Warm cherry tones and mid-to-dark walnut hues are the colour palette this festive season. Photo: Portfolio Hair Studio
Ask The Expert is a column where we get experts to answer questions on topics related to fashion and beauty.
Portfolio Hair Studio creative director William Wong answers your questions this month on hair care and popular styles for Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day.
Can you recommend some popular styles, cuts or colours for the upcoming CNY and Valentine’s festivities? – Lilly, Bangsar
The “Frenchie” – this season we’re seeing variations on the short, sharp chop.
The Nineties blunt bob that is continuously evolving, is shorter, and cut with graphic lines and a chin-length style. It’s all about shorter bangs and keeping the outside edges long.
The cut-through fringe with the centre being shorter than the edges provides flexibility.
Another popular cut is the “Butterfly”, a style where the length falls between the collarbone or lower, with an ascending layer throughout, which promotes volume in the hair and contours the face so it can go with any facial features.
Portfolio Hair Studio creative director William Wong is all about recommending styles for clients based on what suits their skin tone, eye colour, personal style and lifestyle. Photo: Portfolio Hair StudioThe great thing about this mid-length style is that it can be tailored to every hair type and face shape, as the layers can begin from the cheekbones or jawline.
It is versatile, with many variations for different hair textures, such as curled, beachy waves, shaggy or straight.
For colours, warm cherry tones and mid-to-dark walnut hues are the colour palette this festive season. These shades create depth and will reflect more light, making hair look incredibly shiny.
Glossy, deep and rich reds, and cowboy copper (leathery tones) are also popular colours for this period.
Popular hair styles for men includes lower fades (hair that gradually shifts from one length to the next), a tight or choppy fringe and edgy textured perms.
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Realistically, when customers request for certain styles, how do you advise them or manage their expectations? – Rebecca, Kuala Lumpur
People normally bring in references from social media or google images and so on, and these are often filtered photos. In reality, these styles might not work for everyone.
We usually talk to them a bit about what would make sense in terms of their lifestyle and the look they’re going for.
For example, you have hair that’s a certain length and you want to achieve a heavier layered style, but in reality, you won’t be able to maintain that style. We have to compromise and find out what will work.
We also try to advise people on what is suitable with their skin tone, eye colour and personal style, as these play a part in your whole image. Otherwise you end up adopting a style that you saw online which doesn’t gel with your lifestyle or your overall look.
What is your take on dyeing or bleaching your entire head of hair? – Preetha, Petaling Jaya
Warmer tones are popular now, and cool tones are always fun, but what’s important to us is shiny and healthy hair.
We don’t advise people to bleach their hair to the point that it results in “hair death”, which is when the hair becomes dry and brittle.
Popular hair styles for men includes lower fades, tight or choppy fringe and edgy textured perms. Photo: Portfolio Hair StudioHow do you preserve colour after dyeing? – Jolene, Kuala Lumpur
To preserve the colour, obviously products play a big part and products these days cater to every requirement, whether it’s for coloured hair, dry or oily scalps and so on.
In terms of maintenance, we normally suggest coming for toning or glossing in-between colour touch-ups. This is to reduce the amount of times you need to come in for full colour service.
I would also suggest coming in for in-between services before the actual colouring.
For instance, if you need to touch up your colour in two months’ time, then maybe you come in one month ahead and do a pre-toning or pre-glossing so the colour will last you another five weeks and counting.
Price point wise it’s much cheaper than a full colour service.
Can you use normal shampoo for coloured hair? – Cece, Penang
I go by types of shampoos, if you don’t have a colour treatment shampoo, try to choose sulfate-free products as these will condition and protect your hair.
Hair masks help too, and you can use it once or twice a week for colour treated hair. I would also suggest replacing the conditioner and treatment.
Conditioner is designed for daily use as it’s a top coat for the hair, while treatment penetrates inside the hair shaft to fill up and repair broken molecules.
What are the essential products for scalp? – Sheila R, Johor Baru
Living in a tropical country with humidity and rain, the scalp condition changes as well so I would normally recommend getting two types of cleanser, one for the scalp and one for the hair.You can alternate these products, use them alternate days, don’t use them in the same shampooing session.
Scalp shampoo soothes your scalp whereas hair shampoo, is for hair.
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How important is it to massage one’s scalp? — CK, Subang
When it comes to shampooing, a lot of people use their nails to scrape their scalp – don’t do that as you are actually hurting the pores.
During shampooing, this is the only time you need to massage your scalp, just cleanse and massage gently with the tip of your fingers to promote blood circulation.
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