (including haircut) for BOTH its Japanese and local stylists on Beauty Undercover.

Those who love Japanese stylists are therefore in for a treat!

Whether it is skillful haircuts, chic hair colours or airy Japanese perms, The Cottage is unlikely to disappoint.

A renowned Japanese hair colouring expert Urakami has also recently joined The Cottage so do specify for him if you are going for more complicated and trendy hair colours!

Terms and Conditions

Salon 3: Focus Hairdressing @ Cuppage Plaza

Well known for its reliable and value-for-money MUCOTA Rebonding services, Focus Hairdressing is one of Singapore’s most popular salons for rebonding!

Stylists here are also very down-to-earth and does not hardsell, making it an easy hair salon to try out and like!

Focus Hairdressing is located near Somerset MRT!

Read reviews about Focus Hairdressing @ Cuppage Plaza Somerset and see actual customer photos here!

Simple Styling (without Hair Wash!) at $20-$25 (UP: $35) (MSF exclusive)

For those looking for a simple styling to complement your D&D outfit, Focus Hairdressing is offering Simple Styling services at only $20-$25!

While sophisticated braiding isn’t their strength, they are really good with tonging your hair to create curls that give you hair that much more volume.

Before and After Hair Colour + Styling

Note that no hair wash is included with this styling!

There are a total of 6 stylists in the salon so do make an advance appointment if you are looking to have your hair styled right before the D&D begins!

Terms and Conditions

25% off all Hair Services from now till 6 November 2015

If your hair is in need of a soft MUCOTA Rebonding, Perm or a fresh coat of colour, you are in luck!

Focus Hairdressing is offering an unprecedented 25% off their already low prices for all hair services from now till 6 November 2015!

We would highly recommend their MUCOTA DYNA Rebonding or the latest MUCOTA Omega Oil Therapy for those looking for natural soft rebonding and perm!

Terms and Conditions

If you are looking for more hairstyling inspiration, check out our article on 14 Best Hairstyles to Try for your Company D&D !

Have a great time at this year’s D&D and we would greatly appreciate it if you could take the time to write a review for the above salons after you’ve tried them!

Thanks in advance

October 2015

Hi I’m Agent E.

Ken from Kenaris Hair Salon has been my go-to hair stylist for a while now… and for good reason.

Maybe its a matter of taste but somehow the haircuts he gives always makes me happy; the haircut stays in shape for a long period of time and covers the areas I’m most concerned about.

(I have a high forehead and a receding hairline even though I just hit 30!)

Haircut by Ken in August 2014

Still, I get curious about other hairstylists.

(Don’t you also sometimes wonder if someone else can also give you the cut you like?)

I have therefore tried other stylists on the list of Best Hair Salons for Men.

Unfortunately, none of them seem to understand what I want the same way Ken does.

Therefore, I always find my way back to Ken every few months (a haircut by Ken is a luxury I give myself sparingly!)

As I made my way to Kenaris, I wondered:

Just how many ways can you cut your hair short by the same stylist?

Especially now that my hair is so unwieldy after some time of neglect!

I’m ready for something new!

It feels as if Ken knew what I was thinking about; he said that a haircut inspiration popped into his mind the moment he saw me so he asked fi I mind going shorter and a little different this time.

Since I was ready for something new, I gave him the green light.

So off I went for my hair wash and head massage!

As I have come to expect from Kenaris, the hair wash and massage were something to be savoured.

The hair assistant was attentive to the water temperature and ensured that the water did not into my ears or around my face.

It was a rejuvenating way to start the visit and I enjoyed every moment of it as I rested and relaxed for about 5-10 minutes.

Back to the hair cut with Ken.

First he took the time to section the hair properly.

Starting from the sides, Ken shaped the side of my head and carefully arranged the way the slope curved around the ear using a combination of shaver and scissors.

With this short side cut, I can literally feel the wind in my head.

Perfect for the hot Singapore weather!

It should probably be clear which is the before and the after photo.

It’s amazing to me that I actually look like I have more hair after the haircut than before due to the careful sculpting by Ken.

After taking care of the sides, he moved on to the back of the head.

And eventually the top.

As I was having a receding hairline and a little bit of an oily scalp, he tried to keep the hair short to prevent further hair loss.

After 20 to 30 minutes,  the resulting new look, had a mixture of short hair on the sides, with more volume at the top.

At the end of the visit, my hair had more volume than before and the new look gave me a refreshed image. This was something that I needed as I was going in for an important meeting the next day and a vacation a week after.

It was also an easy-to-maintain hairstyle that doesn’t require much styling. Best for busy (aka lazy) men like me!

All in all it was a good visit once again to Kenaris and I would definitely go back again for more cuts and pleasant surprises!

Although its been a few weeks after the cut, I like it that my hair is still in shape!

Here’s a recent photo taken on a trip (without any styling).

I, for one, wholeheartedly agree with Enzo’s statement.

I had a girlfriend whom after years of having lushes locks, decided to get a buzz cut one day. I must say that it took me a while to get used to her new hairstyle . When the shock quality wore off, however, I started to see more of her fun and edgy personality, which I knew had always been there but somehow seemed off with her previous hairstyle.

Definitely SEXY X 100!

Here are the other reasons why I think short haircuts are just as desirable on ladies as long ones. Check them out to see if you agree with me!

1. Cropped hairstyles get our attention!

First and foremost, short haircuts are different, and guys WILL notice.

Especially after you’ve gone through most of your life with long beauty – pageant looking hairstyles, this drastic change in hair length will definitely get us looking.

Ladies, I must be honest though.

NOT every man will like it…

BUT those who do tend to be self-assured men who can see both your beautiful outward appearance and your attractive sassy personality.

So you may find yourself getting hit on more by guys who are actually worth your time (rather than guys who are just out there having fun)

Short Haircut by Ricky from Plan B by Vast @ Far East Plaza.

 2. Cropped hairstyles accentuate your beautiful facial features

Instead of hiding behind your long Rapunzel hair, short haircuts bring out more of your gorgeous eyes and lips. Your expressive eyes can now tell us more than ever before and lets me see more of the true you.

I must also admit that some of us also find the nape of a woman’s neck, exposed by shorter haircuts, tremendously sexy!

Haircut by Kenaris Hair Salon for @cigarettedrags on Instagram

3. Cropped hairstyles shows your confidence… and Confidence is attractive!

Cutting your hair can be a big risk… particularly when you are running the risk of defying archaic standards of beauty that short haircuts will automatically make your femininity go down several notches!

When a lady faces this fear head-on and shows up on a date rocking a sexy pixie, she’s definitely getting me intrigued!

Asymmetrical Cut by Chez Vous Hair Salon

4. Cropped hairstyles makes us fantasize… and causes us to buckle at our knees

When I see a short haircut, I’m immediately reminded of Katy Perry, Rihanna and Anne Hathaway… celebrities who show us how ladies with short haircuts can be sexy and intense as hell!

Seen on Instagram – Katy Perry for Vogue Japan

5. Cropped Hairstyles gives us more time with you

Honey, we love you and your long hair but the 20 minutes of blowdry after every bath and another half hour after that for braiding or styling can really in the way of our sexy hot date.

It also makes our work mornings all the more stressful.

Credits: Flickr

I really appreciate how much time the short haircut saves us in just blowdrying and styling… (and I haven’t even counted in the shortened time for your perms and hair colours!)

6. Cropped Hairstyles reduces hair loss

This is probably the least sexy of all reasons but the long hair seems to exacerbate your hair loss issues.

Credits: Flickr

It was not so fun cleaning up when your long hair is all over the pillows, floors and even clogs up the bathroom sometimes.

The short hair seemed to have helped and I’m really grateful for that!

7. Cropped Hairstyles lets us get closer!

As much as I love touching and smelling your hair, it can hinder me from getting closer.

Short hair alleviates these issues and provides us with easy access to you!

Credits: Flickr

8. Cropped Hairstyles help us see a new you!

Just like a new hobby can reinvigorate a relationship, a short haircut can add some spice to a long established relationship as it brings out the part of you we may not have seen or felt before!

Side Swept Crop from The Cottage by Devonshire Selected Beauty Salons

Somehow, it also seems as if the short haircut brings out the adventurous in you, as you dare to try out newer looks with this new hairstyle… and we really dig that!

If you feel ready to go for a hair makeover, you should definitely go ahead to make that appointment.

Don’t let an unsupporting partner derail you from your personal process of discovery and experimentation because you may just end up surprising him with your renewed attractiveness, confidence and the lesser-known merits of short hair.

As long as you do your research well and get a stylist you can trust, you will still look stunning whether your hair is long or short!

Do you have any hair stories to share?

Let us know in the comments below!

Dressing up to the nines for special occasions has always been a part of the Indian tradition, and with Deepavali around the corner you might be thinking of giving your hair a makeover to add a little more glam to your overall look for the festive holiday.

Here at Beauty Undercover, we know the struggle of finding the right hairstyles and salons that cater to Indian hair.

We’ve heard your concerns and have put together a list of hairstyles, right down to the trusted salons where you can request the looks!

Ready to look like a Bollywood starlet?

1. Bob Haircuts

Seen on Instagram @priyankacopra

Feeling a little bold and thinking of changing up your look? Why not follow the likes of celebrities like Priyanka Chopra and Freida Pinto who traded in their long locks for a chic bob cut.

If you are fretting over finding the perfect stylist to transform your tresses, fret no more, we’ve got you covered!

Simply head down to the all-hair-director only Chez Vous Hair Salon and request for haircut specialist Hensley or Thomas!

They are perfectly skilled in handling all types of hair texture and would definitely give you a bob haircut you’re happy with!

Haircut, Soft Rebonding and Hair Colour by Chez Vous Hair Salon

You can even consider adding on a soft rebonding if you are looking for a way to straighten your hair!

Lob cut by Takuya from CLEO Hair & Make

For those of you looking for a Japanese experience, we would also highly recommend Takuya from CLEO Hair and Make!

Other than being extremely talented with hair colours, Takuya is fantastic at bob or lob cuts as well!

2. Frizz No More

Kinessences Hair Treatment and Colour by Koinonia Hair Salon

As I can testify, hair that is thick and curly is already hard to manage on any given day.

Add in the crazy heat and it can only mean one thing, bad hair day for days!

Yikes! Luckily, the hair experts at Koinonia was able to rescue my hair with the powerful new treatment from Kinessences.

Can’t wait to show my newly rejuvenated hair to family and friends on Deepavali!

Read here if you are interested to find out more about how my experience at Koinonia was!

3. Sombre or Sunkissed Highlights

Photo: Deepika Padukone | Facebook

Colouring your hair is a great way to transform your look, the right mix of colours can enhance the beauty of the Indian skin, no matter dusky or dark. Choosing to colour your hair is a huge commitment, we get it, which is why we recommend getting Sombre Hair Colour.

Sombre is essential ombre, but softer (or more subtle).

A subtle graduation from roots to ends, the change in hair colour is small one that may make a huge difference!

Sombre Hair Colour by Branche Hair Salon

We see it done really well at Branche Hair Salon by stylist Ichi. Using more than 30-60 foils to create a graduation effect, the sombre comes out really naturally and goes very well with the kawaii motemaki styling.

Sunkissed Highlights from The Cottage by Devonshire Selected Beauty Salons

For those looking for slightly brighter highlights, we love the sunkissed highlights done by professional colourist Urakami from The Cottage!

On top of incorporating the colours really naturally into your hair, he is really good at identifying the right colour for your skin tone to make sure that the hair colour is flattering for you.

A highly recommended colourist to try out!

4. Granny Hair

Granny Hair Colour by Vast Hair Salon 

For all you ladies out there who are more daring when it comes to colouring your hair, we suggest jumping on the silver hair bandwagon! The granny hair trend is one of the hottest colour trends right now. But with that said, you can still choose to stand out from the crowd by adding a bit of colour for a more edgy look.

Note however that this hair colour is likely to require bleaching… so you must have relatively healthy hair to begin with and be prepared for the maintenance afterwards.

Read about the 14 things you need to know before Colouring Your Hair to make sure you are prepared for this commitment!

5. Rainbow Hair Colour

Another popular hair colour trend that is all the rage is Rainbow Hair. It is not the usual colour you’ll see on the streets of Singapore so you will definitely stand out this Deepavali!

Unlike usual vibrant colours, CLEO Hair & Make has created a whole new way of bleaching and hair colour that reduces damage to the hair, so that your bleached hair isn’t that dry afterwards.

Check out Agent JM’s experience if you are intending to go ahead with that crazy hair colour for Deepavali! 

6. Sleek and Straight

Seen on Instagram @bipashabasu

The grass is always greener on the other side, all we curly-haired ladies have been there – lusting over the ease of silky straight hair.

