STEP 3: Fight the frizz – once and for all!
Humidity doesn’t have to be the bane of our lives! Cue semi-permanent smoothing treatments which can tame and condition your mane for up to six months.
TRIED AND TESTED: The Keratin Blowout
LEANDA RATHMELL test- drives a three- hour- long hairsmoothing treatment at Trimmings Salon & Spa.
Too much highlighting and excessive pool- time over the past year have left me with a frizzy, dry mop and split ends. After a thorough hair consultation with Senior Stylist Sean Tee, he suggested I try the Keratin blowout treatment (from $320 onwards). It’s an enduring favourite for those of us whose hair is affected by Singapore’s heat and humidity.
First, I was treated to a luxurious wash using the Tibolli Pre Treatment Craving Clean Shampoo, then a head massage. Thereafter, my hair was loosely dried for Sean to observe its natural wave – an important step to determine how long the treatment would take. He applied the product, left my hair under a steamer for 40 minutes, washed it once more, then thoroughly flat-ironed it to seal in the keratin.
The immediate results? Silky-smooth, dead-straight locks and a slight lightening of the colour – a side effect of the treatment that Sean had mentioned. After the recommended three-day grace period, I wash my hair and give it a quick dry. I am thrilled to see salon-worthy blowout hair; no frizz, no tangles and plenty of volume. Best of all, I’m told that with the right sulphate-free shampoo, I’ll be frizz-free for months!
Editor’s Pick
A healthy scalp is essential for growing smooth, shiny hair. Treat it to a pampering session at Hair We Are, a cosy salon at Serene Centre. We recommend the Shiseido Fuente Forte Scalp and Hair Care regime – it’s suitable for both dry and oily hair, as well as for those with scalp issues such as dandruff and itchiness. The products – infused with scutellaria extract to moisturise and amino acids to strengthen – are applied to both your scalp and your hair. After a thorough massage, the formula is rinsed out, and you’re treated to a blow-dry to your liking. What’s more, we think the 90-minute treatment is a steal at $50 for all hair lengths!
For extra-frizzy hair, the Brazilian Blowout ($308 for all hair lengths) is a godsend. Suitable for all hair types – especially over-processed hair – it results in smoother, healthier locks that’ll stay that way for 10 to 12 weeks.
TRIED AND TESTED: Hair Botox & Fillers
Botox for your hair? You read right! KARIN GALLEY-DICK tries out the new, semi-permanent hair treatment at Chez Vous.
I have wavy, thick, mid-long hair which is difficult to tame and impossible to air-dry. I’m always using styling tools to try to control it, but all the blow-drying on top of regular highlights has clearly caused considerable distress to my hair over time. I needed to take action!
New on the scene, the Hair Botox and Fillers programme, inspired by aesthetic beauty, is a semi-permanent treatment which restores health and smoothness to damaged and frizzy hair. It includes an in-salon hair treatment plus a customised set of aftercare products to take home.
Chez Vous has a beautiful ambience and combines beauty with striking art, fashion and light displays in an environment that is funky and fun. I really appreciated the padded lap desk that was handed to me when I pulled out my laptop in an attempt to spend some of the treatment time productively!
The treatment starts with a deep-cleansing shampoo and a lovely head massage to remove stubborn build-up from your hair. Next comes a customised blend that contains a thermal-activated concentrate to combat frizz and tame unruly hair, stabilised keratin to repair damage and a silk protein to promote smoothness and shine.
Next, my locks were treated with a deeply nourishing booster containing amino- oil complex, jojoba and avocado oils, before a flat iron was applied to activate the smoothcontrol concentrate and lock in the nutrients. As a final step, a hyaluronic acid and ceramide-rich masque plus another serum were applied to seal in all the goodness.
I was sent home with a bag full of goodies to help prolong the effects. This specially prescribed home hair care set will last for 60 days, plus I was given three customised salon-grade hair treatments – the Trilogy Bespoke Boosters – to try.
All in all, the process took about three hours for my hair type. It left my hair feeling super-smooth, more so than any of the keratin treatments I’ve had before. The result is comparable to rebonding, but is a much safer and healthier alternative as the products are 100 percent formaldehyde-free. It’s been four weeks now, and the effects have not even begun to wear off. I can even walk out in light rain, and my hair doesn’t misbehave! Priced from $599.
Replenish moisture into dry and damaged hair with a weekly treatment mask, like the Youth Revival 5 Oil Hair Treatment Mask from Peter Lamas. It contains a luxe blend of Abyssinian, baobab, broccoli seed, kukui nut and mongongo oils to nourish your locks, plus vitamins, omega fatty acids and antioxidants for a complete conditioning overhaul. $48, available only at Watsons.