When I had my fringe chopped off a few weeks ago, many people were shocked and asked why the change because I have had the same hairstyle for ages. I’m a well-organized person and I like to plan for everything but I can get very random at times, which I think is important to change the rules a little, taking a step back and enjoy what life is all about. Living it!

Let me tell you a secret. The reason why I chopped off my fringe was because I saw this Bangs Cut Supporter at Mr. DIY. Immediately I thought I could easily do the first cut at home and then do follow-up trimming at home whenever needed.

So as I said earlier, I assume that I would be able to do the first fringe cut at home easily with this tool. I don’t think it will be hard but I was afraid. After all it’s the first cut. I wouldn’t want to mess up and having to live with badly cut fringe for a few weeks . So I went to a hair salon. Honestly speaking, I don’t think so the salon did a good job either. I hated my fringe for the first two weeks. When the hair started to grow out and I was heading to Penang, I had them comb to the side again as I knew I would get all sweaty in Penang. On the same night I was back to KL, I took out this Bangs Cut Supporter to trim my fringe.

This weird but useful tool is selling for just RM6.90 at Mr. DIY. The good thing about Mr. DIY is that there are no price increase nor do I need to pay GST separately. All GST are absorbed by Mr. DIY! The tool comes in a 3-piece, which requires a little installation before use and dismantling after using (unless you ditch the box).

This is the hilarious part. It’s absolutely hideous but a girl gotta do what a girl gotta do. My original fringe from the salon are way too wide so I took off some hair from the left and right, put a bobby pin to keep them away and gather the hair that I wanted to trim to the ‘uneven comb’. However I find myself not able to see anything clearly from the plastic pocket which catches all the hair. It won’t be a problem if you do it slowly. Sometimes I get my mum to trim for me

What’s cool about this tool is that not only the uneven comb helped to create a natural zig zag trim, the plastic pocket protects the face and eyes from hair and it catches the hair from the trim. What’s not to love right?

Here’s the result. This is my second trimming using the same Bangs Cut Supporter. First trim was more straight, which I don’t really like. I like the second trim more where it’s more uneven. The more uneven the bangs are, the nicer it is

My hair grows out on a super fast rate. I thought the toughest thing to go through having a fringe is the itchiness on the forehead despite everyone telling me it’s the trimming. Now that my forehead has gotten used to having a fringe, I find that the constant trimming is pretty annoying, just like what my friends warned . I trim mine once every week. Another challenge for me is to ‘make’ the fringe stays in place whenever I’m going out. Yes, having a fringe really takes effort and time. And yet I don’t regret having it

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored review. I bought the product on my own.

The post Bangs Cut Supporter: A quick and easy life saver tool for fringe trimming appeared first on Street Love. by Fiona

It is quite rare for me to do a season trend look, what more a hair trend. Not that I don’t want to do but I didn’t have any information on hand nor am I the expert. Just last week I was at the launch of Shiseido Professional Stage Works Spiky Booster and I was handed the 2014 Spring/Summer hair trends book, which Shiseido Professional named as COLOR ME KNOT. I was so interested with the content and I thought why not share it with you girls too

Just to recap what I said earlier in Shiseido Professional Stage Works Spiky Booster launch post. Mr. Yoshiyuki Takahashi shared the latest trend in Japan. He said that most magazine in Japan now features lots of white-based color coordination. So Shiseido Professional creative team back at Tokyo Japan studied the trend and came up with COLOR ME KNOT. It is a nuance of accentuating the colors of hair and fashion styles in contrast with blank canvas of white. But this White in 2014 Spring/Summer will be powerful, futuristic, sharp, mysterious and goes well with everything. However it will not be completely full white. So for this season, Shiseido Professional had came up with Wet & Dry, Natural & Strong and Tight & Flared hair styles that will complement the white well.

Spring/Summer 2014 Season Trends Main Style

Men’s Style: Deep Side Parts and Wet-Look To Express Male Sensuality

Men’s fashion will have a bold presence for this Spring/Summer 2014 but with a tinge of playfulness and relaxation.