Taming your curls with a flat iron on a daily basis can damaging to your hair even with the proper heat protectants, which is why you should consider rebonding your hair if you don’t have the time to properly care for your curls.

Once your hair is straight, you can then curl it any way you want afterwards to make yourself look as gorgeous as Bipasha Basu!

Seen on Instagram @bipashabasu

As long as you’ve got a trusted hairstylist to take care of your hair, you won’t have anything to fear.

Amplified Treatment Rebonding + Haircut by Chez Vous Hair Salon

The amplified treatment rebonding that Jamie did for Rashmi helped her better manage her waves without making the hair look overly flat!

The haircut also complimented her face shape and made Rashmi look and feel more professional!

7. Trim and Treat your curls 

If your hair is getting out of shape, all you need may be some trimming along with treatment to revitalize your curls this holiday!

Hair Trim and Treatment by Art Noise Japanese Hair Salon

On top of the really skillful haircut specialists and great service at Art Noise, we love their inhouse SHA treatment which is really good at hydrating the hair from within!

8. Pixie Cut

Credits: Sonan Kapoor on IBN-Live

Cutting your long locks off is not the usual hair service you’re thinking for Deepavali.

But for those of you looking for a big change, the pixie haircut may just be what you need to bring out your personality!

If you are wondering what other short haircut styles are available, check out our article on Best Short Haircuts in Singapore!

Pixie Cut and Highlights by CLEO Hair & Make

You probably aren’t the only one in need of a makeover this Deepavali!

Don’t forget to make that appointment for your partner or your child  if they too are hoping to look fresh and suave for the holiday!

Men’s Haircut and Colour AND Children’s Haircut and Colour by 99 Percent Hair Studio

Regardless of the hairstyle you choose, we hope that you will have an enjoyable hair experience as you prepare for Deepavali!

And from all of us at Beauty Undercover,

Happy Diwali 2015!

Cleansing, Exfoliation, Extraction and Mask: Those are the usual 4 steps you expect from a facial.

Additional steps may be added depending on whether machines or chemicals are involved but that process probably describes 80% of facials out there.

Our attention is therefore piqued when we hear of the unique Herbal Brightening facial at Japanese salon Organics Beauty.

On top of using only 100% high quality organic ingredients, their herbal brightening facial incorporates a footbath, leg massage, crystal facial massage, a homemade enzyme drink and even hot stones… well, that definitely doesn’t sound like the usual facial routine at all!

To see what the facial is all about, we follow Agent Z, an existing customer of Organics Beauty to see what the Herbal Brightening facial actually entails!

October 2015

Hi I’m Agent Z, a Pilates instructor at Como Shambhala.

As you can see, I’m not young anymore. Interestingly though, I seem to have regained some of my youth in the past 6 months.

Yes, I know that you can still see the ravages of time on my face but really, my skin has already brightened and regained more of its elasticity in the past 6 months… so much so that I am actually receiving compliments and inquiries on how I managed to turn back time. This is all thanks to Shizuka and her unique miraculous facials!

Frankly, I wasn’t that into facials before I met her. I went for the occasional facial previously but nothing really compelled me to continue… until I tried Organics Beauty.

I came to know Shizuka through a friend of mine; she raved so much about the facial at Organics Beauty that I decided to give Shizuka a go. Since then, I’ve never looked back! Shizuka’s facials are now a regular fixture in my weekly routine that I simply can’t do without.

If you are interested to find out more about my facial journey with Shizuka and what a typical facial here looks like, read on below!

A Facial at Organics Beauty

My first appointment with Shizuka was 6 months ago but I will be retracing my footsteps and my experience with the recent Herbal Brightening facial I just did in October 2015!

Organics Beauty is located in a cozy space in Delfi Orchard, which was incidentally below the studio I was teaching Pilates at.

Very convenient for me!

The first thing that struck me when I entered the salon was Shizuka’s attention to detail.

To ensure the highest level of hygiene for each customer, all slippers were fitted with disposable inserts.

There are two treatment rooms, which are both equipped with a luxurious bathrobe, a seat and a space to put your bags. Instead of trying to upsell me the way some Singapore salons tend to do, Shizuka welcomed me into the room immediately to change into the bathrobe.

After I’m changed, she then provided me with the refreshing homemade enzyme drink! It changes every month but it always tastes so good! She will also provide me with a shoulder pad stuffed with herbs to help me relax. I’m not always fond of the scent of the shoulder pad so I usually reject it in subsequent visits, but really it depends on you.

While I’m enjoying the enzyme drink, Shizuka starts to prepare a special footpath containing dead sea salt and organic essential oils to relax the legs. I was a little startled the first time she did that. After all, I signed up for a facial, not a foot massage.

Why did she need to prepare a footbath?

Shizuka assured me that this is all part of the facial experience as it helps my mind and body to relax, making it easier for her subsequent facials to be effective. I followed her instructions and laid my leg into the warm bath water.

Did that feel good!

To make me more comfortable, Shizuka covered my legs with a blanket and proceeded with the consultation.

While I was enjoying the footbath, Shizuka started to ask me questions about my skin concerns, my usual skin routines and what I was looking to achieve from the facial. She then went ahead to explain the different facials offered at Organics Beauty and their prices to ensure that I’m okay before going ahead.

When the consultation is completed, Shizuka actually dried my legs and gave me a nice foot massage.

What a way to start the facial!

After getting myself comfortable on the treatment bed, Shizuka covered me with a blanket to ensure that I remained warm.

Before she did that, she placed something interesting near my midriff. Yes… a hot stone!

She mentioned that this will keep my body warm throughout the facial and promote blood circulation.

Just before the facial actually began, Shizuka sprayed organic rose water into the air.

It was really uplifting and refreshing, making me really look forward to the facial.

While my eyes lay closed, the smell of lavender flooded my senses. Shizuka later shared that she uses organic lavender oil to further calm my senses and relieve any stress that I may be having. Especially for those with frequent headaches or migraines, this is a great essential oil to help relieve those symptoms as well.

With this, the facial begun. Shizuka uses the 100% organic and gentle Phyt’s Cleanser to help cleanse the skin.

I love how she gently massages my face while she is at it to ensure a thorough cleanse!

While she leaves the cleanser on for a while, she also gives a nice shoulder massage that brings me that much closer to dreamland.

By the time she removed the cleanser, I would already be fast asleep!

Unlike other salons which may use harsher methods to exfoliate the skin further at this point, Shizuka uses a specially blended French Clay and Spirulina Mask to clarify the skin.

In fact, almost all of the masks and gommage that came after the cleansing are carefully prepared and customized to the needs of each individual customer prior to starting the facial!

The reason why French clay is used is because they are very effective in purifying and encouraging impurities to rise to the surface. Based on some studies, the French Clay also helps to inhibit growth of bacteria. This is however not the usual clay you may thinking about. Shizuka imports only the highest quality French Clay that comes directly from quarries in France and later analyzed and inspected to make sure that it meets all microbiological standards.

The spirulina mask, on the other hand, contains a rich source of antioxidants and chlorophyll that helps to cleanse the skin and strengthen tissues. Spirulina also helps the skin store more moisture, hydrating the skin and minimizing fine lines.

It can also help to eliminate acne causing bacteria!

True to her belief of purifying the body inside out, Shizuka also prepared a specially blended mix of 11 essential oils such as heath and yarrow to nourish and heal the body from within. This mix of essential oils is then vaporised by the steamer and inhaled while the mask dries.

While I take in the soothing scent of the essential oils, Shizuka gave an amazing head massage that lulled me back to sleep.

The organic gommage came next. It feels like a scrub but Shizuka does not apply it harshly just to remove dead skin cells. Instead, it is lightly and gently applied so that the active ingredients within the gommage can penetrate into the skin to achieve cleansing from within.

After the application of the gommage to promote removal of dead skin cells, the organic herbal mask is applied to hydrate and nourish the skin.

The skin is expected to look brighter and more supple as the goodness of the herbal mask penetrates the skin.

To promote absorption, a plastic cover is applied.

While waiting for the mask to penetrate the skin, Shizuka gave another heavenly shoulder massage.

Once the mask is removed, Shizuka uses crystals to give me a thorough facial massage. The massage was firm but comfortable.

A acupressure point hand massage follows after the crystal massage to promote lifting and brightening.

The final mask is then applied to nourish and brighten the skin.

This mask is derived from Bilberry. Bilberry is a wonder herb that is known for improving vision and enhancing the beauty of your eyes. This is because it contains flavonoids called anthocyanosides that facilitate blood flow in the tiny vessels surrounding the eyes. Shizuka has therefore chosen this mask to help nourish the skin, improve blood circulation and combat venous insufficiency, which can cause certain skin problems.

While the mask dries, Shizuka gave me a leg massage along the body meridian line. The meridian line is connected to the face and the rest of the body and helps in both brightening and lifting when massaged correctly!

The mask is easily removed after it dries.

One last head massage before I go!

Once out of the treatment room, I am escorted to the dressing area where sunscreen and cotton wools are readily available if I need to apply makeup after the facial service.

They can even provide you with a hairdryer and sterilized combs if you need them!

While preparing myself for the next appointment, Shizuka would also serve me a nice pot of organic herbal tea to complete the entire facial experience. These are specially blended for the purpose of promoting health and beauty from within!

So this is how I look after the Herbal Brightening Facial.

My lines and wrinkles may still be there but my face already feels brighter!

Overall Thoughts on Organics Beauty

The results today may not be as obvious as it was, the first time I tried Organics Beauty but I can still see visible difference before and after each facial. This is really surprising for me as I was one of those who was skeptical about organic facials at the beginning.

Could Organic Facials be really as good as machines and chemical peels?

After trying out Organics Beauty, I’m now a convert!

For the first time, Shizuka made me feel that there is a more natural and gentler alternative to what is commonly prescribed out there. I’m really glad to have found Shizuka and Organics Beauty for my skincare journey and hope that more of you can experience the transformation I had with Shizuka!

Silvery Ash Hair Colour by Kazu from Kenaris Hair Salon

With Deepavali in a couple of weeks and upcoming Christmas / New Year parties and weddings in just over a month,

we’ve curated a few deals from our list of reliable and trustworthy hair and beauty salons

to help you get that new hair makeover, glamorous nail colour, pretty lash extensions and rejuvenating facial to help you look and feel better in November!

This means no hardselling and no package selling… just a great pampering experience we KNOW you’ll enjoy.

Unlike usual coupon deals, you don’t have to print out this page or purchase anything to enjoy the promotion.

Simply quote Beauty Undercover when you make your reservation!

Eyelash Extensions

KJStudio Japanese Lash Extension Salon @ Keong Saik Rd

30% off Volume Lashes with Aki

Terms and Conditions

Remember to quote “Beauty Undercover Volume Lash Aki Promotion” to enjoy the promotion!

Read reviews about KJStudio Japanese Eyelash Salon and see actual customer photos here!

Queen’s Market @ Tanjong Pagar

50% off Eyelash Extension (100 eyelashes) for $50 (UP: $100)

The eyelash extensions here are made of premium mink lash. They are attached one by one to suit the customers’ eye shape via medical glue from Japan. It is suitable for all skin types and gives a natural look.

Facials

Organics Beauty @ Delfi Orchard

60% off Organic Facials (Herbal Brightening / Lift Up and Firm) for First Time Customers

Terms and Conditions

Remember to quote “Beauty Undercover” to enjoy the promotion!

Read reviews about Organics Beauty @ Delfi Orchard here!

NUA Singapore @ Tanjong Pagar

FREE Jane Iredale Organic Mineral Foundation (worth $79) if you book a Ultimate Anti-Aging Facial in November for First Time Customers

Terms and Conditions

Remember to quote “Beauty Undercover” to enjoy the promotion!

Read reviews about NUA Singapore @ Tanjong Pagar here!

First Timer Gua Sha Facial Promotion

85% off Gua Sha Therapy Facial, now at $18 (UP: 120) + Complimentary Aqua Eye Treatment worth $60

Perfect for those looking to reduce water retention in their face before an important event!

Remember to quote “Beauty Undercover Gua Sha Therapy” to enjoy the promotion!

Read reviews about Geranium Skin Boutique @ Lavender here!

Nail Colour

Branche Nail Salon @ Capitol Piazza City Hall

20% off Ala Carte Nail Services

If you are looking for nail art of the highest quality and top-notch Japanese service from celebrity nail artist Safori at Singapore’s top nail salon, Branche is probably your best choice!

