Dark hair doesn't have to be boring

It's been a while!

So because of work, the hair had to be dyed dark brown.

Dark brown washed out over time (because bleached hair) and eventually looked like this for a while, throughout the trip to Tokyo (updates when possible!).

😱

Only realised how badly the hair needed a refresher after going through Tokyo pictures.

But what happens when you desperately need a new hair colour but can only stick to dark colours (black no less) because of work?

Back to 99 Percent Katong for some much needed hair SOS.

Always a joy to spend an afternoon with Danson and his friendly team.

People who can skilfully tackle my very damaged, tangled hair are love.

Honestly can't imagine hair-life before 99 Percent Katong.

Not exaggerating.

💇

A coat of colour with Fun's help - 

black with a slight twist!

Waiting time

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.

.

Time for some much-needed treatment.

(Not used to seeing my hair in black;

It's been a while.)

For some reason, I like this machine.

Blowing steam onto the hair to help it absorb nutrients better.

Come on damaged hair,

you need it.

A quick (okay not so quick because the hair is getting quite long and now takes ages to dry) blow-dry later, and it's time for a quick trim. 

Split ends be gone.

Back to black, 

but not really.

Not quite visible when indoors but a sheen of blue can be seen depending on how the light falls.

Danson mixed in blue with the black dye to create a blue-black mixture before an overall layer was applied on my hair.

Result: Black hair that isn't quite just black.

Who says dark hair has to be boring?

😍

I have pretty hair for the upcoming annual holiday with the mother!

#goodthingsmustshare

Check out 99 Percent Hair Studio and their latest GSS promotion for a wide range of discounts on hair, nail services and hair products.

Non-members and members included!

More details on the GSS promo here:  http://bit.ly/2qqBjOh

Promotion till 23 July, so hurry and call 6702 7062 for appointments!

Off on the next trip tomorrow,

updates when we return!

Till then,

XOXO

Back at 99 Percent Hair Studio - joining the grey hair bandwagon (a tad late)

It's been a while since I visited the favorite salon,

and what better time to go than when the green hair (yes green hair) for a show has faded into a sea of algae/yellowness.

Meet algae hair:

A quick blow-dry/de-tangling and assessment by the favorite stylist (hello again Danson!).

Every visit to 99 Percent Katong is a sit-back-and-relax session where I switch off the overworked brain and leave Danson to decide what best to do for my hair that day.
Always a good thing when you can trust your stylist's taste and skills!

Olaplex goodness is mixed into the bleach (to make the bleaching less damaging/more gentle).

Time to remove the algae!

Algae removal in progress,

by the two lovely ladies Kelly and Jackie.

Algae removal, complete!

This blonde is actually pretty cool.

Before it starts brassing and turning me into a strawman, of course.

Nah, no blonde for me. Time for colour!

The fun team at 99 Percent Katong added paper butterflies to the ceiling above the hair-wash area.

"... so that customers don't just stare at the bare ceiling with pipes hahaha..."

Lovely touch!

Touching up the roots with a darker shade of grey before moving on to the rest of the hair.

Danson took care to not bleach my newly-grown (and still healthy) roots, to preserve the (little) health that's left in my head of hair. The darker shade of grey he picked for my roots helped soften the colour contrast between the bleached and unbleached portions of my hair.

Sorry hair, for all the mistreatment I've put you through.

Thank you Danson, for taking good care of my hair!

Rest of the hair gets a touch of grey

- Pencil grey!

Thoughtful Danson reminded me that it's easy to overlook the maintenance of grey hair.

Grey fades quickly, especially with heat. If not washed with the right shampoo, grey quickly turns brassy and takes on a brown/orange-tinge instead.

Tips for maintaining grey hair:

* Wash hair with cold water, shampooing every 2 days instead of daily.

* Avoid styling tongs and other hair styling things that generate too much heat

(hair-dryers are fine).

* Wash with blue/purple shampoo!

Blue/purple shampoo has purple dye mixed in,

to balance out the brassiness that tends to set in otherwise.

99 Percent Katong stocks Pravana's own line of shampoo

meant for lightening and brightening blonde/grey/silver hair.

$40 a bottle.

(It smells quite lovely!)

Shampoo's ingredients list,

for the health-conscious.

A quick trim after colouring...

And we're done!

Hello grey hair!

Loving the shade of pencil grey,
and readjusting to seeing myself with darker hair again, after the bout of green/yellow.

.

.

.

So it's been 2 weeks since I last visited Danson & the team at 99 Percent Katong;

Thanks to the Pravana shampoo, I think my grey has been going pretty well!

I went a step further and got myself purple conditioner meant for blonde/grey/highlighted hair.

(This article was quite helpful in helping me pick the purple conditioner I wanted.)

Pravana's purple shampoo smells great and leaves my hair feeling quite soft after a wash.
I'm also loving the purple conditioner I got from Beauty Language (RPR Brighten My Blonde) that leaves my hair even softer after.

