Getting fixed by Bench Fix's Celebrity Stylist

Always use a comb when conditioning your hair in the shower. Somewhere in the back of our minds, we've heard this before, either read in DIY pages of beauty magazines or repeated off-handedly by a salon stylist. But it never connoted the urgency of "always" and was conveyed as more of a suggestion rather than a must. That is, until now.

For celebrity hairstylist and Bench Fix's guest international stylist, Philippe Tordjman, the simple task of combing your hair while conditioning goes lengths (no pun intended) in giving you healthy, well-nourished hair. Start off the conditioning process by using a small amount and applying, by sections, on the bottom two-thirds of the hair. Work the conditioner through to the ends with your hands and then with the indispensable comb, preferably a wide-toothed one, before thoroughly rinsing .The extra step, says Philippe, distributes the conditioner better throughout your locks, and allows it to penetrate the hair better.

The same process is also mandated when using hair styling products, this time minus the comb. Gingerly apply styling product through sections of the hair, in small quantities, using your fingers. Avoid applying product too close to the roots as this will cause the scalp to become too greasy.

Philippe Tordjman has had a lot of experience with hair to really know what he's talking about. For 14 years, since 1993, Philippe, French by birth, had been cutting, styling, conditioning, and essentially giving rebirth to hair in the heart of San Francisco City. He started his US career working in the salon of renowned makeup artist David Starr before putting up his own penthouse salon, Au Top Coiffure, in 1997. His exclusive, by-appointment-only salon welcomed the Bay Area's affluent, as well as more than a handful of Hollywood celebrities who had gleaned of Philippe's reputation. (Philippe has worked with Melanie Griffith, Mandy Moore, Sean Penn, Matt Dillon). His reputation also leaked out to the finicky American media, and throughout his career, was featured in Elle, Women's Wear Daily, San Francisco Moda, and The San Francisco Examiner, among others.

Working in San Francisco, a recognized melting pot of races in the West Coast, Philippe has had the chance to work with different types of hair. Of all the hair types he's had to style, Philippe acknowledges that straight Asian hair is actually a "piece of cake", and can be worked in many different ways. Which is why he's pretty psyched to be working in Asia.

Supposedly on world tour and a sabbatical from the hairstyling industry after selling all four of his San Francisco-based salons and a top-selling haircare line, Philippe is still as surprised as anyone by his indeterminate stay here in the Philippines and his decision to come on as Bench Fix's guest creative stylist. He was inspired by the Bench's global vision after meeting Bench Fix (put position here) Brian Lim - on spur-of-the-moment circumstances - and realized that he has a lot to contribute to the country's fast-growing beauty industry. Philippe is also cognizant of the economic potential of Asia, the Philippines included, over the next ten years, and is aware that Bench is also set on riding this economic wave.

There are still no set master plans as of yet, and the grand vision is still a bit blurry at the edges but Philippe is doing what he does best and he's happy. For now, Philippe Tordjman is taking it one step, and one styling tip, at a time.

Philippe Tordjman will cut, color hair and readily dish out hairstyling tips at Bench Fix, Cebu every month beginning this month. For more information on Philippe and to book an appointment please call Bench Fix Salon Cebu at 032- 2329506 and look for Ging Rabago or Lucille