IQ 101: The Hair Makeover at Salon B Singapore

I am a fussy person when it comes to hair.

I have spent years trying to find the perfect, and I mean perfect, hair designer. No, not stylist. Designer. Someone with a point of view, and the technical know how to back it up.

I have been to expensive salons, celebrity cutters, and even hair academies in the search of that one person that would treat my tresses as importantly as I did.

And a few years ago I found her.

Creative Hair Designer with G-Dragon from the Kpop mega-group Big Bang

Way before everything Korean was cool, there was a humble hair professional who was working as a director at a Japanese salon in Singapore.

Badabing Badaboom, one thing led to another, she left the salon and opened her own, and I followed suit.

It has been a long relationship. And it has never gotten boring.

With legend Vidal Sassoon

She received her training from the legendary Vidal Sassoon, so that should give you an idea about her pedigree. She constantly upgrades her skills and industry knowledge annually with trips to London for related events and developmental courses. So long time clients, and she has many, never gets stuck in a rut.

She gets excited when she gets to show clients future trends. She balances real life needs and creative expression. She is a perfectionist.

Clients have known her to not let them leave the salon until the cut is perfect. And I mean perfect. That does not mean you are stuck in the chair forever, although her client base has been expanding at such a rate that I do wonder how she manages.

What is even more crucial to me is the technicality of the cuts. She understands individual head shapes which is crucial to making sure you don't have a dent in your hair style. Those of you who are salon whores will appreciate it when I say your investment grows out beautifully.

You can only get that from a great, technically sound cut.

She doesn't see herself as a Cutter but a Creative Designer.  And that is what she is.

If I am gushing it is for good reason. I have been to really famous salons around the world. I learned the hard way that you NEVER cheat on the person that cuts your hair. When I know I have to be out of the country for an extended period, I time my hair appointments so that I am with her before I leave and after I come back. I am so confident of her talents that I have sent friends and family to her. Like anyone who has moved from a PC to a Mac, they have never looked back.

Her name is Sunny. From Salon B in Singapore.

Let me share a recent transformation that involved a very good friend, Ms Ho Shee Mun. She decided she wanted a real change, something that was not available or doable anywhere else.  Brave. But we all know that a great hair transformation changes not just the look but the spirit too. This is her story, guided by Sunny.

Let the pictures tell the story.

The Process

Shee Mun Before

Preparing for the makeover!

Sunny working on Shee Mun

Finessing

The Results

Happy Client!

Sunny with a very happy Shee Mun

Shee Mun After

What Sunny did for Shee Mun

• Spring Summer 2013 Trend
• Disconnection Hair Cut
• Round Graduation Under Cut
• Triangle Layer on Top
• Side length kept for feminine appeal 

What this means to us non professionals?

• Bangs that meet up with the sides in a gradual fashion
• Volume at the back, balancing the shape of the head
• Layered to create separation for the Indigo Purple highlights
• Combination and Balance between short and long lengths, best of both worlds
• Easy for growing out hair without much maintenance

The outcome speaks for itself.

She is gorgeous, she walked out of the salon looking and feeling like a renewed person. She had never attempted anything this different. But even though Singapore is so change adverse, change is a good thing. And Shee Mun has gone from having acceptable hair to WOWZAI!

Good for her! If only more women would take the plunge and do something radical to shake up their lives!

Some of you may go gaga when I say Sunny has close ties with the Kpop world, which explains her many pictures with the biggest names in the industry. Other so called Korean salons cannot claim this. But I will be writing a lot more about Salon B and especially Sunny's creative work in future for a different reason.

I believe it is important to encourage Asian design talents and we really have to recognize true creativity when they appear. Let's face it, visionaries are rare.

And Sunny is a visionary.

For more information about Salon B, you can visit these sites.

www.salonb.com.sg
Salon B Facebook

Event: (Update) Canada Philippine Fashion Week

The Canada Philippine Fashion Week, helmed by Uber Creative Genius Jeff Rustia is in full swing. Mr Rustia is currently in Manila working tirelessly on the details of the event, and from the way it has been progressing, Canadians can expect a whole lotta glamor very soon!

They secured Philippines Supermodel and Award Winning Actress Angel Aquino to become the face of the event.

What I love love love about it is that the organizers put her in a Filipino designer John Ablaza original. It is lush, it is grand, it is romantic.

