Bangs Prime by Tony and Jackey Mucota Treatment and Haircut

How does having a good hair day feels on a daily basis?

UNEXPLAINABLE!

That's why when it comes to haircut, I don't second guess!  I may go on different salons for a "trim" but when I wanted a better hairstyle (a.k.a. good layering in my dictionary)  I'll go for Tony & Jackey anytime of the day.  

Long time readers would know I always go to my favorite hairstylist Misty from Tony and Jackey SM San Lazaro branch!  But who would've thought my favorite salon has something more to offer especially for the coming years?

Bangs Prime is the name you should remember!  

Bangs Prime is a more "premier" version of the Tony & Jackey salon we knew from more than a decade ago.  The salon still offer the Korean way of hair service they've known for!  From Hair Perm, Hair Color, Rebond, Hair Manicure and Haircut.  

And I have to try their service from the branch recently opened at SM Megamall.

That's me and my lifeless hair after all the hair coloring!

After checking out my hair, I was told that Mucota Scena Clinic Treatment (Php3,000) is something I should try.

Mucota Treatment is a series of hair treatment that will help liven up your dry and dull hair at the same time, soften the hair strands and make them smoother and shinier for a month or so.  (depending on how you take care of it post treatment)

New Year, New Look!

As much as I thought I won't have any "me" time before year ends, I'm glad I was wrong!  My schedule for the 27th freed up a bit and my mom-in-law can help me look after Kyle for the whole day so I've decided to squeeze in as many things I can do in a day (para sulit ang biyahe)

I was scheduled for a Post-Christmas get-together with good friends for brunch and decided to take a short trip at Benefit Greenbelt Branch for my much-deserved brows!  (By the way, I've tried ALL their Brow Experts on Almost ALL branches in Metro Manila, they are all good!)  

Traffic isn't that bad from Makati to Ortigas so I've decided to finally go all the way to Podium for a Hairshaft Salon date with Angela.  

Angela was my "Hair angel" who recommended me to Fred Penales of Hairshaft salon and I told her I got hooked with his magical hands when it comes to hair color!  I was SHOCKED when I entered the salon as the place was packed with women with the same goal as me: "New Hair for the New Year!"  No matter how busy the place was, I still see a lot of smiles and laughter from the staffs which made me feel comfortable immediately!  

My Current Hair Situation

Dry, blah, wild and crazy!

Yes, those are just some of the adjectives to describe my current hair situation!  I've done Balayage  ala Hairshaft-style 2 months ago and because of my extremely busy schedule (Kyle Nash going to preschool and all), I can never sit inside a salon for longer than 2 hours because seriously, who has time for that if you have so much stuff to do?

BUT, on rare days like an event at Podium where Hairshaft is located, I rushed to the extremely busy and packed salon after Watsons Kiss Aging Goodbye event.  Thankfully, they accommodated me even with a full house!  

As much as I'm tempted to have my Balayage refreshed or maybe change a new hair color, I just had to go for what I really need!  A hair treatment (for my parched hair) and another session of Brazilian Blowout because I can literally see some "frizziness" creeping through from my roots!  (Not a good sight guys!)

Now looking back at my most recent Hairshaft visit post, naka-red din pala ako nun!  Why do I have this tendency to wear red everytime I visit the salon?  Must be the excitement?  Or maybe I just want to belong!  (check out their wall in this photo)

Nikki with the masters

#Dennisign, #Fredified, #Orbelifico. #Miguelized and #Carled

That day, Ian was the one who assisted me, he has amazing massage skills!  All my tension knots were gone in an instant after just a few minutes of back massage!  Thanks Ian!

Hairshaft Balayage and Brazilian Blowout Review

If you follow me on Instagram (@AskMeWhats), you've probably seen this photo of me smiling THIS BIG while caressing my tresses!  hahaha Silly me, but that's how I feel whenever I touch my hair --- giddy AND silly!  I am so in love with my refreshed Balayage Ash Tone Brown Color which is a Signature Tone that I've done for the second time around at Hairshaft Podium under the magical hands of Fred Penales.

If you follow my "hair color" journey, you know that I've done a lot of hair coloring for the past years!  I've done "boxed treatment" (Hello Revlon and L'Oreal!), I've done random salon visits and recently, it was with HairShaft Salon that I got the MOST COMPLIMENTS!

Whenever I post photos of me reviewing a product or me endorsing ANOTHER product, readers tend to comment about my hair and ask what the color it is!  So today, is the day, I'm formally spilling the beans!  (May formal pa talaga!)  