Terms and Conditions:

Queen’s Market @ Tanjong Pagar

53% off Gel Nails (One Colour / French / Gradation) for $40 (UP: $85)

Note that Gel nails are different from Gelish nails. Gentler on the nails and less damagin, soft gel nails is designed to last longer due to its flexibility. It also helps to keep the lustre and translucent finish for a longer time (3 to 5 weeks)

This service also INCLUDES hand care and soak off like a normal manicure so the price is definitely really worth it!

OR Top up $25 for more elaborate Nail Art.

50% off Gel Nail Art for $65 (UP: $130)

Hair Services

Rubik Japanese Hair Salon @ Raffles Hotel

Cut  + Rubik Original Hair Treatment + Hair Care Products NOW at $250 (UP: $290)*

Terms and Conditions

Remember to quote “Beauty Undercover Rubik Hair Treatment Promotion” to enjoy the promotion!

Read reviews about Rubik Hair Salon and see actual customer photos here!

Branche Hair Salon @ Capitol Piazza City Hall

36% off Haircut + Hair Colour + Scalp Treatment NOW at $280 (UP: $440)

Experience the best of Branche with their signature haircut, colour and scalp treatment in November!

Valid from now till 30 November 2015

Terms and Conditions

Remember to quote “Beauty Undercover” to enjoy the promotion!

Read reviews about Branche Hair Salon @ Capitol Piazza and see actual customer photos here!

Picasso Hair Studio @ Haji Lane

1. Cut + Colour + Intensive Treatment at $199 (For all Hair Lengths)

2. Cut + Scalp Treatment + Hair Treatment at $149 (For all Hair Lengths)

Valid from  1 November 2015 to 30 November 2015.

Terms and Conditions

Remember to quote “Beauty Undercover” to enjoy the promotion!

Read reviews about Picasso Hair Studio and see actual customer photos here!

Focus Hairdressing @ Somerset Cuppage

20% off All Hair Services if you go for hair services with a friend!

Valid from  1 November 2015 to 30 November 2015.

Terms and Conditions

Remember to quote “Beauty Undercover Bring Along A Friend” to enjoy the promotion!

Read reviews about Focus Hairdressing and see actual customer photos here!

Pro Trim Korean Salon @ Jurong East JEM

20% off MUCOTA Perm and Rebonding by Korean and Local Stylists

Valid from  1 November 2015 to 30 November 2015.

Terms and Conditions

Remember to quote “Beauty Undercover” to enjoy the promotion!

Read reviews about Pro Trim @ Jurong East JEM and see actual customer photos here!

Koinonia Hair Salon @ Orchard Pacific Plaza

20% off MUCOTA Hair Treatments

This is also applicable to MUCOTA Scena Hair Treatment (worth $160 before discount)!

Valid from  1 November 2015 to 30 November 2015.

Terms and Conditions

Remember to quote “Beauty Undercover 20% off MUCOTA Hair Treatments” to enjoy the promotion!

Read reviews about Koinonia Hair Salon and see actual customer photos here!

Chez Vous Hair Salon @ Takashimaya Ngee Ann City 

10% off Hair Services

Valid from now till 30 November 2015

Terms and Conditions

Remember to quote Beauty Undercover to enjoy the promotion!

Read reviews about Chez Vous Hair Salon  and see actual customer photos here!

That’s all we have for now! We will update here if we find out about more worthy promotions like the above!

Zinc Korean Hair Salon has just reopened in its new location in Millenia Walk a few months ago!

To prepare herself for the upcoming festive season (and check out the new outlet), Agent G made an appointment for a perm at Zinc in October 2015!

Read on to find out what she thought of the new location and stylist!

October 2015

I know it hasn’t been that long ago since I last permed (about 4 months ago to be exact).

While the curls were still there, my hair was getting a little long and unruly!

As I used my SHA hair treatment religiously, the hair ends weren’t THAT dry although some of the hair ends were still a little damaged!

Given the continuously hot weather in Singapore (that doesn’t seem to let up!), I was hoping to go shorter this time!

Not pixie short though… my face has grown bigger the past few months and I still need the hair to cover the areas I’m most sensitive about!

(For ideas on what type of short hairstyles suit you, read our article here!)

Every time I think of getting a perm, Zinc Korean Hair Salon will pop into my mind as one of the first few salons to think about.

Since they have just moved over to their new and classy salon in Millenia Walk, I was hoping to pay them a visit to see how things have changed!

New Outlet at Millenia Walk

I took the Circle Line Promenade MRT went to Exit B (Millenia Walk), got up the second floor and soon found Zinc.

Although not as accessible as its previous location Centrepoint, I took an instant liking to their new salon at Millenia Walk; the entire place was more spacious, decor was beautiful and seats were located in both a private area or a more open section.

Trying out a new stylist

Although Nicky is the usual stylist I go for in Zinc, he advised me to try out Justin this time.

I was a little apprehensive as Nicky has always known what I was looking for. However, Nicky’s constant praises of Justin made me really curious about Justin.

I had a great impression the first time I met Justin.

Other than the fact that he’s really good-looking (in my opinion), his command of English is really good! This made it so much easier for me to communicate with him, whether it is about my hairstyle preferences or even on topics other than hair!

Like other stylists, he checked my hair texture and condition during the consultation and asked me various questions to understand what I was looking for.

He also showed me a collection of hair photos to see what type of curls I preferred.

Other than perming my hair, he also asked if I would like to have a colour.

Instead of pushing for me to get one (like what other stylists may do), he suggested that I could actually leave the hair colour as it is as the previous hair colour has now faded onto a natural ombre. It would also be less damaging for my hair.

I was secretly happy to hear this suggestion of his as I wasn’t really keen on staying another 1-2 hours for another hair colour. Lazy me was actually planning to get another hair colour in December / January for Chinese New Year!

Just glad that he could read my mind without me spelling things out so clearly

Next, he began the haircutting process. Frankly, I was a little shocked to see so much of my hair snipped!

However I was a lot more reassured when Justin shared that he used to teach students in haircutting skills in an Academy back in Korea!

Other than trimming my hair, Justin mentioned that he has also added some inner layers within the hair to the overall perm appear lighter and more “airy” for a more bouncy curl.

He may look a little serious and stern while haircutting but he is really easy to talk to. I asked him about his experiences before coming to Singapore. Justin shared enthusiastically about his time training under a Haircut and Perm master back in Korea. He also shared how difficult it was for him in Australia when he did not know how to speak English at first. His fluent command of the language today shows a perseverance and persistence that is really admirable!

I am not sure if this is usually done at Zinc (as I had hair assistants helping me with hair wash previously) but I was lucky enough to have Justin do everything from haircut to hair wash and perm on that day.

He was very attentive, checking the temperature at the beginning and ensuring that I was comfortable the whole time. The hair wash was also very thorough. Justin mentioned that he actually washed my hair three times to ensure that it is thoroughly clean because I won’t be washing my hair for the next two days (to make sure that the perm last longer!)

After the nice long hair wash and massage, it was great to have some snacks back at the seat!

Once I was done with my snacks, Justin went ahead with pre-treatment for my hair. He emphasized that it is very important to apply pre-treatment as it keeps the hair healthy and helps to make the perm more bouncy and more long lasting! Of course, the pre-treatment is sourced directly from Korea as well.

 To accelerate absorption, my hair is connected to this steam machine. The steam produced from the machine will open the cuticles to allow for easier absorption.

It is not hot in any way but it does look pretty comical with steam coming out from various parts of my head!

I’m back at the washing area after about 15-20 minutes to wash off the pre-treatment.

The next step is therefore the application of the perming cream! This perming cream is once again sourced from Korea so you probably won’t see it elsewhere in Singapore salons!

The design that Justin had in mind was for the curls to start a little away from the top. Therefore Justin and his assistant did not apply the perm lotion very close to the scalp.

As the perm lotion does not touch the scalp, this perm design is also safer for pregnant women or ladies with sensitive scalp!

The perm lotion is left for 20 minutes before I’m off for the third wash of the day!

Yay it was finally time to curl the hair after hair wash and blowdry.

Skillfully, Justin curled my hair with medium sized curls. Not too big, not too small because he knows that I love my curls a little stronger.

He connected my hair to the digital perm machine and voila!

Here’s how it looks like after 15-20 minutes!

Don’t the curls look ABSOLUTELY gorgeous?

They look like small rosebuds on my hair!

I almost felt a little sad when the curls are re-curled.

I wonder if this is the step that allowed Justin to incorporate both a C and an S Curl?

It’s now time for the neutralizer to fix the curls!

During the hair wash, Justin asked about my hair care routine. As I usually use a shampoo and treatment, he shared that I should still include a conditioner as the effects of a treatment is different from that of a conditioner! He also reminded me to use a heat protector before blowdrying to ensure that the hair is well protected.

After Justin washed off the neutralizer, he applied the all-important post-treatment onto my hair to make sure that the hair remains healthy!

15 minutes of blowdrying later…

TA DAHH!

It is more obvious when the hair is wet but this hairstyle actually incorporates an S and then a C. This creates more movement within the perm while ensuring that the ends still look relatively “neat” and easy to manage.

Compare this to just 3 hours before:

My hair feels lighter now and frankly, I think I probably look a little younger now than 3 hours ago.

Overall Conclusions

It’s been more than 2 weeks after the perm and I must say that I’m loving the short sassy perm!

I have since received many compliments about how the perm looked good on me… stylists from other salons have also commented on how technically well done the perm is: bouncy, natural and no kinks. The curls also fall at just the right places to cover the areas I wish to cover

This perm experience cemented my faith in Zinc as one of the best salons I would go personally for perms. Although there appears to be some negative experiences with specific stylists published on Beauty Undercover previously, I’m glad that Zinc is continually improving by bringing in highly skilled and experienced stylists to ensure a high service standard. (We also hear that a stylist is leaving Zinc!)

Having tried Justin for myself, I am also really impressed by his level of service and skill! Maybe its because he has a good command of English or maybe its his gentlemanly manner that always makes me feel well-taken care of, I felt comfortable throughout the whole process.

I’m also really happy with the perm he gave me. Justin got a good grasp of what I was looking for during the consultation and exceeded my expectations with the perm that resulted!

I hear that he is also great with hair colours but I’ll probably try that out for myself another day.

Overall, I had a great time with Justin at Zinc Korean Hair Salon in their new and more exclusive Millenia Walk location and would readily recommend them to anyone looking for a quality perm experience.

Agent G Signing off with a G Spot from Patisserie G just below Zinc!

Seen on Instagram @Guy_Tang

Rainbow Hair Colour is a new trend that has been taking over the Instagram of top Hollywood stylists like Guy Tang or Instagram hair sensations Linh Phan on @bescene.

However, we haven’t seen many outstanding rainbow hair colours in Singapore.

Beauty Undercover therefore sends Agent JJ to CLEO Hair & Make, the best hair salon we’ve seen for vibrant hair colours, to see how we too can get sensational rainbow hair colours in Singapore!

November 2015

Hi I’m Agent JJ, a mother of 3 beautiful children and an avid baker at iCandy Cakes!

Well, this is how I look like, most of the time!

Yes, I LOVE vibrant hair colours. In fact, I’ve been experimenting with vibrant hair colours since I was a teenager!

For the past 12 years, I have been continually bleaching my hair; other than loving vibrant colours, I love to bleach my hair as I have lots and lots of grey hair since I was in Secondary School. Bleached hair make my hereditary premature greying a lot less obvious and so this has been my hair colour of choice.

Going from a bold bleached blonde to adding pops of eccentric colours like Pinks and Purples was a kind of natural progression for me.

Then I came across Rainbow Hair Colours…

And I was mesmerized!

Can I pull off this crazy new trend?

Like a dream come true, Agent G asked if I would like to try out Rainbow Hair Colour by one of Singapore’s top Vibrant Hair Colour salons: CLEO Hair & Make.

I took a random look at CLEO Hair & Make on Beauty Undercover and I’m in LOVE!

YES YES YES!

Pls gimme my rainbow hair colour, CLEO!

My Transformation into a Rainbow Unicorn!

The place itself was very pretty.  The shop is spacious, tastefully decorated with beautiful gold gilded full length mirrors.

I came a little late but fortunately, the hairstylist in charge Sio was also just finishing with another customer.

I’m greeted by Samantha, the pretty Singaporean salon manager who speaks fluent Japanese and English! Samantha tells me that Sio is just finishing with a client and offers me a seat.

She had wonderful multi-colored hair and I couldn’t help but strike a conversation about those beautiful colours!

Samantha is not a stylist but is a integral part of the team to ensure that the salon runs well. She is very approachable and the only Singaporean staff there as the rest are all Japanese! So I felt that in case I was in need of a translator, that’s my go-to-girl!

Since Sio was still occupied, I took the chance to take some photos before the hair service started.

