Whenever I find myself to be in a bit of a funk, or in for a big life change, or generally just feeling blah about the way I look – I head to the salon for a mini makeover. Nothing too extreme – usually just a cut and color and a hair treatment to help tame my tresses. I have pretty straight, Asian hair to begin with, so my usual issues are how to add volume as well as how to make it look thicker. Fresh off of my Palawan trip, Candy and Ericka invited me over to Culture Salon in BGC for a hair refresh, and really, this nest on my head needed it. The salon is totally my vibe, filled with plants giving a lush oasis energy, and feels more like it belonged in a posh hotel rather than the middle of high street.
Getting the Royal Treatment
Culture Salon is co-owed by Jim Ros, the hair stylist to beauty queens – and we definitely had a lot of queens come through the door that day! Jim is such a lovely human being – he’s sweet, thoughtful, and kind. He has the type of energy where you just want to soak in his good vibrations all day long. While he was overseeing all the heads in the chairs, I got assigned Oliver, who did a thorough examination of my hair and scalp before recommending treatments and a plan of action for my hair. It was starting to get a little heavy and I didn’t mind going short and lopping most of it off. Instead of the usual highlights, which end up looking brassy as my hair grows out, we went with a chocolate base with caramel lowlights and blonde babylights.
A Rosé All Day Vibe
We got started on the hair treatment and it would be a full 40 minutes before I could go wash it all out, so I moseyed on over to the little food spread for a tuna croissant, deli meat, and cheese. Jim came by after with a glass of Martini Rosé 0.0 which was delicious! A little sweet, extra bubbly, and very refreshing, my time in the hairdresser’s chair flew by.
The Hermit to High Priestess Transformation
Oliver took his time with his cut, checking and rechecking the balance, how it framed my face, and how it would fall into place. I got exactly what I wanted – an asymmetrical cut that wasn’t too obvious, that was short in the back. While I was initially concerned that I had gone a little too blonde that it may have washed out my complexion, the mix of cool tones surprisingly compliments it. I went from shoulder-length, scraggly hair with roots growing out to polished and youthful in a matter of snips!
I haven’t really given much thought about my hair since the pandemic has kept me at home for the most part, so the simple act of getting my tresses tamed felt huge for me. Like things were finally going back to normal again and I would finally get to go out and see other people in person rather than looking at them through a computer screen. Isn’t it amazing how a talented hairdresser can make you feel like you can take on the world again?