I have to thank my dear friend Angela for introducing me to HairShaft Salon!  Given my busy schedule, I wouldn't go ALL the way to Podium to have my hair done if not because of the constant "Hair Date" invite from Lush Angel I had to give in!  (hehehe, napilitan pa talaga ako no?)  But seriously, I have to thank her for introducing me to the master of hair color Fred because I really love the result!  It was actually a planned hair-date with both Angela and Alyssa but we weren't able to take photos together!

Now let's talk about Hairshaft Salon, they have a branch at Podium, Fort and recently, I spotted a soon-to-be-opend HairShaft Salon on my turf!  Robinsons Place Ermita!  I haven't visited the other branches because I want to make sure Mr. Fred is there whenever I visit the Podium Branch.  Thankfully, he was there giving all smiles to ALL the customers no matter how jampacked the salon was when I visited last week!  

HairShaft Podium Balayage Experience #Fredified

When Angela visited me during my salon treatment more than a year ago, I knew back then that she will be my perfect "hair salon date"!  No amount of blow-drying and hairwashing can stop us from sharing stories!  

And as you all know, I had my last Hair Coloring Treatment done at Vivere Salon last April, it has been more than half a year so my hair badly needs some TLC.  And that day finally arrived!

All thanks to my dear hair-salon friend Angela for working around my schedule to have our hair #Fredified !  I've seen how her hair transformed (all #Fredified) and they all look amazing!  So I mentioned to her I definitely wanted to tag along with her on her next salon trip!

I love my ash brown color which I have been sporting for more than a year!  But I seriously needed a change and I'm definitely comfortable to have it done at HairShaft salon!  If you search for the hashtag #Fredified on Instagram, you'll definitely see amazing hair transformation so I'm really excited to leave my hair to the hands of the hair master Mr. Fred Penales.

L'Oreal Chroma Straight Hair Makeover at David's Salon Eastwood

Happy weekend once again!  The week passed by pretty quickly but I have managed to use my time wisely!  Last week, after the Estee Lauder counter visit, I went straight to David's Salon located at Eastwood for my L'Oreal Chroma Straight Makeover.

As you all know, L'Oreal was kind enough to give away Chroma Straight Makeover to one lucky AMW Reader!  The winner and myself were originally planned to do this makeover together, but I guess scheduling was a huge problem and I was a bit too busy for the past weekends so it was a perfect Saturday afternoon for me to finally do something to my "starting to get unmanageable" hair!

Let's rewind to my Rebonding History, some of you may not know that my hair is rebonded!  My first rebond was a result of "boredom in China"!  It was those years I was young and easily swayed so I was talked into doing this treatment (In Chinese!*lol*) even though I do not have super curly or frizzy hair.  Like most people who went through the rebonding process, you would probably understand why we need to do the process again and again!

After a year, yup!  A year!  Thanks to all those hair treatments, serums and moisturizing sprays that I tediously apply on my hair as it survived a year of "half and half hair" (wavy on top, straight at the bottom)

Let's get back to the makeover story!  I do not go to Eastwood much so I did ask directions from the friendly security guys and we were guided to the right direction, as I entered the salon, I took notice on the lovely hair products display right away and went straight to the receptionist as I have an appointment!  Waiting area is huge and a staff went up to me right away to lead me to my area!

What's a Chroma Straight Makeover?

Hair Philosophie Color and Hair Treatment

Happy Morning AMW Readers!  Today marks the last day of I Love Beauty Workshop with Garnier, Maybelline and AMW!  If you are free on March 31 and you haven't joined the contest yet, what are you waiting for?  Smile and click HERE to join and cross your fingers and toes after!

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Even with my super busy schedule, I'm glad I was able to squeeze in an hour or 2 to color and treat my hair!  I was contacted by Ria, PR Consultant for Hair Philosophie, weeks ago and it was funny how our schedules won't match!  When the day has finally arrived, It was great to finally meet the lovely girl who was kind enough to fix my salon appointment! 

Hair Philosophie salon is located near Salcedo Park and location was easy to find!

As soon as I got in, the "candy area" caught my attention after the FREE WIFI sign!  All you need to do is ask for candies and ask for the WIFI password, I went for the latter and forgot about the candies and honestly speaking?  I'm having regrets!  *laughs*  Those are peppermint candies!!!

Salon Report: FAB Salon Part 2 at Valero

Browsing through my "cute" organizer, I just realized that my last haircut was around August, for someone who's so into fixing the "layers" or "re-constructing" the hair, 4 months of no-haircut is like 3 days of no water!  (Okay, don't mind me, that's exaggeration!)

My life was a bit of a whirlwind running here and there but this girl ain't complaining!  I love being busy and you wouldn't believe it when I say, the more busy I am, the more energy I get!  --- That's probably an Energizer Bunny's Mantra too!

When I got an invite for a "salon pampering" session at FAB Salon,  I couldn't resist it and it was a perfect timing as it was on a holiday!  I said yes right away and this greeted me once I got in.....