The most admirable thing is that the celebrity power is being used for greater good. Ms Aquino signed posters to be auctioned off for the Kol Hope Foundation for Children, a charity that helps disabled children in both the Philippines and Canada, and a beneficiary of the event.

Supporting fashion = supporting a great cause.  Nothing better than that!

The Star meter is rising people!

You can't expect anything less from a Jeff Rustia event!

Event: Fide - A Fashion Hang Out

What:    A Fashion Hangout
When:   April 12 1800-2300
Where:  The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands Singapore
Why:     Hosted by 'How Do I Look' TV Presenter Jeannie Mai
             Chance to win trips to Paris Couture Week or Fide Fashion Weeks in Singapore

             Just Bloody Fun

Commentary: Diana Vreeland on Fashion, Life and the Eye that Travels

...the words did not flow.

It has been a while since I have written anything for both my blogs. Preparing for my OZNZ 2013 adventure was one reason. The trip itself was another. Right after, the pages remained blank because I was just not inspired.

I have always maintained that one should not say or write anything if one has nothing significant to offer.

And so while the fashion world kept on turning, I just found myself in an unusual spot: voxless by choice.

They say that what you need the most will come when the time is right for you to receive it.

And today, it did.


I chanced upon a new DVD release of a fashion themed movie. It was a documentary of sorts of the late and great Diana Vreeland, the uber editor in chief of Vogue. The unique aspect of this movie was that it was largely narrated by Mrs Vreeland herself, recorded by her biographer before her death.

It was like oral fashion history at its best.

As I watched the stories unfold, about her life in the roaring 20's, her passion for the 60's, and her Hollywood connection of the 70's, I realized that she lived.

She LIVED.

It was clear that she was not one to dwell on disasters, and by her own admission, she never really saw much in her life.

But that is a matter of perspective.

She had a mother that made it clear she was the ugly duckling of the family, one who flirted with her boyfriends.

She earned a paltry $14,000 a year as editor of Harpers Bazaar only to be given a $1,000 raise after years of service.

She lost the love of her life, her husband of 46 years to cancer.

She was fired from Vogue.

And yet this woman had a fullness of life that not many would choose to pursue.

She was once in the same building as Hitler.  She had her night gowns fitted by Coco Chanel. She claimed that Charles Lindberg flew over her estate. She identified and celebrated the cultural significance of the morally shocking bikini.

Certainly her accomplishments are many. She was the precursor of Anna Wintour and unlike popular belief, she was the first fashion editor in chief to recognize the importance of celebrity.

And so, in spite of the challenges in her life, her roll call of achievements seem to overwhelm.

We must have all shared on some level the experiences she went through. And yet, her attitude towards those life events didn't make her falter. Instead of bending to negativity, she used it to her advantage. She was resilient and a survivor, and yet she never credited herself as those things. She was always about what was ahead, never about the rocks and barbs in the path behind her.

When one truly lives, definitions and descriptions have no meaning.

Mrs Vreeland's stand was also 'never be boring'.

And that alone seems to capture the essence of her spirit. It is the joie de vivre that is palpable that even after her death, and through the screen, it just resonates.

And inspires.

It takes a certain nerve, and courage, and yes, balls to be clear about who you are in life, and what you want to do and be. To stand in the face of external perception and the status quo and defy all conventions. To make the world around you work with the vision you have for yourself and for others.

It is more often than not that the world forces its own perceptions and definitions upon you, claiming that the opposite would mean you were worth less.

Not worthless. Just less.

People can't handle originals as well as they can the status quo. They find it hard to embrace change and differences. Individuality, especially in a highly evolving society where one's identity is marked by a bar code, is a commodity used for the masses.

Yet, it is the originals and the individuals that push for change and the acceptance of differences. They force the world to be better, to dream bigger, to learn newness that have never been imagined before.

You see these qualities in people like Steve Jobs, Gandhi, and yes Diana Vreeland.

These people lived their lives with passion. They marched to the beat of their own drum. They had their own style.

And commonly, they were also much maligned.

Being an original isn't something you just write about. It is something you live. Something you are, without apologies. And when it is time for you to depart, you do so with no regrets.

And so the epiphany learned from a fashion icon is this.

I realized that I have apologized for who I am, how I thought, what I chose to be for too long, to appease too many people who, in the final analysis, would have very few lines (if any) in my autobiography if it ever gets written. It then becomes a slow climb upwards. It is unlearning what I have learned, and regaining what I have always known. But most of all, it is living the life that has been destined to be mine from the time of birth.

