You may think having wavy hair is all fine and dandy, but no, not in my case.

If you must know, I was born with wavy, thick and unmanageable hair, which I hated so much. It often looks windswept, sticks out in all the wrong places and having bad hair days began to define me, little by little.

Ergo, I have been straightening my hair ever since I was a 14 years old and has since never looked back.

But with technology revolving around the hair industry, hair revolutionists have been churning out new ways to make the “straightening” procedure and results a little more alluring.

With my one and only hairmaster, Winnie Loo of A Cut Above Group

My previous session at A Cut Above was when I did my Kerastraight Brazilian Keratin Treatment which got rid of the frizz and frayed, dryness in my hair (you can read about it – here).

Following up, my next appointment was scheduled to straighten my unruly mane.

One of the rare days I’ll leave home with such disasterous looking hair,

is ONLY when I’m on my way to A Cut Above!

Today’s session was done in A Cut Above @ Bangsar Shopping Centre 

Before undergoing a chemical hair treatments to structurally modify your curly and unruly hair, I would first like you to know the difference between the two techniques of hair straightening – hair relaxing and hair rebonding. 

Here are a few things you have to know:

DIFFERENCES

Hair rebonding allows breakage of hair bonds, rearranging those bonds and restructures it once again to the desired, straight, state. Using a flat iron, the hair bonds are restructured and then applied with a neutralizing agent that will preserve the newly structured hair bonds.

The tool usedis a flat-iron to flatten/straighten the hair and relatively takes longer than relaxing.

The effect relatively takes longer than relaxing but is more lasting than relaxing and the results of hair rebonding will be a pin-straight, flat-out stick straight hair.

If you like the sleek, super straight look, then this option will be suitable for you. But to me, after many years (and many times!) of rebonding my hair, I find that it looks rather unnatural and closer to a broomstick effect than a healthy straight hair effect. 

Yeah I had this kind of straightened rebonded hair for years!

On the other hand, hair relaxing straightens the hairby breaking down the components of the hair and takes the frizz out of your hair strands. In other words, it ‘relaxes’ curls to a more manageable state, smooth the hair to a straight effect.

Only a blow dryer is used to straighten the hair and the process is relatively faster than rebonding.

However, relaxing may not last as long as rebonding as the natural wave is slightly maintained, although much straighter than the original.

But to me, this option looks more natural than rebonding as it does not give you the uncooked spaghetti-straight hair effect.

SIMILARITIES

Both procedures alter the structure of your hair permanently – duh, you wanted it straight, right?

Certain activities like swimming, too much exposure to the sun exposure, or improper styling tools may have adverse effects. Chemically-treated hair is always more vulnerable and sensitized, so just give your hair extra care and love! 

STEP 1: ANALYZING

So which did I end up underdoing?

Winnie recommended me what she would call, the hair relaxer rebonding treatment.

I’ve always trusted her completely, as she gives me the best advices! 

As such, I’m going to share with you the entire process of what goes behind-the-scenes of a typical hair relaxer rebonding experience at A Cut Above and why this is the best option for your hair if you want the best of both worlds of rebonding AND relaxing.

STEP 2: SHAMPOOING AND PROTECTION

Like all the appointments I’ve had at A Cut Above, my hair was first washed.

Getting my hair washed while checking out the shampoo that they used on me today.

It is the L’Oréal Professional X-Tenso Care Nutri-Reconstrutor Shampoo

This shampoo is has two technologies merged into it – Pro-Keratin and Incell.

Containing anti-breakage and anti-dryness properties, it helps to rebuild and deeply nourish damaged hair.

The hairdresser assigned to me was very friendly and rather informative when I asked questions!

STEP 3: PROTECT AND CARE

My hair was then towel-dried and sprayed with L’Oréal Professional X-Tenso Care Nutri-Reconstrutor Serum.

The former helps to ensure healthy and best results by improving hair’s elasticity during the straightening.

It was then combed straight and separated into sections.

STEP 4: APPLICATION

The relaxing cream was evenly applied underneath and on top of onto my hair layer.

STEP 5: DEVELOPMENT

The cream was then left on for about 15 minutes for chemical reaction to take place.

While developing, the heat helps to open hair cuticles, thus allowing better absorption.