As you can see, my unsightly black/grey hair growth was starting to rear its head. My previous hair colour is also still present. As I’ve also recently given birth, I’ve been experiencing post-natal hair loss as well.

With so many issues, I was hoping that Sio can do some magic for my hair!

Soon, Sio was ready! I’m ushered to a seat and greeted by Sio-san himself! I try my hand at introductions in Japanese that I had just used Google translate to learn.. That made him smile.

He may not be very talkative but he’s certainly a cutie!

Samantha shared that Sio is possibly CLEO’s most skillful stylist especially in hair colours. He is in fact crowned as the “God of Hair Colour” as he can create any hair colour designs that you can think of!

I explain to Sio-San that I want Rainbow Hair and whip out my mobile phone to show him pictures of my “research”!

There was one particular pic that I really liked and asked if he could recreate it for me… with the colours I like!

He stared at it for a mere second and then a resounding Japanese-accented “OKAY!”

I hear the confidence in his voice and I know he’s got this.

You can see that my hair is already bleached and has a faded purple color at the ends, so first order of business was

1) to get the roots lightened

2) bleach the whole head of hair.

Note that if your hair is originally darker (or not yet bleached), you will probably have to bleach it at least 3-4 times to get the type of hair colour I was looking for.

In such cases, the stylists would recommend that you set aside two days for the bleaching and hair colour process. This would give your hair a chance to rest and prevent excessive damage!

As my hair is already rather damaged (and that we will have to damage it further with bleach), Samantha mentioned that Sio will be using two different types of hair treatment prior to bleaching my hair.

Properly protected hair will ensure that the hair colour last longer and that my hair will not be difficult to manage afterwards.

The two types of hair treatments are:

1) Continuum Ro-Maxx Hair Treatment

Continuum Ro-Maxx is new revolutionary hair treatment that helps to repair damaged connections within the cortical strands inside the hair shaft. This helps to tighten the internal strands and is fantastic as a standalone treatment for damaged, overprocessed hair. With stronger hair, the hair colours tend to last longer as well.

I was also told that CLEO is one of the first two hair salons to offer Continuum Ro-Maxx in Singapore so I’m really honoured that I’m one of the few to try it out first!

2) MUCOTA SCENA Hair Treatment

The area is lit with warm lighting and the chairs are probably the most comfortable I’ve been on.

In other salons, I sometimes feel as if my head and neck is strained while my hair is washed. However, it wasn’t the case here!

Sio covered my legs with a nice thick towel so it feels really cosy!

I was told that in CLEO Hair & Make, your stylist will be the one who does everything from start to end.

No passing around to juniors or assistants.

That’s a nice feeling knowing you’re in good hands!

Back at the chair, Sio-San towel dries my hair and uses a brush to brush through my hair to remove any tangles.

Before applying the bleach, he used plastic covers to go over my ears.

He proceeds to diligently section my hair and apply the bleach near the hair roots first.

The care in which he did this was a confidence booster as I knew he was so careful not to miss out any stray hair..

You may also note that he applied the bleach a few mm away from the scalp to prevent the bleach from coming into direct contact with my scalp.

The bleach they use is professional salon quality and therefore a lot stronger than the one I occasionally use at home. That is why it is important not to come into direct contact with the scalp, just in case the chemicals gets absorbed through the scalp. Also, the stronger bleach can be stinging, especially if you haven’t bleached your hair before. So leaving the space would minimize the discomfort.

To further protect the hair, the Continuum Hair Treatment is also mixed into the bleach to negative the chemical damage of the bleach.

Next, the bleach is applied to more parts of the hair (except the hair ends).

Although the process of bleaching looks simple, it actually takes a lot of experience to get the hair bleached consistently without excessively damaging the hair.

Hair ends tend to be more damaged and bleached faster so bleach will only be applied here in the second round of bleaching.

Once the first round of bleach is applied, Sio covered my hair with a transparent film to accelerate the absorption of the bleach.

After about 20 minutes, the bleach was rinsed off.

My black hair roots have now disappeared!

The hair roots are however not bleached enough; the hair should turn a little lighter, a little whiter for the vibrant hair colour to be properly absorbed.

Therefore, we are now ready to do the second round of bleaching.

Incidentally, the Boss of CLEO Hair & Make, Masashi san arrived at the salon. Instead of being standoffish, he was really friendly, greeting the customers in the salon and even helping Sio out in the second round of bleach.

With two hot hunks working on my hair, this is an Instagram worthy moment I can’t miss!

Sting Alert!

I could feel the sting a little more in my second round of bleaching. It is still quite bearable as I’ve been doing bleaching all my life. However, first timers to bleaching may be a little uncomfortable with the slight itching / burning feeling with the bleach!

Luckily, it was time to head for the hair wash!

Most of the time, the stylists tend to use water that is a little warm as it is more comfortable for most customers.

However I am used to washing my hair with ice cold water so I requested Sio to lower the temperature during the hair wash. It helps to reduce the sting as well!

I note that Sio was very gentle and used only his knuckles to massage my head.

No painful scratching here at all!

Back at the seat, this is how my hair looks after the two rounds of bleach!

The purple hair ends have been stripped of their colour and the hair roots are now a lot whiter…

FINALLY we are now ready to go to the most important stage: Applying all those beautiful hair colours!

The hair colours that CLEO uses now is the PRAVANA Chromasilk Hair Colour.

This is the brand that top Hollywood stylist Guy Tang endorses and uses personally for his many beautiful creations.

Previously, CLEO uses Manic Panic Hair Colours but switched to PRAVANA after realizing that PRAVANA colours tend to look more vibrant, last longer and require fewer number of bleaches to bring out the colour! This could be because PRAVANA contains a small amount of ammonia, which makes it easier for the hair colour to be absorbed. They also contain silk and keratin amino acids to help drive the colour into the hair cortex and help the colour adhere to the hair shaft. Manic Panic, on the other hand, is a purely vegan hair colour that does not contain ammonia. Also, Pravana also covers grey hair really well.

Other than Chromasilk, CLEO also used the PRAVANA Neon Pink hair colour for me! This Neon Pink is supposed to light up under UV light even in the darkness… so I’m really excited about it!

Samantha helped Sio to squeeze the colours into small bowls to prepare for the colour application.

Really excited about how all these colours will look on me!

Sio-San sections the hair and starts with the bottom half of my hair working upwards.

First he applied the purple.

Then the pink.

And repeated it in various sections.

Next, blue!

With 3 different colours applied to one section, he blended them using his fingers.

The almost batik design reminded me of the tropical beaches of Bali and Maldives.

Really pretty!

To prevent the colours from mixing, he used the transparent film again to segregate the different layers.

At this point I remind him of my favourite colors: pink, purple and turquoise.

Sio-San smiles and nods, looking like he has a plan in mind..

So I allow him to work his magic!

As promised, he gave me my FAVOURITE colours near the areas I will see it the most.

Unlike other salons which may be a little more stingy with the hair colours, Sio is VERY generous. He does not think twice about using LOTS of hair colour just to ensure that he achieves the hair colour results he is looking for. This level of professionalism is supported by the boss Masashi san who prefers stylists to use the best chemicals and get the hair colour right the first time around, rather than having to come back to redo the second time.

As a result, Sio used a whopping NINE WHOLE TUBES of Pravana Hair Colours for me throughout the colouring session!

It’s like… WOW! I feel so grateful and excited at the same time to see how everything will turn out!

As we waited for the color to seep in, Samantha came over to chat and offered drinks and chocolate.

Now this is the first time I have ever seen a salon with their very own brand of Chocolate!

And so yummy to boot!

She even gave me a few to bring back for my children!

After about 30 minutes, it was the moment of truth.

Will the colours actually come out as vibrant as I want it to after the hair wash?

Well, it certainly looked vibrant during the hair wash!

The colours ran a little but not too much, making Sio really hopeful.

To ensure that the hair is as well protected as possible, Sio added another round of MUCOTA Scena Hair Treatment as a post treatment.

I can feel the excitement as Sio wraps my head in a towel.

It’s almost as if Christmas came early for me this year!

I’m already loving the colors!

Sio-San blow dries my hair and then uses a curling iron to add some voluminous curls to my hair!

I can’t say anything much but…

WOW!

This was exactly what I was hoping for… and MORE!

Beautiful Rainbow Unicorn Colours at the Front and Tropical Malibu at the Back!

I know it looks different but all three pictures are taken OF THE SAME HAIR COLOUR!

There are just SO MANY layers and depth to this new hair design that it can look so different depending on the styling and which side you are looking at!

If only I’m better at braiding… I could possibly show a dozen hairstyles with this hair colour alone!

This is by far…

the most amazing hair I have ever had!

I am indeed OVERJOYED with the end result!

And just in time for the halloween party I had the next day:

Conclusion

I have had SO MANY compliments and people asking about my new hair colour that it’s been kind of crazy.

I LOVE how special the hair colour made me feel especially knowing that I’m probably the ONLY one in Singapore to sport this special design of Rainbow Malibu Hair Colour.

Rainbow Hair Colour is however not for everyone: this particular design at CLEO Hair & Make would cost you $800! Yes, it is prohibitively expensive for most people but if you think about the effort, time and products that go into the hair services, well, $800 may not be that expensive after all.

Take my Rainbow Malibu as an expensive, I actually spent SEVEN hours in the salon (from 4.30pm to 11.30pm), NINE tubes of their pravana hair colour and two packs of their bleach powder to achieve the hair colour I got. The team of CLEO Hair and Make also stayed way past their regular closing time to ensure that the hair colour was done well. The level of professionalism and the care with which everything was done is really amazing!

If you are intending to try out Vibrant Hair Colours / Rainbow Hair Colour, I would definitely encourage you to get your first time done at CLEO Hair & Make! Other than their great service, the professional way in which they approach the hair colour sets the right standard that you should expect from your future stylist. Everything is done to make sure that the hair colour comes out perfectly like it is supposed to from the pre-treatments, bleach, hair colour application to post treatment.

No shortcuts, no scrimping on products.

Just skillful high quality hairdressing that is hard to find elsewhere!

For those interested to get a vibrant hair colour, look out for Beauty Undercover’s next article on How to make your vibrant hair colour last longer!

If you are spending at least half a thousand on hair colours, well, make sure you get your money’s worth by maintaining the hair colour as long as possible!

First came rainbow cakes and now the colours of the rainbow craze have spread its dyes to hair! Those who have given their hair a new lease of colour are rocking it and have gotten the rest of us who are yet to jump on the coloured bandwagon seething with major envy.

If you are a little hesitant about going vibrant, read on to find out why you should dye your hair a vibrant colour.

1. It’s in fashion right now!

Granny Hair Colour for @kextay by Branche Hair Salon

From pastel pink to steel blue, celebrities and commoners alike have chosen to strip their hair of its mundane colour and unleash a little colour into the lives (hair).

If you are one of those people who like to keep up with the latest trends, it’s about time you gave your hair a vibrant makeover.

2. You only live once (YOLO)… and you aren’t getting younger!

Opal Unicorn Hair Colour by 99 Percent Hair Studio

Might as well, right?

Life is short… if you don’t do it now, its just going to get harder and harder in the future with a staid job and expectations from everyone stopping you from getting that colour.

So why not take the risk and dye your tresses the vibrant hue that you’ve always wanted… while you are still young?

You can always choose to just tint your ends if a head full of colour seems too much for you.

3. It gives your confidence that extra boost

Creative Hair Colour by Vast Hair Salon 

Colours can boost your mood.

So, imagine the instant confidence boost every time you looked into the mirror and not to forget the countless compliments you will receive from almost everyone who will be lusting over locks and admiring your boldness to go vibrant.

Double the confidence boost!

4. It brings out your true colours!

Rainbow Malibu Hair Colour by CLEO Hair & Make

Just like fashion is an expression of who you are, the colour of your hair can say a lot about you. Perhaps you are the spunky sort and rainbow-coloured hair is your thing or perhaps you are the multi-faceted lady who requires that complex mix of 3C Hair Colour to bring out your inner self.

3C Hair Colour by Picasso Hair Studio @ Haji Lane

Whichever it is, vibrant hair colours are also an extension of your creativity and you can mix-and-match colours that expresses your personality!

5.  It’s a head turner!

Tortoiseshell Hair Colour by Artica Hair Studio

Do you enjoy being the centre of attention?

No doubt with hair this bright, all eyes will be on you. You are sure to turn more than a few heads and your friends will be able to spot you from miles ahead.

6. You can match shades with your boyfriend / girlfriend

LEFT: Blonde and Blue Hair Colour by Clover Hair Boutique, RIGHT: Blonde and Blue Aveda Hair Colour by Air Salon

Forget matching outfits!