As Mrs Vreeland says: "There's only one very good life and that's the life you know you want and you make it yourself".

So years after Mrs Vreeland's passing, she is still the lady who challenges people with the simple question "Why Don't You...".

My simple answer is: I shall.

www.dianevreeland.com

Quotations from Diana Vreeland

“There’s nothing more boring than narcissism - the tragedy of being totally… me. We’re all capable of it. And we all know examples of it - these beautiful tragedies…. I loathe narcissism, but I approve of vanity.”

"You know the greatest thing is passion, without it what have you got? I mean if you love someone you can love them as much as you can love them but if it isn't a passion, it isn't burning, it isn't on fire, you haven't lived."
"Style-- all who have it share one thing: originality."

“Style was a standard. Didn’t hurt anyone… But you gotta have style. It helps you get down the stairs. It helps you get up in the morning. It’s a way of life. Without it, you’re nobody. I’m not talking about lots of clothes.”

"I believe you see, in the dream. I think we only live through our dreams and our imagination. That's the only reality we really ever know.”

all pictures are properties of their respective owners

Event: Canada Philippine Fashion Week

It's going to be a first.

Come June 10 right through to June 15, Canada will experience a blast of Filipino fashion. The world's first Canada Philippine Fashion Week will showcase the best in haute couture, fashion, culture and creativity of Filipinos in Canada and the Philippines.

High profile shows of conceptual fashion to haute couture will be in the offing. And they have already roped in some of the best design talents from the Philippines.

It is an East Meets West of a different kind.

Watch this space.

Eye Candy: Asia's Next Top Model Finale (OBOY)

I didn't have much to say.

What needed to be said about NTM (Asia) had been said. And last week's episode didn't rustle up anything surprising to warrant a post.

The finale of the series, just shown tonight, was also unsurprising.  The results were expected, and even hinted by Nadya last week when she warned Kate that her chances of winning would be abysmal if she did not buck up.  So really, it was a battle between Stephanie and Jessica.

I predicted Jessica winning the competition weeks ago. But I did not expect her age to be an issue that needed to be raised, especially since the producers obviously set the age criteria of the competition.  Bringing it up at the end, especially in front of Tyra Banks, only showed that the production may not have thought things through. It was almost like, OOPS you are good but you may be too old. But hang on, YOU put me here. If you get my drift.

Allowing Jessica a chance to explain her 'late start' in the business, was an obvious attempt at tugging at the viewers' heartstrings, and a soft landing for the producers' seeming oversight. The clear winner was Jessica but pushing her through 'in spite' of her age had to have some cushioning.

Truth is, age for an Asian model may not be such a big factor. I remember walking around Ground Zero in New York and screeching in delight when I spotted an ad featuring a model from Singapore's local fashion hey days in the 80's, Nora Ariffin.  I could not have been more proud, especially when I learned she was featured in a Bobbi Brown book. The concept of being past one's prime does not seem to have the same meaning for Asian models.

Nora Ariffin

And so if Tyra Banks really wants to know what makes our girls special, she just needs to see how our girls can remain gorgeous for a very long time.  Call it Asian genetics.

The finale was unexpected in other ways.

For one thing, it would have been more interesting I suppose to have it all done in Hong Kong, where the girls traveled to in the previous week. I suspect though their deal with Resorts World Sentosa included a finale at their newest attraction. Did no one think it was odd to stage a fashion show where Frederick Lee's divine collection had no connection to the fish in the backdrop?  Or that the judges were standing next to a fence that served as a division between the girls and them?

I did enjoy seeing the 'loved ones' appear in the episode. Strategically, their appearance would have made a stronger story arc and impact if they had turned up either in the last episode or a couple earlier. Traditionally in reality TV programming, the appearance of the relatives are meant to give the contestants a second wind in the race to the finish line. Having them right at the end, AFTER the challenge, just seemed like a waste.

Still it was nice to know that Kate's brother was super gorg that spoke no English. Nothing like a hunk from Brazil that looks semi Asian that can't speak English. With those looks, you don't need words. The boyfriends of the the other two contestants give hope to lesser mortals that they should not give up hope as they too can have gorg model gfs.

Looking at the finale episode, with Tyra sitting next to Nadya. I could not help but feel a sense of vicarious pride. Nadya was beaming. Flawless skin. Perfect diction. Confident. Poised. Immaculate.

