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9/15/2007

My New Look

For years, my hair had been very simple. A little layered at the back, and that's it... Too safe... Too simple... Too blah...
I've tried several (high-end) salons already, but I guess it's normal for a girl to try on different salons at a certain time... So, two weeks ago, I tried the Korean hairstylists here in Quezon City. Actually, they already have several branches, one in Buendia, and another one in Malate. Since I live in QC, I always pass by their salon, and I've always wanted to try their style... I've been a fan of some korean actors and actresses, (cheeeezy) but I really like Cholo and Jenny - the one in Full House...

Anyways, finally, I had the time to get a haircut, so I went to Tony and Jackey...



My BEFORE picture


At first, there was a little walk from the parking to the salon, I noticed one guy hurriedly got an umbrella to assist us... It was really hot that day and the location of the salon is fronting the afternoon sun, so it was really, strikingly hot... So 1 point for the umbrella guy... When I entered the salon, I noticed that it is spacious, generously lit, and very clean. A guy named Sky introduced himself and asked if I have an appointment. So I told him yes, and he looked up my name, and showed me the couch where I should wait and be called for my shampoo... After a few minutes, he came back to me, and ushered me to the shampoo area... I noticed that the towels are hidden inside a cupboard and you have to pull them slowly to get the whole thing (as if you're getting tissue from a kleenex box), and I find it neat! 2 points for that... After that refreshing shampoo, the girl toweled my hair gently, using an absorbent towel, (not the ordinary bath towels) and then slowly folded the towel on my head in a particular method... I guess they were all trained to do that, it was cute on me, i feel like I'm wearing a turban... 2 points!

Sky went back to me as I was headed to my seat... He asked if I already have a stylist, and I said no, because it was my first time... He asked me what I wanted, so I told him I wanted it styled, make me look brand new... So he gave me Louie...


All stylists are Korean...


I watched Louie observe my hair, it's length, it's condition, it's partitions, etc... He never recommended any treatments. Though I expected that because it was the "common thing" for all salons that I've visited. You see guys, one time when I had a haircut, one top stylist kept on bugging me to have a treatment beforehand because he said, my hair was so coarse his scissors won't go through!!! He didn't even touch my hair!!! Another top lady stylist/owner won't cut my hair without having their so-called "Primer", (around 900 for medium length) to which its purpose is to wash off those impurities and heavy build-ups. Yeah right!!!

Surprisingly, Louie never mentioned any treatment, hence, he proceeded to my main purpose... I was amazed by the way he gets stuff from his tray... I feel like I was 10 years old, watching a Japanese chef in Kimpura performing certain ACTS before cooking, like flying eggs and utensils.... Something like that... Impressive actually... Another 1 point...

Louie asked me what happened to my bangs... He actually knew that I cut them myself!!! Then he told me that as soon as I feel like cutting my bangs again, just come back to him and he'll cut them for free!!! Funny, but nice... And ain't he sweet??? Plus 1 point...

As he was cutting every inch of my hair, he asked me every now and then if it was ok, if it was what I wanted, so and so... I thought that he was just careful... Maybe because he doesn't speak English fluently, that he wanted to make sure that he understands me, and vice versa....

So finally, the waiting is over, my hair is shorter, and I actually felt brand new!!! hahahaha...


While I was having my haircut, my sister had a hair treatment... It wasn't so expensive because they use Korean products, generic as i must say... But the way they applied the treatment was so, again, impressive!!! I think their way of applying the serum doesn't leave a single stray of hair untouched...


They massage the entire hair, not just the scalp, but from the hairshaft to the ends... Add 1 point to that...

My sister decided to have her curls re-permed. So she asked how much the digital perm costs, and when she found out that it wasn't that expensive, she decided to have them done... But she needed more cash because the salon doesn't accept credit cards as of the moment (minus 1), so when I was done, I had to get money for her from the ATM... As I walked out of the salon, the umbrella guy came over and asked where I parked my car, and I said, no, I want an ATM, where can I find one? And then he said, ahhh mam, dito po meron, samahan ko po kayo! (ma'am, there's one near the salon, i'll show you the way). I noticed that it was very near the salon but I thought it was unsafe because it was vaguely lit... So he said that he'll just stay a few meters away from me so he can see if I'm safe... That's so sweet... 2 points for that!

After all the pampering, of course, reality bites, paying time has arrived... We went to the reception area, and there was Sky... He billed me 500 pesos, and my sister, 4500 pesos... So cheap! (1 point) I noticed that Louie and my sis' stylist, Jinny were behind us. It was their way of treating their customers... When I gave them their tips, they bowed, and thanked us, then, showed us to the door... It was overwhelming...



All in all, Tony and Jackey earned 10 points! I am so satisfied with their service.

You know... After all this narrative salon experience, I still feel sad... It is because, I'm asking myself, how come Koreans can and Filipinos can't??? How come those Koreans made me feel so special even though I didn't undergo several hair treatments and didn't pay them lotsa' money? I used to go to big time salons but never did I experience this kind of treatment... Sky told us as we were about to leave, "Ma'am, we are not after your money, we're after your satisfaction, because we want you to come back, thank you."

Isn't that a nice salon experience???

By the way, how's my hair???

7 comments:

Patty B. said...

Did I read that right? Just 500 for your cut? That's really reasonable! Btw, I like how yours turned out. Wish my hair was as straight =)

McDreamer said...

Yes Pattybee, only 500, and that's it! I gave louie 200 for his tip. Because he really followed me to the reception and obviously waited for it. You know, they do everything except for the shampoo. Unlike in other salons, their hair technicians do the blowout!

Patty B. said...

Thanks for the info =) The QC branch is a bit far from where I live. Maybe I'll go find the one on Buendia.

bearbricklove.com said...

i love your new haircut – young and sophisticated! worth every buck! :-)

Anonymous said...

as usual, your hair is purrrrfect!

McDreamer said...

thanks guys...

Mummerina said...

the new cut looks great!!!