Fashion and Beauty

Hair's to you with the shaved head

STYLE S.O.S. - Lucy Torres-Gomez, Rissa M. Samson, Tingting Cojuangco -

September 30, 2009 | 12:00am

Hi, Miss Rissa!

I know this is a for-women-only column and I am quite sure that you yourself haven’t gone through my dilemma, but still I am hoping that you could help me as you might know a case like mine. Maybe someone in your family had gone through this already, or a colleague of yours in the modeling industry.

I have been wearing a shaved hairstyle (semikal/uno) for almost a year now; though for the past few months, I have been thinking of growing my hair back. Unfortunately, in the process, I always arrive at this awkward stage where my hair is too long to look flattering but too short to be combed and styled — it looks horrible so I end up going back to the barbershop and having my hair shaved again.

I hope you could give me tips on how I can grow my hair back in style without having to suffer going through that awkward stage. Jeff

I have never shaved my head, but if you really want your hair to grow out, I can share with you the same advice I follow when I overpluck my eyebrows.

1) Look in the mirror.

2) Don’t cut/pluck your hair.

3) Wait.

4) Repeat. Really, patience is key.

When my little boy was taking up football, he sported a shaved hairstyle as well. Looking like a “tough” football star, he looked quite adorable — a least for a while. Unfortunately, I later realized that the puffball stage is one that just has to be lived through. It is unavoidable yet mercifully short. A couple of weeks of post-puffball, it will be long enough to put a little product in and make it sit. When your hair is long enough to give you puffball problems, then it’s long enough to be tamed with some hair products. Think of it as adding something just to smooth the puffiness out. When my son’s hair was at an awkward stage, the biggest lifesaver was Bench Fix Hair Gels (available at all Bench and Bench Fix salons nationwide). They come in Extra Shine, Normal Hold, Strong Hold, and Xtreme Hold variants. Apart from being alcohol-free, they’re enriched with vitamins to condition and moisturize the hair and scalp. Among all hair gels, this is my absolute favorite — I also use it myself. It provides superb yet invisible hold (no flaking!) without the heaviness.

Regular haircuts also help a lot. Just have the sides and back trimmed regularly and you should be through the worst of it. The spikey look was an alternate look I eventually enjoyed on my son. For more texture, try the Bench Fix Clay Doh Molding Clay. This wonder product molds hair in workable shapes, leaving it with a defined matte finish. You can also try the Bench Fix Rock Steady Sculpting Bond, which provides hair 5x strength and shine, perfect for that rock star look.

The great thing about the Bench Fix styling products is that they’re much more affordable compared to many other styling products. A little goes a long way and they will always be worth your money.

My brother Robby, who also models, once sported a shaved hairstyle. When he grew all his hair back, he went as far as sacrificing puffball hair for months until it fully grew long. Yes, no haircuts in between. He was patient and just put up with his hair being fuzzy and annoying for a while. So how did he cope with the awkward stage? Fashionably! He suggests wearing caps and hats — ivy and newsboy caps, fedoras, tweed hats, beanies, trucker and baseball caps. For hip and trendy yet affordable head gear, check out some of his favorite shops such as Bench and Topshop.

Rissa

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Going Around In (Dark) Circles

Dear Lucy,

Help! I have serious dark circles, made even more obvious by the fact that I am quite fair. I buy the lightest shade, but when I put it on, I just look sick. You know that grayish tint? My artist friend says it is basic logic: Anything dark that you lighten with white just becomes a lighter shade of the same dark thing. Do you have a beauty solution for me? I am desperate.

Neneth

I know just the thing for you to do. I have the same dilemma: When I am sleep-deprived, the area under my eyes get really dark. And TV is so unforgiving. I’ve tried a bagful of products already, some of which have worked quite well. But the one I am sharing with you now is a trick I learned from makeup artist Chechel Joson. She told me that I have to use a concealer in a dark tone first before putting a light one over it. How do you choose a dark concealer? You mix two shades, a light one and another one two shades darker. Pat it on lightly with your fingertips, and then put a really light, almost white concealer, on top, like ArtDeco’s Camouflage Cream. The brand of concealer I am using now, and I think it will be my favorite for years to come because it just works too well, is from Sisley. I mix shades number 2 and 4. It gives really great, natural-looking coverage. This concealer functions as skin care, too, as it combats under-eye puffiness and reduces signs of tiredness. The botanical extracts brighten the complexion. Another way of applying it would be to put it as a first step even before foundation.