Tyra is of course, Tyra. And she is great. And maybe she didn't travel with her hair people, and her weave was showing her roots, but there was a marked difference between this gorgeous supermodel and Nadya.  The latter held her own. And it showed.

Gorgeous Nadya in a Kebaya

Nadya also made a huge cultural and fashion statement by wearing a beautiful lace Kebaya for the finale. I was unprepared for this, and my jaw dropped to the ground. Whether it is the stylist's or Nadya's choice, the outfit was sublime. It didn't need to be loud, it didn't need to have a plunging front and back, it just needed Nadya wearing it.

One thing I did think was a misstep during judging was the absence of Daniel Boey in the panel. Now, I am not someone who cuddles up next to him for a job. And those who have been following my writings will remember that I do have issues with favoritism by some of the judges.  But I do believe that casting Daniel was a smart move. But in the end, reducing him to a Jay Manuel sort of position was not.

It just seemed like there was no more space for Daniel after the sponsors and special guest took up 3 chairs. Was the panel crowded? Yes. Was a representative from Storm and Harper's Bazaar necessary? No.

The series was inconsistent from the start about who was supposed to be on the panel. One would think that the people who had been there throughout the journey of the contestants would have been best suited to judge them in their final hour. Tyra was just icing on the cake.

I started out the post saying that the finale was unsurprising. Well I guess that is not entirely accurate. What was expected, the winner, should be still hailed as appropriate, considering Jessica never played house politics, was consistent, hardworking, helpful and a great representative of an Asian model when she gets to London. And who can deny her after she dropped the coat to reveal the back of the dress during the catwalk. I mean, seriously? She did what a model should be doing. SELL THE FRACKING DRESS!

As expected as her win was, her closing statement was, well a pleasant surprise.

"If you love it, you can do it."

Now isn't that a pearl of wisdom you can keep in your pocket.

Eye Candy: Asia's Next Top Model Kicks Out Another Ethnic Asian

One would think when a reality competition gets closer to the finale, the blood starts to boil, the heart pumps faster and the sweat goes from beads to oil slicks.

Goodbye Gorgeous

Sadly, from 5 to 4 girls, the last episode was not so.  Which is why it has taken this long for me to even say anything.

On one hand, one could say that the show is a pleasant watch. After all, what else is on TV that is in the same category that, in the very least, is competent in production standards?

On the other hand, the show is also so 'sweet' that it does not really motivate appointment viewing.

And yet, then again, the 'sweetness' is an unintended by-product that may become the calling card of the program.

From the car / moving visual challenge (just call it for what it is, a TVC / Promo paid for by the car company), to the jump around like a loon challenge, the tension in the episode was predictably absent.

The odd thing was Star World showed a repeat of a past season's America's Next Top Model right after tonight's telecast of the Asian version.  And in that show, while the contestants were trying to be nice, you knew they just wanted the other to jump into a lake. Good TV right?

So So Beautiful

So just a few thoughts:

• Whoever is styling the show deserves an award. Visual, textured, themed. All winners for TV.
• Loved it when Daniel Boey said: "She looks like a harassed housewife." Hilarious.
• Todd gave directions like a 'Director'.  That is confusing. Isn't the challenge supposed to show what the girls can bring to the table with minimal guidance?
• Todd's comment during judging, how one girl was boring. Hallo. I think you are talented but don't you think on TV you are just the same. The monotonous James Earl Jones wannabe voice is not as richly toned as you think.
• Nadya is as usual, beautiful from any angle, especially the hair style in the latest episode.
• Nadya really has come into her own. I am so happy for her. And this episode, when she announced the saved contestant, she didn't say anything.  Maybe she did, and it was edited out. But not saying anything spoke volumes. That was priceless.

Really not her best.

I love Miss Nepal. And I didn't think her last shoot was as bad as all that. When you look at best photo winner Jessica's picture (above), is it really that strong?  Does it not remind you of a Panadol ad? AIYOH MAAA, I GOTS HEADACHES!  TAKE PANADOL.

Ms Nepal's departure...sweet and quiet, like the show.

But the fact that I can't remember Miss Nepal's name is an issue. She is beautiful but doesn't stick.  Which is a shame. The show has been slammed for featuring too many Pan Asians. And with her departure, there is only one left.

No prizes for guessing that the last one will somehow be bye bye-ed soon too.

So here is my prediction.  Premature as it may be.

The winner will be Jessica from Thailand.