As you can see, the hairstyles will be square and off-the face type, combined with deep side-parts that will emphasizes on masculinity, combined with rough, unruly sense of movement and a wet feel just like freshly towel-dried hair.

This slightly laid back hairstyles on male sensuality will goes well with the fashion trend of formal wear that is worn slightly dishevelled for a pop-like sensation.

Ladies’ Style: Nuanced Styling That Plays With Texture and Shape

The focus for the ladies on the other hand will be on “bold” white, together with powerful fashion styles while highlighting the contrast between light material textures and voluminous silhouettes. Just like the men’s style, this hair trend is also squarish.

This hairstyle add playfulness to the texture and shape, giving it a natural styling finish. While it may seems unworkable or natural, the most important key point is the clean appearance.

As for the makeup, the main trend is natural-looking makeup, focusing on the skin and add a bit of color accents around the eyes.

Spring/Summer 2014 Hairstyles Using Shiseido Professional Stage Works Spiky Booster and Powder Shake

Spicy Loose

Loose, casual-looking hair ends with random movement add a playful impression to the style.

Styling
After towel dry, apply Bouncing Primer to the middle part of the hair. Then blow dry and apply Spiky Booster to hair ends and lightly blend into the hair to give movement to the hair bundles.

Innocent Bob

Fresh impression by adding the delicate movement of the hair to the airylook.

Styling
Lift hair bundles, apply Powder Shake inwards and rub thoroughly into the hair. Then use fingers to add airy volume to the entire hair.

Dramatic Long

Beautiful flowing waves from the top section for the sophisticated femininity look.

Styling
Apply Smoothing Primer to hair ends and blow dry. As for the front part of the hair, blow dry into the opposite direction so that it’s easier to keep the roots lifted. Then apply Powder Shake to the roots, center and hair ends. Rub thoroughly into the hair.

Edgy Wave

The uniqueness and fashionable for this hair style is the contrast created by the tight side parts and soft wave at the ends of the lifted hair.

Styling
Apply Bouncing Primer to the entire hair and blow dry. Then apply Spiky Booster to the hair while slicking down both sides tightly and lift the top section of the hair.

Spiked Curl

Movement of the random hair strands lifted from the roots casually appeals to individuality with stylish look.

Styling
Apply Spiky Booster to hair ends, slick down one side of the hair tightly and run your fingers through the other side to set the hair flow for styling. Then casually separate the hair bundles for a natural sense of unity.

High-End Side Part

An authentic look twisted with playful mind derived from the fresh look of side part, lifted hair roots and atmospheric bundles.

Styling
Apply Smoothing Primer to the entire hair from the roots to the ends after drying the hair. Then dispense some Spiky Booster on the fingertips and blend into the entire hair along the dividing line.

There you have it! Hope you enjoyed reading about the latest trend in Japan and also learnt a thing or two from the latest 2014 Spring/Summer hair trends. Both men and women’s fashion are pretty much in happy mood, featuring botanical and tropical print motifs on head-to-toe white based color coordination. These are the trend that Shiseido Professional is focusing on

The post Shiseido Professional 2014 Spring/Summer Season COLOR ME KNOT Hair Trends appeared first on Street Love. by Fiona

I’m sure you still remember the hair chalk craze. It wasn’t long ago that almost every single girl that I know went cray cray over hair chalk. Just when you thought hair chalking trend has died down and taken over by dip dye phenomena, L’Oreal Professionnel HAIRchalk makes a big debut at the Spring/ Summer 14 Catwalks causing a stir on the fashion & beauty scene.

