How to be well-tressed

Gone is the helmet that has lacquered countless fashionable locks into gelled submission. Though slick will always be sleek, it is time to consider coiffure's lighter options. Blame it on Bardot and the Guess ads, but those rumpled tresses are rambling their way to the high streets of fashion.

As a self-confessed hair hater, in a sense the word blow-dry leaves me dry. This new hair revolution has me up in arms with support as I say hail to the wax! So, so, so there is much to be excited about for this new age of bedroom hair as it focuses not too much on the inch factor but on texture, color and shine.

L’Oreal for one has recently done a hair show at The Fort featuring hair guru L’Oreal’s hair ambassador and member of the high browed Haute Coiffure Francaise Laetitia Guenaou. After countless stints in cinema, TV, the catwalk and in the music world in France, Laeticia is a wiz when it comes to reinterpreting hair from reel to real. She cut and awed a style packed audience with her dexterity with blade. A hair extravaganza followed this L’Oreal sponsored fete, as mannequins strolled down the runway with fantastique coifs by local members of L’Oreal style society members such as Henri Calayag, Angelo Justin, Jesi Mendez, Crispin Britanico, Geoff Simpson and David Charlton.

The looks from the show, though, are a little too much for street wear. However, taking these trends to reality is not too much of a feat. Earthy and shimmery color is very much in demand this season as it creates a dramatic contrast to either dark tanned skin or parasol huggers who insist on staying pale during the summertime.

Laeticia gives us a few tips on how to take the trends without looking like a style catastrophe:

• It’s metallic for now. However, no ashy greens for Asian skin since it has a tendency to make them look wan. L’Oreal has three color trends with color families aimed to flatter every skin tone: sand, terracota and minerals. The terracotta family is most preferable for Asians (tones such as honey, chocolate and caramel), although the other color families can be used to acieve an edgy look.

• In coloring, don’t be a Picasso and try to do it yourself. You will be very Basquiat especially if you dare risk doing your highlights. Tinting and brightening (like using L’Oreal Casting) is fine as long as it’s near your natural shade. However as much as possible you must try to spring for a pro colorist. Also keep track of hair color history. Layering color over color can equal to an ill-hued tragedy.

• For summer, use nourishing products such as L’Oreal Apres Soleil spray and shampoo. Vita Ciment is also a great product to use once a week. To add shine to sun-damaged locks, use a light shine product such as Digit Gloss.

• Price does have its say in terms of getting a good cut. Textured cuts most especially call for a chi-chi cutter since they are more studied in terms of techniques (cheap cuts risk cheap looks). But nothing is expensive if it’s well done (always think not expensive but well-priced). According to Laeticia it should grow gracefully and have no awkward stages. A customer must always insist on styling tips and how to emulate the look and other variations as well.

• Body should be soft and feathery. The trick with Asian hair is to enhance volume at the crown and the lower part should be thinner and more layered. Asian hair however needs more effort to be layered. No shortcuts, each layer should be meticulouly snipped. This also prevents those delilah fly-aways.

• To achieve a prismatic effect use gum to create dimension and texture. A glossifying agent is good but do not overdo it since it can weigh hair down.

L’Oreal has been at the forefront when it comes to quality haircare. Being the largest cosmetic company in the world, it has the capability of facilitating the most sophisticated laboratories to formulate their unparralled quality in hair care. Kerastase has been the leader in quality hair care since it was introduced. Using basic packaging and a no frou-frou approach to hair care, the ingredients in kerastase speaks for itself as it uses only the best ingredients. For summer, an ideal product would be to use the Kerastase sun line. It relieves hair of the stress that the elements may induce and has protective ingredients to prevent further damage. I’m a big fan of the shampoo that glides on my sun-damaged locks and wash saltwater and chlorine from my hair which may otherwise leave it dry and brittle. Another wonder product is the protective spray which unlike other sun haircare products, does not have a greasy residue and feels light on the hair. This also protects chemically treated hair which I think at least half of Pinays indulge in. Sun after all can have its evil effects on your three thousand-peso highlight job!