STEP 6: SMOOTHING AND FINAL DEVELOPMENT

After 15 minutes, my hair was smoothened and combed layer by layer.

Then, it was left on for another few minutes for final development

STEP 7: RINSING 

He rinsed my hair very carefully, making sure that ALL residue of chemical creams are removed.

STEP 8: BLOW-DRYING

My hair was gently blowdried as hair is usually in fragile state after relaxer chemicals have been applied

Still slightly damp after blow-drying, the next blow-dry step will take place.

Separating my hair into sections again.

STEP 9: STRAIGHT BLOW-DRY

In the usual rebonding procedures, this step is skipped and instead, straight on to the flat-iron stage.

But this relaxing-rebonding process requires my hair to be blow-dried straight  first. 

Blow-drying definitely gives the straightness a more natural curve to it before the ironing process!

Don’t you agree? 

Reading some magazines on my hairdressing table.

Almost done!

Winnie dear came by to check on the procedures.

It’s all going well! Your staff are very professional and well-trained 

She then advises on the next step.

I was also howing Winnie some of the questions that you asked,

so I could quickly reply all of you with the right answers!

Yup, if you want to know anything at all regarding anything hair-related to A Cut Above, feel free to ask me; I’ll try my best to ask her personally for you 

STEP 10: IRONING

As the straight blow-drying process has already been done, this ironing stage was very brief,

but sufficient to create a straighter, more longer-lasting effect compared to just blow-drying alone.

The flat irons used at A Cut Above is an ideal one, made of either ceramic or titanium,

and regulated to not more than 180-200 degrees celcius.

This is to avoid the hair of getting burned and lead to irreversible frizz of the hair.

I would know, as I’ve gotten my hair burnt many times due to unprofessional straightening in the past! 

Results! No, we’re not done just yet – but we’re almost there! 

Just waiting for my hair to cool off to normal room temperature.

STEP 11:  NEUTRALIZING

After leaving it for 10 minutes, a neutralizer was applied to bond the structure of the hair again.

It was applied on each section of my hair thoroughly.

Sipping some hot tea while the boys worked on ensuring the neutralizer is evenly applied.

The neutralizer was combed gently and slowly.

It was then left to set for 15 minutes to achieve optimum conditioning and nourishing effects.

STEP 12: FINAL RINSE

My hair was rinsed with cold water to remove all the neutralizer left on my hair and conditioned thereafter.

I know it’s a long process, but A Cut Above does everything to perfection,

without compromising all the fine details.

We all want the best for our hair, don’t we? 

When the straightening of my hair was finally done, it was time for a hair cut.

She inspected my hair and asked me how I would like it to be this time.

I asked for something irregular and non-symmetrical! 

Being one that favours the bold, daring & experimental when it comes to hair styles, my brilliant hairmaster Winnie gave me an edgy, non-conventional haircut to suit my personality.

I love the times we spend together during hair cuts!

Winnie is super fun, and it’s always nice catching up with her 

Putting her magic touches and snips to my hair

Her movements were very swift and precise in their swipes.

But of course, her tools of trade is the mighty scissors and her very own fingers! 

After more than three decades, she’s never fails to be extremely meticulous and sharp in her craft! 

That is just one of the things I admire and respect about her. She’s so inspiring.

The accolades and awards won by A Cut Above says it all.

It’s true that despite achieving success, you should never stop what you truly do best because it genuinely

awards you with immeasurable self-satisfaction. I can see how Winnie really embodies that philosophy!

Anyway, she also gave me back my Skrillex-inspired side-shaved buzzcut.

Happy times whenever I see her! 

She’s a fighter too, recovering well after a recent car accident. God bless! 

After all the long hours of hair straightening process and a quick haircut by Winnie,

are you ready to see a BEFORE AND AFTER? 

I know this is your favorite part.. haha!

Most of you always ask me for before and after photos whenever I experience anything. So here they are!

BEFORE

BEFORE

BEFORE

LEFT: BEFORE   |   RIGHT: AFTER

Such chemical treatments require tip-top salon skills and knowledge as delayed rinsing, or improper application and execution can definitely lead to hair damage. I’ve been there, done that, and been there, done that, wash rinse and repeat the nightmare again and again.

So this is why I urge all of you out there who is looking to straighten their hair, to go to credible salons or hair centers that are professionally licensed and skilled, lest you get your hair burned and damaged like the ghost of all brittle hairs LOL.