L’Oreal Professionnel HAIRchalk is an easy way to colour your hair without the permanent chemical damaging. It doesn’t stain your clothes thereafter and it last up to 4 to 5 washes, unlike the old school hair chalk that is a pain to apply and doesn’t last more than one wash. Two days ago I have the opportunity to try out this new trademark technology trendsetter HAIRchalk at Centro Hair Salon, The Gardens Mid Valley and be one of the trendsetter

After getting all the info that I needed from a quick and informative brief about L’Oreal Professionnel HAIRchalk, I was handed over or rather my hair was handed over to Kevin Woo, Creative Director of Centro Hair Salon for a hair assessment and style consultation. As you know I wasn’t that much of a trendy girl when it comes to my hair style so I let it to the creative hands of Kevin. Kevin took a look at my current hair style, length and scalp condition and quickly spotted that I have dry and sensitive scalp. But not to worry, L’Oreal Professionnel HAIRchalk is safe to use even on sensitive scalp like mine. Kevin said turquoise color or in L’Oreal Professionnel HAIRchalk term it’s Garden Party would look good with my hair color. I trust the expert so I have no objection at all.

Kevin then proceed to section my hair and identify the part where HAIRchalk will be apply later on. When you seek the help from hair salon to apply HAIRchalk, you will be well protection prior with a full body gown.

L’Oreal Professionnel HAIRchalk is available in five vibrant gorgeous shades – Sweet Sixteen Pink, First Date Violet, Blue Ocean Cruise, Garden Party and Coral Sunset. The one in the middle is Garden Party, which will be apply onto my hair later on.

I mentioned that L’Oreal Professionnel HAIRchalk is a trademark technology product but do you know why? It is definitely not like the hair chalk we know before. It doesn’t come in a block of dry chalk but instead HAIRchalk comes in a revolutionary water ink that are combined with micro-fiber polymers. It has an ultra thin film that is very adherent to hair fiber so L’Oreal Professionnel HAIRchalk doesn’t transfer color to your clothes and skin thereafter and ready for styling in less than one minute. Not only that. It is also water resistant which explains why HAIRchalk would last up to 4 or 5 washes, depending on your hair condition and how often you wash your hair. On a hair that is often exposed to hair stress like bleaching, coloring, perming and so on, L’Oreal Professionnel HAIRchalk will last even longer. Regardless virgin hair or not, you will still get to enjoy this funky hair color on for many days

The whole process of hair chalking is very easy. I would say it’s much more easier and convenient. You don’t have to keep wetting the hair and chalk to get the color on like the chalk block. L’Oreal Professionnel HAIRchalk is available readily in liquid form. Simply squeeze the product out into a container and color away! My advise is when you do this at home, do not squeeze all out at one go. Do it bit by bit to avoid wastage. I learnt this from observing the process at Centro Hair Salon.

The black sponge applicator you see below is only for the use in the salon. For home use consumer who purchase the HAIRchalk will be provided with another type of applicator.

Start by taking a small amount of hair and just color away. There wasn’t any technical way of doing it, really. It’s that simple . All you have to do is to make sure each strand of hair is covered with HAIRchalk. There is no need to color close to the scalp. Leave a bit of gap.

Before hair chalking process started, I was told that two person is needed to handle one customer. It makes sense because it is much faster this way.

L’Oreal Professionnel HAIRchalk dries up very quickly. After just one minute the colored hair is ready to be comb through to make sure there wasn’t any tangle.

The combing earlier is to make sure the blow dry process will be smooth. At this point of time, the hair can be a bit tough to comb through thus affecting the next process. Then repeat the hair chalking process for one last time up until the blow dry step.

When everything is done, hair is applied with L’Oreal Professionnel Mythic Oil to give shine back to the hair and the oil will also smoothen the hair overall. As I said earlier, hair that was colored with HAIRchalk will be a bit dry. This will help to tame the dryness down. Don’t worry that the oil will take the HAIRchalk away. It will not because by this time the HAIRchalk on the hair is completely set.

My stylist make sure that every single strand of my hair was properly treated with moderate amount of L’Oreal Professionnel Mythic Oil. The last step was to style the hair. I was given a large curl, which I was happy with because style and color as loud and as bold as mine does not require a smaller curl.

And tadaaa! Here’s the end result with Kevin Woo, Created Director of Centro Hair Salon. L’Oreal Professionnel HAIRchalk high color intensity is absolutely stunning, thanks to it’s pearlescent pigments that was derived from makeup and then calibrated for optimal visibility on all hair color especially on dark hair like mine. I have Garden Party shade on which is true to it’s turquoise color shade on my black hair.