Bleached hair loves conditioner.

♥

(Pardon the dirty wall.)

#goodthingsmustshare

Have lots of fun playing the Monopoly game at McDonald's?
Starting tomorrow, 99 Percent Hair Studio will have their own version of the game;
Get a full hair service done at the salon (hair cuts included) and get a lucky draw coupon!
Prizes include an iPad, a digital camera, and discounts on products or hair services*.

*Lucky draw discounts will be applied on the spot!

Lucky draw runs from 19 December 2016 - 26 January 2017.

Book your appointment now (call 6702 7062)!

Till the next colour update,

XOXO

#purplehair again!

The hair's previous purple has all washed out, leaving blonde streaks behind.

It's about time for a colour renewal!

Back at the favourite hair salon to have my hair done by Danson's skilled hands!

What colour this time?

Waiting...

Blowing dry after the first wash...

And color reveal: Purple!
Can't get enough of purple, but this time, I also get my other favourite colour.
Turquoise!

#shamelessselfie

See that blue-green?
Really really really love blue-green in the hair!

And of course, for the most important step after every colouring session.
The hair's favourite: treatment!

And my favourite product of all from the O'Right range.
The coffee line is the best for coffee lovers; 

the gorgeous scent of coffee surrounds you all day after using the shampoo and hair oil.

Getting a trim after the colouring and treatment.
The hair is so silky after each session with Danson.

And I get pretty (temporary) curls to leave the salon with.

The mix of purple and turquoise is on the darker side because I wanted a darker look this time.

Doesn't show in pictures, but shines beautifully under bright sunlight!

Visit 99 Percent Hair Studio at Katong MODA, tell them you know me (Ann), and get a one year membership* with them for free! 

The membership entitles you to these fabulous things:

• Get 10% off when you visit 99 Percent (Katong) for any hair service.
• Get 20% off when you bring a friend and get your hair done together (your friend doesn't need a membership).
• Get an additional 20% off (on top of your usual 10% member discount) during your birthday month.
• Get a haircut + another hair service, and take 50% off your haircut.

Hurry and book your appointment (call 6702 7062)!

*membership discounts apply to hair services at 99 Percent Katong MODA only. Purchasing of products not included.

And for a limited time till the end of the month (April 2016), get 15% off the O'Right Scalp Treatment at 99 Percent Hair Studio if you're a Beauty Undercover reader.

Free membership (if you quote "Ann"), and 15% off one of the best treatments at 99 Percent (Beauty Undercover promotion).
What are you waiting for?

Till the next colour update,

♥

#purplehairdontcare: Ready for holiday.

It's been a good 2015, blessed with plenty of opportunities to explore the things I love. 

For the first time, I'll be spending the always-full-of-reflection season away from Singapore, rounding up the year and ushering in the new on holiday.

And what better way to do so than with new colours in the hair?

The hair colour from the previous dye (brown with a tinge of green) faded nicely. 

Always happy with Danson's brilliant colouring techniques!

Checking out the colour swatches, getting ready for the new coat of colour.

But first, spot lightening, so the new colour goes on evenly.

My head of hair with spot lightening looks funny from above.

Trusty heater friend, we meet again.

Quick wash and blow; getting ready for colour.

Check out that purple.

Quick wash and ready for the parched hair's favourite part - treatment!

This time, I'm trying Olaplex (No.2 featured here).

Olaplex, a bond multiplier that rebuilds and multiplies hair's broken bonds, aims to lessen the damage hair takes in during chemical processing. 

No.1 is used during the chemical process - mixed with the colours/bleach - to prevent hair breakage, strengthen hair follicles and link broken disulphide hair bonds.

No.2 comes in after the chemical processing, used as a treatment after (10-20 minutes in hair before washing off) that acts like a mask to seal hair bonds. 

No.3's the last step meant for home care.

Easy enough to use: before shampooing, leave it in towel-dried hair for 10 minutes or so, then rinse off and shampoo as usual.

Doesn't hurt that it comes in a very portable, somewhat cute, bottle!

Always the most exciting part: blowing dry, colour reveal soon!

Hair all ready for the year-end trip!

Visit 99 Percent Hair Studio at Katong MODA, tell them you know me (Ann), and get a one year membership* with them for free! 

The membership entitles you to these fabulous things:

• Get 10% off when you visit 99 Percent (Katong) for any hair service.
• Get 20% off when you bring a friend and get your hair done together (your friend doesn't need a membership).
• Get an additional 20% off (on top of your usual 10% member discount) during your birthday month.
• Get a haircut + another hair service, and take 50% off your haircut.

Hurry and book your appointment (call 6702 7062)!

*membership discounts apply to hair services at 99 Percent Katong MODA only. Purchasing of products not included.

Till the next colour update,

♥