Did you know salons have been getting requests from couples to colour their hair a similar vibrant shade as their significant other.

It’s cool and cute, and makes for a fun date!

7. It won’t last forever

Strawberry Copper Hair Colour by The Cottage by Devonshire Selected Beauty Salons

Vibrant hair colours fade fast and that can be a good thing!

If you decide you don’t like the colour of your hair or feel like you can’t pull it off, you don’t have to wait long till it wears off. You can dye your hair without the long-term commitment which is perfect for those who change their hair colour frequently or just want try out a different look for the holidays.

Are you ready to go vibrant?

Stay tuned for our upcoming articles on vibrant hair colour ideas and how you can better maintain your vibrant hair colour!

Are you inspired by our previous article on why you should consider getting vibrant colours this festive season?

If so, check out the 6 Vibrant Colour Trends that Chez Vous has identified for 2016!

To commemorate their 20^th anniversary, Chez Vous Hair Salon has created the 20 Lookbook Challenge to inspire and share with customers what they feel will be the upcoming trends for 2016. To help you sieve through the best of the best, we picked our 6 favourite hair vibrant colour designs we think can work this festive season!

BONUS: Want a chance to win $350 worth of attractive prizes? Read till the very end and we’ll tell you how you can snag some awesome hair treats for yourselves!

OUR TOP PICK: Hidden Galaxy Sand Art

Technique: Sand Art

Stylist: Associate Salon Director, Sam Chok

Move over rainbow-coloured hair, there is a new trend that brings prismatic-coloured manes to new heights. Inspired from one of our favourite childhood pastimes – sand art, it’s not hard to grasp why this hair trend is lighting up on social media.

Beyond the sand art design itself, we really love how Sam is able to create such a beautiful gradation of different colours that blend so well together. As the name galaxy suggests, it really felt as if we can hold the rainbow / galaxy in our hands just with the beautiful hair ends!

The contrast of black vs the colours was also executed rather brilliantly in our opinion!

A Hair Design Not to be Missed: Half-and-Half Hair Dye

Technique: Split-Dye

Stylist: Associate Salon Director, Shawn Chia

The latest hair trend – split-dyed hair (#splithair) has been flooding instagram feeds and might just become the new “IT” colour for 2016.

If done right, it can be fun, unique and beautiful.

We have seen many instagram photos with crazy hair colours for the split hair trends. This is the first time we’ve seen it done with blonde and brown and we must say that we are impressed!

Although the hair colour is really attention-grabbing, we love how the highlights inserted in between helps to balance the overall look and make it look rather attractive!

Still, it takes a lady with the right personality to pull it off, don’t you think?

Don’t forget about the Men: Split-Dyed Hair for Men

 Technique: Split – Dye

Stylist: Echo Er

Forget the ladies-centric ombre and balayage colouring techniques. Guys can rock the split-dye hair trend too.

The split hair blue adds a fun-loving accent to an originally professional haircut. It spices up Ander’s overall look and brings out his cool and friendly personality all at the same time.

It’s wild, it’s bold and definitely attracts attention from the ladies!

 Futuristic for the Eclectic: Granny Blue Highlights

Technique: Granny Blue Highlights

Stylist: Associate Salon Director, Jamie Seah

While granny-coloured locks are nothing new, Associate Salon Director, Jamie Seah turned it up a notch by infusing touches of blue with other “hidden colours” in the hair that will unveil once the hair colour starts to fade.

Isn’t it magical how one hair colour design can transform into another?

We love how Jamie has thought of all that and incorporated the process of fading into the hair colour design!

Sunset Dip Dye

Technique: Balayage Ombre and Dip-Dye

Stylist: Associate Salon Director, Veyond Chong

Ombre may have been here for the past couple of years but few have dared to pair the technique with one of the rarest colours seen today: copper.

With that in mind, Veyond wanted to design a fiery ombre combination of copper, brown and orange to represent the colours of sunset.

Copper may not be the colour of choice for most people but we are amazed to see how well the model carries off Veyond’s design here. The challenging gradation was done really well and doesn’t cause the model to look washed out.

Definitely a unique choice of hair design to try for 2016!

So there they are: the 5 Vibrant Hair Colour Designs we really like amidst the 20 looks we’ve seen in the Chez Vous 20 Lookbook.

For those who find the vibrant hair colour designs here a little too attention-seeking for your liking, look out for our next compilation of Peek-a-boo Vibrant Hair Colours Suitable for work!

In the meantime, here are the details for the Chez Vous Giveaway as promised!

Chez Vous is giving away $150 Chez Vous service vouchers and $200 Kérastase Resistance Thérapiste vouchers to 5 lucky voters!

If you like the designs as much as we do, simply vote for your favourite look on Chez Vous Facebook page for a chance to win!

Good luck!

Enticed by our 7 reasons to get a Vibrant Hair Colour but find that the 5 Vibrant Hair Colour designs are too bright for work?

With many customers facing the same dilemma, salons like Picasso Hair Studio has innovated to create the special Peek-a-boo Vibrant Hair Colours to help you get the best of both worlds!

Whether you are:

• someone who want to try vibrant hair colour but am restricted by the informal office dress code
• someone who wants to try vibrant colours for the first time but am still a little apprehensive
• or someone who just wants a vibrant hair colour in a style that is different from others

You may just find what you are looking for in our compilation of peek-a-boo Vibrant Colours!

1. 3C Peacock Angel Hair Colour by Picasso Hair Studio

A sneaky way to look professional at work and still rock vibrant hair colours is to dip-dye the ends of the back portion of your hair.

When you let your hair down, your hair will still look professional for the office even with hints of colour peeking through.

2. 3C Romance Hair Colour by Picasso Hair Studio

Prefer a more eye-catching colour?

Instead of just dyeing the ends, tint the entire back layer of your hair.

Similar to the previous look, when your hair is worn straight and down, the colours won’t be visible, not unless you do a half up-half-down hairstyle.

Add in some curls, and the mixture of vibrant and non-vibrant colours upgrades your look with minimal effort.

Perfect for after-work events!

3. Pastel Underwater by CLEO Hair & Make

The key to wearing crazy hair colours at work is to keep it simple.

The lesser the number of vibrant colours and blending it with black hair allows for a beautiful contrast, and hides the colours at the same time.

4. Hidden Galaxy Sand Art by Chez Vous Hair Salon

With the peek-a-boo technique, you don’t have to stay away from trends such as the sand art hair trend. You can now wear the colours of the galaxy and let it be your little secret.

5. Peek-a-boo Ocean Blue by Plan B by Vast Hair

Keep in mind to not add too many vibrant colours to your hair if you want to look professional, especially if you are intending to dye a bright shade.

6. Tie-me-up in Space by COVO Japanese Hair Salon

Take the basic topknot to a whole new level.

Your colleagues will be surprised you have been hiding such a wild colour for so long.

7. Mixed Colour Tone by Artica Hair Studio

Consider going for darker shades of wild colours instead of pastel hues, as darker shades are easier to keep under wraps.

This way, you won’t have to worry about hiding the vibrant colours during office hours.

8. Blue and Violet Ombre by 99 Percent Hair Studio

Black hair with peek-a-boo vibrant colours tend to look more professional but if your boss is not too strict, sun kissed hair with vibrant colours will also do the trick.

9. Red & Green Accents by Vast Hair Salon

Bring a pop of colour to your natural hair by adding streaks of red and other vibrant colours to your natural hair colour.

There isn’t a huge dash of vibrant hair colour but it will definitely still make an impression!

Best of all, you won’t have to damage your hair that much!

10. Hidden Granny by Artica Hair Studio

A dark shade of brown with streaks of silverish-grey hidden underneath is another great way of hiding the vibrant granny hair.

If your boss notices, you can possibly try to claim that you are working so hard… you’re aging early!

11. Vibrant Dip-Dye Hair by Style NA Korean Salon

If your workplace is more flexible, you can consider the more obvious dip dye which allows you to test out a vibrant colour without committing to colouring your entire hair at one go!

Thinking of making that hair appointment for your vibrant hair colour?

Before you do that, read our next article on how you can maintain your vibrant hair colour for a longer period of time to see if you are ready to make that commitment!

Vibrant hair colours are trending and it’s not hard to guess why! They are absolutely beautiful to look at and adds colour to the wearer’s personality.

But visual aesthetic aside, it is not easy to maintain vibrant hair colours!

Those who try it for the first time may be surprised at how fast the colour fades within the first few washes.

To keep your colours from fading and help you get the “best value” of your vibrant hair colour, read on to see what our local hair experts say about maintaining the hair colour!

1. Make sure that you get pre-treatment and post-treatment during the hair service!

Lightening / bleaching is required when colouring your hair vibrant colours and this can result in hair being severely damaged.

Use the right pre-treatment and post-treatment to ensure the colour stays on longer and to minimize the damage!

We also hear from Picasso Hair Studio that adding some of these pre-treatments can sometimes reduce the number of bleaches required to achieve the vibrant colours, thereby minimizing hair damage.

Some notable brands of such pre-treatments include Olaplex / Cureplex / Continuum

All three are bond multipliers which help to multiply bonds to strengthen the hair and prevent breakage during the bleaching process!

These treatments are offered in many salons such as Picasso Hair Studio, 99 Percent Hair Studio, Artica Hair Studio , Chez Vous Hair Salon and Clover Hair Boutique.

They are often offered it as an add-on to their usual vibrant colour service. For some salons, it is included as part of the overall price!

2. Choose the Right Hair Colour Brand

On top of getting the right pre-treatment / post-treatment, salons have told us that different brands of vibrant hair colours last for different lengths of time.

CLEO Hair & Make have recently switched to PRAVANA Hair Colour and found that PRAVANA colours are more vibrant and last longer than the previous brand of hair colour used.

Incidentally, Pravana is also the brand of hair colour endorsed by celebrity stylist Guy Tang.

So do check them out if you are thinking of doing a vibrant hair colour!

3. Wash your hair as infrequently as possible!

Vibrant hair colour is not just a hair colour… it’s a lifestyle choice!

If you want your vibrant colour to last, you HAVE to make sacrifices… and the first sacrifice you have to make is the frequency of hair wash!

If there is only one tip you remember from this entire article, let this be the ONE.

Wash your hair AS INFREQUENTLY AS POSSIBLE and wash a maximum of once every three days (go for as long as a week in between if you can!)  

Do this and we can guarantee that your hair colour will last for weeks (even months!)

It may sound difficult especially in hot and humid Singapore but once you figured out a routine to keep your hair refreshed, it may not be as difficult as you think.

Some tips to help you:

1) Keep your hair tied up so it doesn’t get tinged with your sweat as much

2) Use a Dry Shampoo in between washes if you really need to get rid of the oil!

3)  Your Scalp gets drier as you bleach more often

So if you decide to continually bleach your hair, you will probably get used to not washing your hair more easily!

4. Use a colour-protection shampoo

On the few times you actually get to wash your hair, make sure that you’ve gotten the right products for it: Colour Protection shampoo / conditioner.  Some of these shampoos include special ingredients such as UV filters to prevent premature colour fading as well as zinc gluconate or linseed oil to lock in the colour longer. So do ask your stylist which colour shampoo best suits you!

If you have granny / grey colours, Picasso Hair Studio recommends that you invest in a silver shampoo or a Violet shampoo as these shampoos are specially formulated to protect your silver hair colour!

5. Wash your hair with cold water

On the days that you actually do wash your hair, remember to do so with COLD WATER.

Hot water opens the hair follicle and this causes the hair dye to wash out faster.

You don’t have to to wash your hair with freezing cold water, lukewarm or room temperature water will make a difference too.

6. Condition your hair before shampooing it… then Condition it again!

Healthy hair holds colour longer, moisture is key.

We hear that hair is strengthened and more moisturized if conditioner is applied BEFORE and AFTER shampooing as it helps to seal the hair cuticles.

So do try that to keep your hair moisture in!

7.  Always apply a sunscreen for hair

Harmful rays from the sun isn’t only harmful for your face!

Together with humidity and oxygen, UV rays can also cause colours to fade!

Before you get out into the sun, you should also consider applying UV protection for your hair!

8.      Avoid swimming!

Chlorine and seawater can be very damaging for your hair… and washes out hair colour really fast!

So if you want to keep your hair colour as long as possible, you are going to want to skip the visits to the beach or pool for a swim.

Seen on Flickr

9. Choose a vibrant hair colour design that can incorporate blonde bleached colour at hair regrowth!

Hair regrowth can be really annoying and may cost a lot to recreate the design.

To extend the life of your vibrant colour design, consider asking your stylist to create a hair design that can incorporate blonde bleached colour at the areas of hair regrowth?

