Katie's New Hair

i like this new hair on katie. she has a nice long neck and she's tall so the cut accentuates her jaw line and brings out the neck more. it looks like a plainer version of victoria beckham's hair just because it's the same length from the back to the front.

technically:
1. you do a graduation on the bottom back below the occipital bone
2. overlap that with layers from the front
3. disconnect both sides from the back with high angle layers keeping the length in front. producing short layers on top of both sides
4. slide cut the front to frame the face.

hair is colored an even medium velvet brown. more cool than warm.

The Tipping Point

I've been asked this loads of times and I'm sure I will be asked this again so just to get it out of the way, as of June 2007, here is my two cents.

In the US hairdressers are treated like waiters and therefore expect a tip of at least 15%. More, if they did chemical service, less if they just washed your hair. That's standard.

In Manila, people don't usually follow the 15% rule but following this crazy ass bellman's guide, I will attempt to give you a basic rundown.

This is based on A salons in Manila. Which means haircuts are Php 400 and up, nails is Php 150 and up, color is Php 1200 and up.

Tipping Table

Php 1000 for any service this is very generous. Expect to have a meet and greet at the door (of your car in the parking lot).

Php 500 a good tip for a super senior or stylist to the stars stylist. it's an extremely respectable even number.
Php 300 above normal standard for a normal haircut/coloring service
Php 200 acceptable for a haircut/coloring service. standard tip for a stylist, colorist, makeup artist. IMHO opinion, minimum tip for someone who ironed your hair for four hours. it's a good tip if you want to expect even better service next time.

Php 100 standard tip for someone who did a haircut, massage, wax.
Php 50 acceptable tip for nails, assistants who blowdried your hair, hair treatment
Php 20 still better than nothing, okay tip for someone who washed your hair

Php >20 is not a paper bill. Mabigat po ang coins sa bulsa. Pero sige, tatanggapin po namin.

In a perfect world, you should expect the same quality of service every time you go back right? In some salons, we encourage our staff to not have biases, to look beyond the monetary aspects which is why we have boxes by the door with their names so that you don't know who gave what and the clients are not pressured to give a tip.

Salon staff are meant to make you feel relaxed and be cheerful about their work. But tips also augment their income and are greatly appreciated. Tip if you feel you experienced exceptional service. The first few times you go to that person, hand it over to them, almost like a handshake. Succeeding times you can leave it in the box or with the receptionist.

Curls Rock!

People with naturally curly hair go through a hate-love-hate relationship with their hair. You have to admit that it does get kinda boring. Jumping into a curly haired phase needs a high level of commitment. You can't say, "I want curly hair para it's wash and wear". Of course not. Here are some need to knows before you plummet head on to a sea of curls.

Pre-Curls

1. You have to layer your hair nicely. A one-length bob will look triangular with curly hair. Best to have lots and lots and lots of layers.
2. You have to decide on a color. It's nicer to have highlights so that the curls look healthy and defined instead of one big mess. it's best to color before curling then after.
3. It doesn't mean that if your hair is colored, it's not good to curl. Color isn't such a factor but the kind of color is. If you've bleached your hair, you can curl but it's not advisable. If you've rebonded your hair, you can curl but you should find a hairdresser who will take the necessary precautions.

What kind of Curl?

1. Big curlers don't necessarily mean nice big curls. Big curling rods will make your hair wavy and after a few weeks it'll drop. Sometimes you have to trust your hairdresser if they want to use smaller rods in different parts of your head specially on the bottom.
2. There are several procedures out in the market now. The most popular ones are the traditional one with no machine except maybe for the infrared or blow dryer and the digiperm.

Traditional curling isn't so bad anymore. Because they have bigger rollers and new techniques. You don't have to go home looking like goldilocks.
Digiperm is slowly becoming extinct. It uses the scary machine with the octopus like arms. It can get extremely hot and is uncomfortable. But I've seen digital perm results that have lasted 7-8 months and they looked really nice.
Water Perm. It's new technology. They use a rice cooker.
Ion Perm is the newest technology developed in Malaysia. They use heat powered ion rods. It's best for really damaged hair.

Post-Curls
1. You need PRODUCT. You need to put product on your curly hair or else it will go FRIZZY. You HAVE to buy product when you leave the salon. You canNOT NOT. Get it?
2. Which product? There are several. High end product is the Elastocurl line by Kerastase. There is L'oreal Lumioil #3 which is for curly hair.
3. How to apply. After shampoo, towel dry your hair and apply product. Scrunch your hair by grabbing it and making a fist. Don't rub them together with your fingers or both palms.
4. Leave it alone. The more you touch your curly hair the more it gets frizzy. Moisture from your hand is enough to cause frizziness.

Curls are fun. But you have to know how to treat them right.