You think a haircut is just a haircut? Not when these masters get their hands on your precious crowning glory — you’ll start wondering where they have been all your life.
Henri Calayag Salon
Ground floor, The Residences, Greenbelt, Makati City. Tel.: 799 -1495. Salon hours: Monday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Salon vibe: The high-ceilinged salon and tall windows offer a warm, anti-claustrophobic atmosphere, inducing utmost relaxation. It is conveniently nestled in a corner right across the restaurant row of Greenbelt 2, so should hunger pangs strike you, a staff will gladly cross to the street to fetch you food. WiFi available.
No shortcuts: Henri has been in the industry for 29 years, and clients flock to him for his extreme versatility, not only sticking to the of-the-moment styles, but to what’s best suited for you. However, he is best known for clean, short cuts to the classic bob to long layers that would make even the thinnest of hairs look voluptuous.
Favorite hair products: “Pantene Shampoo and Conditioner, TIGI S Factor Shampoo and Conditioner, TIGI Papaya Leave-On Conditioner, all Bed Head styling products and Bumble & Bumble products, which are sadly not available here.”
Finding the perfect shade: “For Pinays who are yellow-toned, it's best to stick to red/brown shades,” suggests Henri. Those with pink tones to their complexions are lucky, according to Henri, to get away with any shade they wish to use.
The hottest cut and color trends: Henri is leaning towards the pixie cut (think Victoria Beckham) and all varieties of the bob cut. For color, Henri believes that a nice red auburn gloss will be a big hit this season—one that fits all skin tones.
Chevelure Salon
Ground floor, Unit 1-A Two Lafeyette Square, 105 Tordesillas St., Salcedo Village, Makati City. Tel.: 856-3630. Salon hours: Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m.to 8 p.m.
Salon vibe: The salon exudes a crossed vibe of minimalist meets French shabby chic (thanks to the chandeliers and brocade fabrics on the couch and draperies).
No shortcuts: Hong Kong international creative director Kenti Tam is partial to cutting-edge special techniques for highlights, mixing a variety of colors to add depth to the color of the hair (he has been trained by Davines and L’Oréal Professionel). For cuts, he is best known for his precision cutting.
Favorite hair products: Kenti is partial to TIGI Bed Head products, primarily for their quality and attractive packaging.
Louis Philip Kee Salon
Ground Floor, One McKinley Place, 25th Street corner 4th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Tel.: 856-4848. Salon hours: Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Valet parking available.
Salon vibe: The salon gives off an ambiance of total relaxation, combining the forces of chi and Zen. Other than the usual services that Louis Kee is known for, the salon also offers body slimming treatments with almost instantaneous results. WiFi available.
No shortcuts: Louis Kee is patronized by his clients for his long, soft-flowing layered cuts. With coloring, he is known for three-dimensional panel coloring.
Finding the perfect shade: Louis suggests that those with warmer complexions go for hair color in shades of bright red to light iridescent browns to enrich their skin tones. Those with cooler skin tones, on the other hand, may opt for natural golden highlights. (Louis’ tip to determine your skin tone: if the veins in the underside of your wrist look blue, then you have a cool skin tone; if they appear greenish, you have a warmer complexion.)
The hottest cut and color trends: “Retro curls are back, but not in a spiral kind of way,” says Louis. “I’m doing a lot of bright, sleek, glossy long hair with S curls at the ends.” As for color, highlights in bright red auburn to light honey blonde will create a stunning visual impact to go with this season’s cuts.