In her previous hair colour, Agent JJ coloured her hair in March 2015. To cope with her hair regrowth, she bleached her hair in between to recreate the purple ombre effect.

This has allowed Agent JJ’s Hair Colour to last more than 6 months… which is to us an amazing feat!

It may be tempting to get vibrant hair colours but it is definitely not an easy job to maintain it!

Do your research to make sure that the money and time spent on vibrant hair colour is worth it!

Know of other ways to maintain vibrant hair colours?

Let us know in the comments below!

Christmas, New Year and even Chinese New Year are coming in just a few weeks!

You may not be the type to go for vibrant hair colours but you should definitely consider some hair services to texturize your hair and help it regain your hair health…

BEFORE the CNY surcharges kick in in 2016!

This week, we have Agent AG taming her wavy frizzy curls with the latest C-Curl MUCOTA Omega Therapy treatment at one of our trusted salons Focus Hairdressing!

Check out how Focus managed to transform her hair from unpresentable to commercial worthy in a single hair visit!

November 2015

A little introduction about me for folks at Beauty Undercover: I’m Agent AG and I have a day job working as a Business Development Manager.

In my free time, I like to blog about my honest opinion on hair and beauty products and occasionally services with my sister at our blog here!

My last hair service was Keratin Treatment which helped to control my hair services for about 3-6 months.

It looks okay from the front but just look at my hair from the back!

BEFORE: See how wavy and frizzy my natural hair is.

It is way too long as well!

After more than 6 months of neglect, my hair has started to go back to its natural “kinky” state!

It was time to give my hair a well-deserved makeover. I read about Volume Rebonding on Beauty Undercover and that got me interested in some alternative forms of rebonding.

Instead of just straight hair, could I possibly perm the ends as well?

I got in touch with Agent G who recommended me to try out Focus Hairdressing. Focus Hairdressing is located in the Cuppage area, close to Somerset. The salon is quite hidden away and located somewhere behind Orchard Point.

If I wasn’t looking for it, I would definitely not have seen a salon here!

The salon itself is rather spacious. Due to the floor plan, it has an elongated sitting area. I like it that the chairs are not put too close to each other.

The large mirror in front of the seating area also allows you to fully see what is going on.

Consultation

The hairstylist assigned to me was Yahnie. She has 8 years of experience in the industry, so I felt reassured that she would be doing my hair.

When I arrived, she was actually still doing another customer’s hair… this is how busy Focus Hairdressing was!

I waited for some time before she came over for a consultation.

She assessed my hair and said that my hair is quite “stubborn”. The traditional definition of volume rebonding (ie. rebonding and perming all at one go) will not work as well for me as volume rebonding will not be able to control my frizz and waves well enough.

Instead, she recommended doing a C Curve Rebonding in a two step process: Rebonding the top part of my hair and perming the ends for the C Curls.

The chemical chosen was MUCOTA Omega Therapy, which happens to be MUCOTA’s latest range of hair chemicals.  This is a type of rebonding treatment that also includes moisturizing treatments to ensure that the hair is well protected during the rebonding!

Focus Hairdressing actually offers three types of Mucota treatments:

1) Mucota Rebonding,

2) Mucota Dyna Argan Oil Straightening, and

3) Mucota Omega Therapy.

For my hair type and desired hair look, the Mucota Omega Therapy was recommended. The MUCOTA Omega Therapy is the most advanced hair treatment from Mucota to date as the chemicals are stronger than DYNA in controlling frizz and waves and yet has the most treatment chemicals to ensure that the hair is not damaged. Read more about MUCOTA vs other chemicals here if you want to find out more!

Other than C Curve Rebonding, Yahnie also suggested that I cut some inches off so that the C-curls would be more obvious.

I was more than happy to chop off my hair, since the ends have been quite dry!

Starting the Rebonding Process

STEP 1: Shampooing of the hair

Yahnie assessed my natural hair before hair washing.

I felt that the hair wash here is rather normal. Probably can’t compare to the other Orchard salons but is rather alright.

STEP 2: Hair cut

Yahnie cut quite a few inches off and gave my hair a U-shape so that the C-curls would be more prominent.

STEP 3: Apply CS+1 Pre-Treatment

Next, she applied CS+1 treatment all over my hair. The first of many to come…

STEP 4: Straightening Cream

Yahnie applied the straightening cream section by section. What this cream does is that it breaks the bonds of your natural hair structure, so that it will be ready for “restructuring”.

To protect my exposed skin such as ears and neck, aluminium foils were used!

For other people, the straightening cream requires just about 20-30 minutes for the bonds to break. However, my hair was so stubborn that it wouldn’t budge! To make sure that the hair is properly treated, Yahnie had to apply more straightening cream to those problematic areas.

I am glad that she knew what she was doing and took steps to make sure that my hair will turn out well.

Yahnie paid attention to the nature of my hair, and noticed that my hair required more straightening cream.

In the end, this particular step took almost an hour.

I also note that the straightening cream does have the usual chemical smell. But it was not too overwhelming.

STEP 5: Rinse the hair

STEP 6: Applying Treatment No. 2

The MUCOTA CS+2 treatment was sprayed on to further nourish and protect the hair before the next step.

This spray treatment did not have any scent.

STEP 7: Blow-drying of hair

The next step is to mould the hair into the desired shape but before that can happen, my wet hair needs to be blow dried!

Yahnie used a round brush to blow dry my hair. She was gentle and took time to dry my hair completely.

STEP 8: Flat iron

Section by section, Yahnie began to straighten my hair.

FYI, the flat iron was set at around 200 degrees Celsius. I was glad to hear this, because this temperature would not damage my hair too much.

Because of her skills and techniques, Yahnie was able to straighten my thick and wavy hair, to make it look silky straight!

For those who think that this is too straight for me, don’t worry!

She will be adding some curls at the next step…

STEP 9: Digital perm of the ends

She used rollers to curl the ends of my hair. The rollers she used was the medium-sized ones to create nice C-curls.

Then it was set for about 25 minutes.

The meticulous her did not forget about my bangs!

As she did not want the bangs to be too curly, the bangs were merely curled and not heated up to a higher temperature.

This was what it looked like after her meticulous curling!

Doesn’t it look good?

* thumbs up *

STEP 10: Applying the Cream and Liquid Neutralizers

Now that the curls are all set, it is time to set the hairstyle with neutralizers.

First the initial rollers are removed.

New rollers are then fixed before neutralizers are applied.

Interestingly, Focus Hairdressing uses two different types of neutralizers. One, a cream neutralizer and second, a liquid neutralizer. The cream neutralizer is more effective for stubborn sections of hair like mine whereas liquid neutralizer is used for sections with more damaged hair as it is not as strong.

This special technique could be the reason why so many customers are happy with the rebonding and perming at Focus Hairdressing (since they are good at dealing with all types of hair!)

Yahnie allowed the neutralizers to work on my hair for about 10 minutes.

STEP 11: Rinse off the neutraliser

STEP 12: Post-Treatment

Yahnie applied the MUCOTA CS+3 treatment at the sink.

It was left on for 2-3 minutes and had a peachy scent.

STEP 13: Blow dried hair and styling

In this step, Yahnie taught me the proper way to dry my hair. She imparted her know-hows to best style my fringe and c-curls.

To create a more voluminous look, she also shared with me a secret of hers that she shares only with her customers… blow dry my hair ends with a round brush like this to create beautiful C curls!

Just a reminder of my hair before the process.

How it looked like AFTER

Conclusion

The whole rebonding and treatment process took more than FOUR HOURS.

Yes, it was a long time but it was SO worth it! Do note that my natural hair is very unruly, and rather dense, thus the longer than expected treatment time.

My hair feels SO soft and shiny afterwards… that it actually looks commercial-worthy for the first time!

My sister, MG, who is usually unimpressed by my hair, said my new hair-do looks nice!

I like the C-curls that Yahnie created for me. It makes my hair look less boring than the usual pin-straight rebonded hair. The curls are so pretty, not too tight and not too loose.

Somehow, I feel that my whole image looks more polished now. The shoulder-length hair also made me look younger and fresher! According to Yahnie, this look should last for a minimum of 3-4 months, making this treatment really worth it!

Another thing that I like about Mucota Omega Therapy is that my hair did not smell awful afterwards. There was one time after I did soft rebonding, a guy friend commented that my hair smelled like Chlorine in swimming pools. It made me really self-conscious then. With Mucota Omega Therapy, the people around me did not mention of the chemical smell. Yay!

I would definitely recommend C-Curls and Mucota Omega Therapy at Focus Hairdressing.

Personally, I felt that Yahnie did such a great job with my hair!

I LOVE my soft and silky hair!

My hair is so soft, I cannot help but touch it

With Yahnie’s C Curl Rebonding, I now take a shorter time to get ready in the morning and I really appreciate that!

By the way, the MUCOTA Omega Rebonding cost $288 at Focus Hairdressing regardless of hair length, which is possibly the cheapest you can find in Singapore! Given that it really helped me manage my unruly curls, I think its a great service that is more than worth it!

The only thing to note is that Focus Hairdressing can get really busy especially during weekends and after work so be prepared to wait even if you have an appointment! (and try not to walk in because there may not be able to slot you in!)

As your wedding planning enters its final stretch,  don’t forget to nourish your skin to look radiant on your wedding day!

For those who are wondering what to do for your wedding, consider trying the Guasha Facing Toning + Oxy Spray from Geranium Skin Boutique!

Read below to see what the facial is all about.

Hello! I’m Agent LB.

Nope, I’m not a blogger…  I’m a Clinical Research Associate at a pharmaceutical company.

I’m actually getting married later in December 2015. As Geranium Skin Boutique was looking for someone to share their wedding preparation experience with Geranium, I was more than happy to oblige!

My Journey with Geranium

Unlike other bloggers who may be trying out salons for the first time, I have actually been with Geranium Skin Boutique for the last 2 years. (Yes, I am a full paying customer!)

I first saw them from a CLEO magazine which mentioned about Guasha, a technique I read about in beauty articles and always wanted to try!

I decided to come by for a trial visit two years ago and I must say that  I left Geranium impressed!

Other than the warm comfortable interior and soothing music, Geranium was able to help me deal with my skin care issues: dark eye circles, uneven skin tone as well as the occasional break outs.

The order and routine of the facial was also done very well as I am not left alone in the room most of the time. Unlike facials done at other salons when the therapist will disappear a lot to prepare masks or to retrieve items needed for the facial, the therapists at Geranium barely needs to leave the room. This results in a lot less disturbances and a more restful experience… that always leaves me them feeling like I just went for a spa session.

I am also very satisfied with the service as I value a stress free and comfortable environment that Geranium provides. The therapists at Geranium did not push sales and did not made me feel bad about myself in order to make me sign any packages.

Due to all the reasons above, I chose to sign up a package with them that includes extraction, guasha facial and a hydrating mask to deal with my skincare issues. To prepare for my wedding, I also added on the Guasha Eye Treatment which really helped me reduce my dark eye circles!

To give you an idea of how a typical facial is like for me, read more about my experience below!

October 2015

I usually make an appointment with Geranium right after work and this time was no exception.

I rushed to Geranium right after work and was escorted to the treatment room immediately.

No sales talk required since I already have a package with Geranium and they already know what to do with my skin.

As Geranium helps me maintain my skin quite well there isn’t any major skin issue right now. My face is however a little puffy so I hope that this session can help reduce some of the puffiness around the eyes and perhaps also tone my face a little.

June is my usual therapist. She prepared a robe for me and ensured that I was comfortable before proceeding to perform the facial on me.

Step 1: Calming Massage

Instead of delving straight into the facial, June always gives me a relaxing calming massage to start things off and make me feel comfortable.

It is probably one of the steps I enjoy the most as it is very relaxing!

She gives a great shoulder massage as well.

Come to think about it, Geranium is one of the salons that makes me feel most pampered as they give a lot of facial and shoulder massages during the facial itself!

Step 2: Cleansing

Once the massages are over, June began to cleanse my face and prepare my skin for the facial.

Step 3: Microdermabrasion

June began the microdermabrasion from the neck before proceeding to my face!

Frankly, this is the first time I’ve tried Microdermabrasion. From what I hear from June, microdermabrasion effectively sloughs off dead cells, evens skin tone and prepares the skin for further absorption.

I don’t have it in my usual facial package but I may consider including it since it doesn’t feel uncomfortable at all!

It also helps to make my skin look brighter.

Step 4: Extraction

After the Microdermabrasion, June would cleanse my face again to prepare for the next step: Extraction!

This is probably the most painful part of the entire facial, especially if you have lots of stubborn blackheads.

June is however already very gentle so it doesn’t feel so bad.

To soothe the face afterwards, June will usually apply cotton pads with toner and leave it on for some time.