With the elegant and gorgeous Nicole from L’Oreal Professionnel Malaysia and fellow blogger friend Sharon who happen to be on the same session as mine on that day.

Last but not least, some self portrait with L’Oreal Professionnel HAIRchalk in Garden Party

What do you think about HAIRchalk on me? Do you like the wild and bold side of the look?

The post NEW! L’Oreal Professionnel HAIRchalk, A Breakthrough Trademark Technology Trendsetter for 2014 appeared first on Street Love. by Fiona

A year ago I stumbled upon a Youtube video on this simple, cute side braided bun and I’ve been doing the hair style since. I must admit, having all your hair up in a bun is not a favourite here because you could risk looking like an “auntie”. The last time I had my hair up in a bun is during my ballet classes . Boy it was a competition on who have the neatest and nicest hair bun of all!

I’ve seen some stylish girls doing it and it actually looks good. The key to this look is to put on jewellery, pairing the look with modern attire such as dresses and don’t forget the makeup . For this side branded bun hair tutorial, I’ve only put on a light makeup as I was in a hurry. Hope you like this hair-do!

A side braided bun that I’m about to share with you looked like this. Rather than having it on top of the head and in the middle, this modern hair bun with a twist is given a loose look, sweep to the bottom on one side. This look is suitable for a romantic date, to work or even out with your girlfriends. I personally prefer to have this hair-do to work as it’s so easy to do and it goes well with my accessories and attire for work.

This hair style is only done in four simple step.

(1) Because the hair on top of my head is lesser comparing with other area, I use Kérastase Lift Vertige Root-Uplifting Gel on the hair roots for that higher hair effect on damp hair and blow dry. This hair product is quite unique as it’s contained in an Airless pump-flacon bottle. I like that the gel doesn’t give me a hard cardboard look. It’s quite subtle so feel free to tease your hair if you like.

(2) If you are into messy look, you can ignore combing but I personally prefer this hair-do to be neat so I’ll give my hair a good brush. Then grab all the hair to one side and start braiding all the hair. Secure with a hair tie. Do not tuck the hair behind the ears for the romantic look . Ignore all the frizzy or loose hair. Take care of that in the end.

(3) Next, tuck the end and start rolling the braid up until the base. Secure the sides with bobby pins. For this look I’ve only used three bobby pins. You’ll be amazed with how well the hair hold up, even till the end of the day.

(4) I don’t usually get a clean and neat finishing due to the layering of my hair so I would prefer to secure all the loose ends and baby hair with Kérastase Laque Couture Micro Mist Fixing Lacquer, which is a medium hold hair spray. Remember this look is suppose to be soft and romantic so there’s no need for hard hold hair spray. This hair product is an alcohol-based combination of style enhancer – a fixation polymer and a surface protection agent. As this is a medium hold hair spray, there’s no cardboard stiffness with the end result as well

And we’re done! What I like about this hair-do is the wavy bun from the braid. It is also because of the braid that created the wavy bun that it makes the overall look more modern and sophisticated without looking like an “auntie” or a ballerina . If you stare long enough you wouldn’t have figure out that it was a braid that is rolled up in a bun.

This hair style goes even well with wavy or curly hair. There will be no combing required and the waviness of your hair will give an even more subtle and romantic look.

Oh and one important tip. Do secure the top of your hair bun securely with a bobby pin or put one extra bobby pin if needed because if the hair bun is droopy from the top, it look really awkward. Once you secure the top properly, the hair bun just went alive and all pretty. The good thing about this hair-do is that it is so easy to be secured with bobby pins. I know some hair style is so hard to have pins in it. This one definitely not going to have any issue. I usually put one on the top, one of the left and one on the right.

Hope you enjoyed this edition of hair tutorial. See you in next tutorial!

The post Hair Tutorial: Cute and Simple Side Braided Bun appeared first on Street Love. by Fiona