Oh, of course, I saw this too! *discreetly* Shhhhh....

Salon Report: Hair Coloring, Gloss Treatment at AZTA Urban Salon

Happy First Day of October!
To celebrate the Happy October month, not because its October-fest (I'm not that much of a beer drinker), but because October is my brother's birthday!  October is also the month I start to feel the spirit of Christmas!  *inserts Christmas songs as I wear my reindeer headband* :P

One way to keep yourself happy is to give yourself "me" time.  What's my definition of a "me" time? 

All together now: "Visit a salon!"

I try to salon-hop as much as possible because I believe there's just so much to offer in each salon!  I may have a favorite hairstylist but I am quite adventurous in trying out different salons and I'm not that icky when it comes to who's touching my hair!  (as long as they don't pull it hard!)

One rainy weekday, my brother-in-law picked me up at our home and drove me to SM San Lazaro (thanks B.I.L.!).  My sister was also there and my nephew!  He was so cute!  Before we bid our "temporary" goodbyes, he said: "Auntie Nikki will look pretty after!"  --- good job training him sis!  *laughs*

I have been a local customer of Tony & Jackey (my favorite stylist is Water) and it was a surprise for me to know that AZTA Urban Salon has a branch at the nearest SM mall from home!  I'm glad I visited this place on a weekday and here's the gorgeous, comfortable ambiance that greeted me....

Let's not forget the friendly smile of the receptionist Ms. Chien.  

 

First thing I checked....magazines!  Do I have enough to read?  Are they updated?  YES! 

Salon Report: FAB Salon Newport Mall

I've been around the Newport Mall a couple of times and I can't believe I missed a posh salon hidden on the 4th level next to McDonalds!  When I got an invite to try out their services with a couple of gorgeous bloggers, it was a "beauty field trip" that I wouldn't miss, it's high time for me to take a peek at this newly opened salon!

Fab Salon is a full-service salon with a lot of services for both men and women!  I checked their service menu right away and I like the fact that they specify the "meaning" of hair lengths.  At least, you won't be surprise with your bill!  All the rates are clearly published right at the reception area.

Short (up to chin line)

Medium (up to shoulder line)

Long (up to underarm line)

Extra Long (beyond underarm line)

Fab Salon was conceptualized to cater to a market that does not want to compromise quality in exchange for affordability, comfort for functionality, and expertise for accessibility.

Keratin Complex Smoothing Treatment by Coppola Review

I have this love affair for hair as long as I can remember.  Would you believe I had my hair curled when I was 13?  Saved up my allowance and bought my first hair serum from St. Ives when I was 15?  Bought my first tube of hot oil treatment from Watson's at 16?  And had my first hot oil treatment professionally done the moment I stepped in College?  And you would think I have gorgeous hair by now!  

WRONG!

I've invested so much on hair products as I wasn't born with the soft, silky, shiny hair that you see on shampoo commercials and my hair is totally different from my sister! She's lucky to have the "good hair" genes while I ended up with the "talkative" genes!  *laughs*  I'm not blaming my parents for it as I did enjoy my hair care journey, adding the "talkative" genes = Good Blog Posts on Hair!

The first serious treatment I've done is a Rebonding treatment 5 years ago.  I was working in China as a Teacher back then and I spent my free time pampering myself due to homesickness!  Many firsts were done on my hair back then...first time hair coloring, haircut with the use of shaver, which made me cry by the way and last but not the least, HAIR REBONDING.  I don't know why I even agree to do the treatment, maybe, because I don't know how to say "NO" back then?  (Blame it on the NO thing Nikki, very good! LOL)

My hair isn't that bad, but its naturally wavy, so having it rebonded sleek straight is causing me a problem each time there are re-growths.  So I ended up continuing with the Rebond treatment for years and I told myself I have to stop before my hair gets into its worst stage! 

That's one reason why I invested mostly on hair treatment (as seen on all my Hair Products Posts).  Recently, Drea contacted me to try the newest treatment that has been causing a buzz.  The Keratin Complex Smoothing Treatment,  I've done ample research before saying YES to this.  And here's my in-depth report on the treatment that I'm sure a lot of you are intrigued to know. 

Keratin Complex Smoothing Treatment says ---

This therapy is the foundation of Keratin Complex – the original, in-salon service that infuses natural keratin deep into hair’s cuticle. This revolutionary therapy eliminates up to 95% of frizz and curl and instantly adds amazing shine, silkiness and condition to the hair. The results are astounding. Clients rave that “this is a life-changing experience”. Hair is more manageable, smoother and easier to style than ever before. It is perfect on all types of hair – including color treated and chemically processed hair!