Step 5: Essential Oils and Massage

After the extraction, it is time to pamper my skin and reward myself with some essential oils and facial massage.

The essential oils are really calming while the massage lulls me back to sleep.

Step 6: Guasha on the Face!

This is Geranium’s signature facial and I would say, probably the reason why I signed up with Geranium in the first place.

The Guasha massage is really comfortable and not painful at all and best of all, really helps to tone my face!

Before: Right, After: Left

Not sure if you can see that my cheekbone area is actually a lot more defined on the left!

Before: Left, After: Right

Even when I lie down, the difference is actually visible. The left is a little more puffy than the right side of my face!

Of course, June will continue to do the Guasha until both sides of my face are balanced but I’m glad to report that this effect lasts for a week or so!

Step 6: Guasha on the Eye!

Next up is the Guasha for my eyes!

This is the extra treatment I added for my usual facial.

This helps to keep my eyebags away and somehow always manages to relieve the tiredness from my eyes!

Overall, I really like Guasha (for both my face and eyes)! Unlike botox or other treatments that may be invasive and leave long lasting side effects, Guasha is an all-natural way to activate the body’s system to help maintain my youth and skin’s firmness!

Step 7: Ultrasound and Serum

After the Guasha, June applied a serum rich with hyaluronic acid on me. Just in case you are not familiar with hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid is naturally present in the human body and is essential as a cushion and lubricant in joints and other tissues. It is a wonderful moisturizer to hydrate the skin and helps to repair any imperfects on the skin!

To make sure that it penetrates into the deeper layers of the skin, ultrasound is used!

The ultrasound can be a little cold so take note of that!

Step 8: Apply Eye and Facial Masks!

Yay! Yet another Facial Massage after the Ultrasound and Serum.

As I’ve said, I love it that Geranium gives so much facial massages!

After the facial massage, the eye mask is applied. This eye mask is customized to my skin type to give my eyes exactly what I need. This particular eye mask is slightly green as it contains broccoli extracts to prompt collagen regeneration and improve my overall skin moisture!

Next, the facial mask is prepared.

According to June, the facial mask is also green as it contains algae extracts and essential amino acids to promote collagen and elastic synthesis and hydrates the skin as well!

After mixing the mask, June carefully applies the mask to the rest of my face!

While waiting for the mask to dry, I like it that June doesn’t leave the room.

Instead, she gives me a nice and long shoulder and head massage that makes me feel ultra pampered!

With the number of massages they give, a facial here definitely feels more like a spa experience!

Step 9: Oxy Spray

After about 10-15 minutes, the mask was ready to be removed.

June cleansed my face again to make sure all remnants of the masks are removed.

My facial would usually end here but today, June included a special segment that she think would help make my face even brighter: Oxy Spray!

So this is how it looks like!

It is a machine that literally sprays out oxygen! Oxygen plays an important role in all skin functions. When cells are oxygenated, they are able to perform at its optimum, promoting natural cell renewal and rejuvenation.  This spray therefore aims at oxygenating the cells to help me achieve a more supple and radiant complexion.

It was a little strong at first and you may feel that it is harder to breathe. However, a few moments into the procedure, I got used to it!  Just think… I’m having pure oxygen penetrate my face!

After a while, I even began breathing in deeply to get in as much “goodness” from the increased level of oxygen in the air!

Step 10: Moisturizer

I know that the visit is coming to an end when June applied moisturizer and wiped me clean with a warm towel.

So this is how I look before and after!

Before: Left, After: Right

My skin feels more refreshed and my face a little less puffy as compared to before. My cheeks are also a little more defined especially in person!

At the end of the visit, June would share with me what she did during the visit.

There is no hard selling at all or despicable tactics I hear from other salons e.g. merging two treatments into one.

That is why I feel really comfortable at Geranium!

Guasha was the major reason why I tried Geranium but the consistent and excellent service here is the reason why I choose to stay.

On top of seeing my skin condition get better, I always feel pampered each time I come to Geranium with the many massages and good service.

As the wedding date approaches, I appreciate the facials here more and more as they relax me and keep my facial condition at its best.

This is why I would unequivocally recommend Geranium whether you are preparing for wedding or merely wish to help your skin become better.  In fact, some of my friends have become loyal customers with Geranium like I have for the very same reasons.

Hope you find my sharing about Geranium Skin Boutique useful!

It is not always easy to tell if a haircut is good or bad. Whether you like a haircut or not can be be a subjective question.

However, there are times when a haircut is just plain wrong… or rather technically wrong even by fellow stylists.

So how do YOU tell if a haircut is just BAD?

To give you some ideas, we asked experts from Chez Vous Hair Salon to share some of the worst haircuts they’ve seen on their Expertligent Fix You Programme, a programme they’ve initiated to help customers fix their hair after a bad hair service at other salons!

Sign #1: Uneven Weight Distribution

Ever seen a haircut with obvious chunks of hair at the wrong places? When certain portions have more “shadow” than other portions or the gradation of the hair has sudden “breakage” or “interruptions”?

This is known as uneven weight distribution and is usually the underlying factor of a bad haircut.

It is not hard to spot a bad haircut with uneven weight distribution. The haircut is often unintentionally asymmetrical.

The above example is an example from the Expertliigent Fix You Program.

There are a lot of things wrong with the above haircut but one of the major mistakes is uneven weight distribution. The left side of the hair is shorter than the right. Even from the back, the haircut is not symmetrical with weight unevenly distributed. 

What it is supposed to look like

Even though the hair is styled asymmetrically, the overall haircut is symmetrical in many ways from the nape all the way to the crown.

The hair can be styled in the middle or with a side parting and it will still look good.

A good hairdresser will distribute the weight of your hair while taking into consideration your head shape, hair growth pattern and texture; not just your hair density.

Sign #2: Badly Formed Hair Shapes

As the foundation of haircutting, the shape of the cut is very important.  A well-formed shape will mean that the hairstyle will not lose its shape fast.

Here are some examples of well-formed shapes:

As you can see above, the hair will naturally frame the face in a recognizable shape (especially bob for females) that ideally complements the face shape.

It is however often too late to stop a stylist by the time the bad hair shape is formed.

Therefore a tip for you to stop the stylist in the nick of time is… to check if the stylist knows how to section the hair well!

A good stylist will know exactly how to section the hair at the beginning for a structured cut.

Sectioning refers to how the stylist systematically divides the hair into different sections to begin cutting and designing the haircut he is looking for.

If your stylist does not section the hair properly or start to run their texturizing scissors all over the hair, you should consider bolting out the door as this is definitely a recipe for disaster!

Sign #3: Fuzzy Hair Lines

A haircut should ideally have clean straight or slanted lines (either soft or hard).

Example of Clean Hard Line

Example of Soft Lines

That said, not everyone can have clean lines as many of us have jumpy hairline, wavy hair texture or uneven hair density.

In Singapore, the humidity also causes our hair to be unruly, which is why retexturing services, styling products and maintenance play an important role.

In the makeover above, Jolene was given the Amplified Keratin Treatment to smoothen her natural waves together with a soft bob cut to give her a neater hairstyle with more defined lines. This helps to make her look more empowering!

Tip: A good hairdresser will carefully assess your hair first before cutting. He or she should be able to advise you on whether certain styles will suit you or not based on the nature of your hair.

Sign #4: Not Properly Blended

Unless you are talking about specific trendy haircuts, blending is crucial for most haircuts, whether for men or ladies.

Blending promotes movement and also ensures that the haircut last longer.

How do you spot a haircut that is not properly blended?

Well, it is pretty easy to tell. A badly blended haircut will have visible demarcations and sudden chunks of hair like what you see in the above Expertligent Fix You case.

A properly blended haircut will have no visible lines of separation. When viewed from the side or back, you should see no lines or dark spots. From the front, there should be nothing sticking out. On the top, you should see no lines resulting from your barber or stylist picking up the hair and cutting it between his fingers – a good hairstylist will always cross-check the top from front-to-back and side-to-side.

Sign #5: Bad Contouring

A bad haircut is one that does not complement one’s facial features.

For example, if the customer has a long face shape, the fringe should not start from the top point, otherwise the long length of the fringe will elongate the face shape further.

Seen on Flickr

There are many more negative examples. That is why it is important to find an experienced stylist with strong technical skill to help you bring out the best of your facial features!

Fixing a Technically Bad Haircut

Don’t despair even if the haircut you just got is really bad! It is NOT the end of the world!

There is always something that can be done to salvage the cut or at least something that can be done to make it better… if you manage to get your hair seen by the experts at Chez Vous Hair Salon!

For the past year, Chez Vous Hair Salon has been helping many people fix their hair under the Chez Vous Expertligent Fix You Program. With their amazing skill, the directors managed to transform the hair of many distressed men and ladies into hairstyles they are now proud to sport.

Read on if you want to see what Chez Vous did for two botched haircuts they rescued in October 2015!

Case 1: The Haircut Where Everything Went WRONG

On 18^th October 2015, Chez Vous received a SOS email from Ms M regarding her unsatisfactory haircut she had gotten from one of the reputable salons near her work place.

Ms M had previously bleached her hair and over-processed it. Hence, she was hoping to get a trim to get rid of the frizzy portions while retaining her chic asymmetric bob. The main objective of the cut communicated to the previous stylist was to tame her hair. Unfortunately, the end result was far from what she expected.

Since it was not possible to remove all the fried hair portions without going too short, Associate Salon Director, Thomas Teo decided to soften the lines to diffuse the attention away from the frizziness.

The Transformation

Stylist in charge: Thomas Teo

Thomas was shocked when he first saw the state of Ms M’s hair… Everything from weight distribution to blending was done incorrectly!

As it was not possible to remove all the fried hair portions without going way too short, Thomas decided to soften the lines to diffuse the attention away from the frizziness.

The Result

A soft asymmetrical pixie cut that frames and emphasizes Ms M’s features while taking away attention from Ms M’s damaged hair!

Before vs After

Case 2: From Zero to Hero

On 10^th October 2015, Chez Vous received a SOS email from Mr K regarding his one-day old haircut. Mr K regularly gets his hair cut at one of the express-cut salons since it is near his house and the result is usually acceptable. However, that particular day his regular stylist was unavailable and he tried a new stylist … that’s when his nightmare began.

Mr K felt that his new hairstyle was unmanageable and unsuitable for work. His usual haircut allowed him to style his hair within minutes for work. However, with the new haircut, it was impossible to style without looking messy. His biggest dissatisfaction was that the new haircut appeared to have a lot of “holes” and made him look like he was balding.

The Transformation

Stylist in charge: Oscar

This was a really tough fix for Associate Salon Director, Oscar as there wasn’t much hair left to work on. To create the illusion of more hair, Oscar trimmed certain portions of the hair.

Next, a body perm was done to conceal the gaps.

The end result was another big transformation that gave Mr K his confidence back.

Other than being professional and wearable for work, the perm actually made him look a lot more stylish!

Notice also how Oscar’s haircut and perm changed the shape of  his hair to better suit his face shape!

Before vs After

Tip: A body perm is also recommended for men with hair loss problems.

Our Thoughts

A haircut can make or break your overall style, affect your image and self confidence.

A $10 express cut can cost you a lot more, particularly if you count the costs of emotional distress and loss of pride from a higher risk of bad haircuts.

It is therefore important to look for a reliable stylist especially before the festive season begins… as any mistake will be captured in dreaded photos in big gatherings with friends and family!

Ms M and Mr K was fortunate to have their hair fixed by Chez Vous Expertligent Fix You programme but not everyone will be so lucky to have their hair fixed by the professional hair directors at Chez Vous.

Also, the programme will be temporarily halted during Chez Vous’ peak period from 15 December 2015 to 13 February 2016… so you have to make sure that your hair is not botched during this crucial period!

Instead of needing to get your hair fixed, consider going for a worry-free hair service at Chez Vous Hair Salon or other similarly high quality salons to make sure that your hair is done right the first time.

Even if the haircut is not technically wrong, you may still NOT like the haircut if the haircut does not suit you, your lifestyle or your work.

Look out for our next piece on our exclusive tips on what you can do to avoid a bad haircut!

For those who’ve read our last article on how to spot a bad haircut, you know how disastrous a bad haircut can be!

Other than a technically bad haircut, you may still not find a haircut satisfactory if it doesn’t suit your needs, personality or styling regime.

We have therefore consulted with Chez Vous Hair Salon who has kindly provided us with these 5 tips to help you get the best of your haircuts!

1. Share your Profession with your Stylist during Consultation

The hair forms a big part of your professional image. Your haircut therefore has to be compatible with your image both at work and after work.

A good haircut can help high-powered working professionals look authoritative, relationship managers look more approachable and lawyers more trustworthy.

Hensley, for example, was able to help Karina look more refreshed and confident with an empowering and striking mod cut!

That is why we would highly recommend you to share your professional as well as intended projected image with your stylist if you have one in mind. This can help your stylist design a more profession-appropriate hairstyle rather than a stunning creative haircut that may not be suitable for you at work!

2. Take note of personal hair habits and styling regime

Do you tie your hair often? Do you go for water sports regularly? Do you have time to put on some hair serum and moisturizer?

Certain haircuts tend to require more maintenance than others. A Pixie Haircut for example may require some simple styling every morning particularly if your hair texture is naturally straight.

It is therefore important that you share these important details with your stylist so that he can create a cut that best suits your face shape AND your lifestyle. After all, he may be able to create a technically perfect cut but if an active mom is unable to tie her hair up without having strands of hair falling on her face, she will still find the cut unsatisfactory.

3. Share your expectations with your stylist

Is there some part of yourself you are more sensitive about e.g. double chin, bigger-than-normal ears? Square shaped face?

Or are you looking for a major change to help you start over a new chapter in your life?

If you have any such expectations, do share them with your stylist so that he can better design a cut to better suit your expectations.

Jasmine, for example, was a little sensitive about her protruding ears. Hensley therefore gave her an asymmetric bob to take attention away from her ears and to complement her oval face shape.  The end result is a chic professional look!

Do however be sure of your expectations! You may be thinking of a drastic makeover but may not actually be mentally prepared. If you have any such uncertainties, do also inform your stylist so that he can perhaps give you a longer than expected cut and then trim it again afterwards if you are ready for a more daring cut.

4.  Don’t just rely on your stylist… research on the type of haircuts you are looking for!

A picture says a thousand words. It can be often difficult to communicate to your stylist about the type of haircut you are looking for so it is best to do some basic research on the type of haircuts you are looking for and share your preferences with your stylist!

For those of you looking for a short haircut, here are some examples of haircut styles  that you may be looking for. Of course, do also read about whether the haircut is suitable for you here!

Regardless, be open to your stylist’s suggestions especially if you are looking for a creative cut that complements your face shape and personality!

5. Read Reviews on Beauty Undercover

Every stylist has their individual haircutting styles. Their skill level at judging facial features and giving a satisfactory cut also differs.

As the quality of the haircut hinges mostly on the stylist, do read reviews on Beauty Undercover to see which stylist best suits your needs!

Are these tips from Chez Vous Hair Salon useful for you in getting a great haircut?

Let us know if you have any more tips below!

As Christmas is round the corner, we’ve sent our Agents down to try out different texturizing treatments ahead of the anticipated Christmas and New Year rush.

For those looking for a more manageable volume rebonding, we had the C Curl Omega Rebonding for Agent AG previously.

For those looking for a more voluminous perm, we have the Glamorous S Curl Volume Perm by Act Point Salon for Agent D.

Read more about her experience below!

November 2015

Hi there! I’m Agent D, Marketing Communications Manager for a local brow salon in Singapore.

I participate in various pageants in my free time and am fortunate to win the awards for Miss Bikini Asia Singapore 2014/2015 and Miss Soteria Singapore 2015.

As I’m working in the frontline and often go for the pageants, it was important for me to have a hairstyle that complements my overall look.

Therefore, six months ago, I researched extensively on the Internet. As a hair amateur, I was deeply confused over the terms digital perm, ceramic perm and Korean perms, etc. Fortunately, I discovered Beauty Undercover’s article on Differences between the different type of perms. I also read reviews and forums and found that Ceramic Perms do indeed last longer than digital perms. After reading a lot online, I decided to make an appointment with Act Point Salon.

My First Experience with Act Point Salon

The place is nestled within the ground floor of Shaw Towers, which is right behind Intercontinental / Bugis Junction.

Shaw Towers itself looked a little more rundown than the more modern Bugis Junction but is still fairly alright.

When I first entered, Act Point was buzzing with customers. The salon itself isn’t very spacious but with the amount of conversation and smiles going around, Act Point reminded me of a salon with a strong family atmosphere among its stylists.

The stylist who attended to me was Sylvia. Many times, I hear people mentioning that they fear that the curls turn out too “Aunty-looking” or too mature. Therefore I told Sylvia that I wanted wavy, beach hair with the large curls.

It’s a pity I didn’t take a proper photo then but here’s a photo SIX months after the perm.

If it looked like that after 6 months, imagine how lusciously beautiful it was 6 months ago!

It looked so good that I had many strangers approaching to ask where I had my curls done.

As I was going for a vacation to New Zealand and because I was selected to represent Singapore in Miss Tourism World 2016, I thought that it was well past time to freshen my curls!

So here I’m back to Act Point Salon yet again!

Consultation during the Second Visit

I’m glad to have Sylvia as my stylist yet again in this second visit!

She checked my hair condition and we talked about the style I was looking for.

I was considering a volume rebonding but after consultation with Sylvia, we decided to go ahead with the Volume S Curl Perm instead.

She would also be trimming a little of my hair for a lighter look!

Hair Wash and Cut

After the consultation, the hair service began with a hair wash and the cut!

If I am not mistaken, Sylvia is actually one of the most experienced haircut specialists in Act Point! Many ladies come to her because of her superior haircut skills… As a great perm starts from a good cut, I can also understand why Sylvia is one of the best in Act Point for perms!

Other than her skill, it was also really easy to talk to Sylvia. Whether you wish to talk about hair or topics other than hair, Sylvia is happy to share her experiences tips and advice!

Application of Perming Lotion

As usual, the next step involves application of perming lotion.

The perming lotion breaks down existing bonds in the hair so that it can be moulded later on.

The perming lotion that Act Point uses is the Shiseido Crystallizing Straight. According to Act Point, Shiseido has continuously improved the formula and has even included hyaluronic acid in its latest formulation to further moisturize the hair!

Act Point Salon stocks the full range of Shiseido Crystallizing Straight from N1 to EX1 and uses different type of chemicals for different parts of the hair.

The stronger solution is used for the healthier roots while the milder solution is used for the hair ends to avoid damaging the hair excessively.

The hair is then left to absorb the solution for about 15-20 minutes before it is washed off!

Creating the Curls

As I specifically requested for curls that last, Sylvia chose medium sized curling rods for me. If large curling rods are used, the curls will very likely turn wavy very fast.

Sylvia however assured me that the curls would not be too small.

For the curling part of the process, I had Bro, another experienced stylist in Act Point to help me with it!

To avoid accidentally burning my scalp, the square foam is put in.

The curling rods are then curled in one by one to achieve the curling effect.

Once complete, the heated wires are plugged in to the curling rods.

Here is me looking like Cinderella!

My hair is left to heat up for about 15 minutes.

Once done, my hair looked like this.

Fret not!

This will gradually unravel into larger curls!

Applying the Neutralizer

The next step is application of the neutralizer.

Unlike the perming lotion which helps to break the hair bonds, the neutralizer will fix the curls that was just created!

After removing the curlers from earlier, new curlers are put in place.

Bro then applied the neutralizing solution on the hair itself.

After about 10-15 minutes, you can start to see the curls gradually forming!

Time for yet another hair wash!

Blowdry

As the blowdry continues, the excitement started building up.

I can’t see the final result yet but my hair looked so healthy and the curls so bouncy (even before the blowdry was done!)

Are you as excited as I am to see the final result?

Just to remind you how I looked like 3 hours earlier:

My hair is a little shorter and curls much stronger now… but I feel that this made me look a lot more feminine (rather than auntie) in my opinion!

Thank you Act Point for the sensual and beautiful S Curl Volume Perm!

This time I think I better prepare some namecards just in case I get stalked in the street for my curls again!

Meanwhile, a shot with the team!

Overall thoughts

It was a wonderful experience with Act Point  Salon and I’m really glad that I made the right choice by calling them.

There was no hard selling from both my experiences with them, only pure professional service and honest expert advice. They mentioned that not everyone is suitable for a perm and that my healthy hair was one of the major reasons why the perm turned out so nice. If you are not sure about whether your hair is suitable, I would recommend you to come down for a complimentary consultation with Act Point. This is a place I know will give you their honest professional advice and not just say whatever it takes to earn your cash!

They may not be the most attentive or luxurious of salons but one could feel that each and every one of the stylists are sincerely doing their best to make all their customers feel comfortable and achieve the look they are looking for.

They also do not skimp on giving you the best products they can offer, something I really appreciate!

Definitely rate it a 5 out of 5, particularly for working professionals looking for affordable, long-lasting curls!

Update: 2 Weeks after Perm

I love going for a perm right before a holiday as the holiday photos look so much better with my newly formed curls!

Looking forward to another 6 months of luscious glamorous curls thanks to Act Point!

Seen on Flickr

The Standard Chartered Marathon is back this year on 5 – 6 Dec 2015.

For those of you who wish to look your best for your finisher photo, we got a few hair and beauty tips to share!

1. Apply Sunblock + BB Cream

Sport Sunscreen from Skinceuticals

Grace from Geranium Skin Boutique reminds us to start with sunblock. The sun is a natural source for vitamin D, which is nourishing for your health but the sun rays can be very damaging to the outside of your skin.

She recommends the Sport Sunscreen from Skinceuticals as it is tested by Marathon runners under extreme athletic conditions and is suitable for rigorous sport activities! The oxybenzone-free broad spectrum sunscreen also provides photostable UVA/UVB protection and is proven to feel comfortable on skin. In addition, it resists wear off from water, wiping and rubbing and is alcohol free, paraben free, and non-comedogenic!

2. Use Lip Balm

Lip balm is a great product to not only protect your lips but also keep them from feeling moist and looking good while running.  Although not specifically made for marathon running, Shiori from NUA Singapore recommends Joik Lipbalm with real honey as it contains carefully selected nourishing oils, butter that tastes sweet and is fantastic at nurturing dry and chapped lips!

3. Use Waterproof Eyeliner

Maki from Queen’s Market advises to not use eye shadow before a race as the extra product may sweat into your eyes while running.

Use an eye pencil for the bottom lash line to help create the illusion of thicker lashes.

After applying a waterproof eyeliner, smudge out the liner a little bit using a brush or sponge. This will help it to stay in place and prevent smudging during your run.

4. Go For Eyelash Extensions

Your eye makeup can get smudged during the marathon from all that sweating.

So, the safest way to make your eyes stand out is to get an eyelash extension!

You can choose to go for maximum volume at KJStudio.

Or even add a colour accent!

5. DIY Hairstyles

Your hair is still the most important frame for your face so make sure you DIY your hairstyle well to get that perfect Finisher Photo!

Skip the usual ponytail, and try out these easy DIY hairstyles that will keep your hair out of the way while you run…

Most of these hairstyles can be done within 10 minutes so you don’t have to sacrifice your beauty sleep too much right before the marathon!

Runner Hairstyle 1: Braids!

Thanks to 99 Percent Hair Studio for helping us with the photos and providing us with the tips!

HOW TO:

1.     Gather 3 chunks of hair loosely.

2.     Begin braiding your hair.

3.     Hold on to your hair before you complete the braid (don’t tie it first!).

4.     Push the braid up by pulling the ends of the unbraided hair.

5.     Secure the braid with a rubber band.

Runner Hairstyle 2: Tie it up in a wraparound ponytail!

Thanks to Art Noise Japanese Hair Salon for helping us with the photos and providing us with the tips!

HOW TO:

1.     Gather a handful of hair on the top half of your head and tie it with a rubber band.

2.     Pinch out hair to create more volume.

3.     Gather the remaining hair, combine with previous handful of hair and make a single ponytail by using another rubber band.

4.     Grab about a fifth of  the ponytail.

5.     Wrap it around the hair tie once.

6.     Wrap it around the hair tie again until you reach the end of that strand of hair.

7.     Secure the end with a bobby pin.

Runner Hairstyle 3: Coil it up in a bun!

Thanks to 99 Percent Hair Studio for helping us with the photos and providing us with the tips!

HOW TO:

1.   Gather all your hair.

2.   Tie your hair in a ponytail facing up.

3.   Use another rubber band to create a loop of hair like the one shown in step 3.

4.   Take the remaining hair and wrap around the loop.

5.   Secure the ends with many bobby pins.

6. Get a Cool Pair of Shades and Cap to match!

If it takes too long for you to go for lash extensions or DIY your own hairstyle, you can always go for the default pro runner must-have: Shades and Cap!

Remember to get polarized shades as that can help protect your eyes from the harmful UV rays!

Seen on Flickr

Hope you’ll find these tips useful as you prepare for the marathon this coming weekend!

Looks aside, please drink lots of water and don’t push yourself too hard!

We wish you all the best!