Which is why I always return to A Cut Above!

I”m positively sure that once you come here and experience top-notch services, you won’t turn back. 

Oh by the way, they are currently running a Father’s Day promotion. Check it out:

All the more reason for you to pamper daddykins! 

Thanks Winnie, for a wonderful afternoon and for always making my hair so gorgeous!

See you again soon dearie!

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To book your hair appointments or for more information on this treatment, you can:

Call them at their salon via their contact number: +603-2283 3131

Log on to their website at: acutabove.com.my

They are very active on social media too!

Like their Facebook page at: fb.com/acutabovegroup

Tweet them on Twitter at: @ACutAboveGroup

Follow them on Instagram at: @ACutAboveGroup

It was a night of never-seen-before fashion taken to jaw-dropping wonder and extreme measures.

I gladly accepted the invitation when I received Winnie’s text message one evening. It is my utmost pleasure to be at another one of her marvellous events!

Brought my other half to the party with me.

Celebrating over three decades (34 years, to be exact!) of prominence in the hair industry, A Cut Above threw an out of this world hair X fashion show in conjunction with Mid Valley Megamall Fashion Week 2013. 

The party was aptly named Amazing 34.

She told me that it was going to be an avant-garde and punk inspired evening. So being me, I stuck to the theme as closely as possible. 

Just a little snippet of what I wore (I know my manicure should be black instead of red though!)

Here is my top-to-toe lookbook for the event. I decided to adopt a glam-rock look tonight.

Jessicat wears:

Leopard print corset by Supre | Asymmetrical skirt from a fashion bazaar |

Acessories by Diva | Studded wedges by Vincci+ | Knuckle ring clutch by Nose

We got there just in time! 

The host for the evening, Chui Ling, had just started to give us guests a warm welcome.

Chui Ling looking classy on stage

She then called upon Winnie, founder of A Cut Above Group, to join her on stage to make an appearance.

I was so glad to see her out and about already and making a seemingly good recovery progress (from her recent car injuries). Her speech was short and sweet – as always. 

Looking fine as ever, Winnie thanked us guests for being here tonight and

promised that we will be wowed by what we were about to see.

And oh yes, I believe her! 

I was excited and rushed to the front of the stage

(with my significant other in tow!) to get the best view.

Tonight featured three distinct themes: punk, edgy runway trends with a twist, and the avant-garde.

Let’s take a look at the first one, shall we? PUNK – here we go! 

Local band An Honest Mistake looking mighty punk-ish tonight!

They rocked their original tracks including their latest ‘Giddy Up Horsie, This Chase Ain’t Waiting for You’

I almost couldn’t recognize buddy Leonard, as I’ve never seen him looking like that before 

And with the blue mohawk (wig) hairdo? It goes pretty well on him!

Darren and Leonard rocking the stage on electric guitars!

I’ve always been a fan of punk, alternative rock and easycore music since high school.

Had fun headbanging with them with the crowd! 

While they were performing, a bevy of models began to sashay down the stage showcasing trendy runway coordinates with an edgy twist and attitude to boot! How often would you see a band playing their songs with a fashion show happening in unison?

Yup, definitely not the typical hair/fashion show you would expect.

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Oh and if stylish pieces and latest outfits are your thing, do check out www.enni.net.au.

It’s a online apparel store based in Australia. Yup, that’s your doman of fashion right there! 

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This was one of my favorites! On top of the very unique make-up and silvery mohawk, I

totally love her spiked bralet, the studded leather jacket and the grafitti-print pants 

Awesome combination of dangling chains, paper-frills and blue ringlets in her hair

Another hair-raising glam punk fashion in view! Quite literally too.

With a red-black mohawk, this model featured heavily tattooed arms,

a neon coloured mesh strapped in belts and black liquid leggings with fishnet stockings

Watch the short video we made

Once that was over and done with, a series of avant-garde collection stole the limelight the moment models adorned in experimental fashion strutted the catwalk. 

I managed to shoot each and every style paraded on the runway. Let’s have a look at them, shall we?

This reminded me of a prison inspired uniform with a cushioned overcoat!

A giant velvet bow adorned his collar. His lips were of powdery white, and so was his hair.

This model showcased a side-shaven buzzcut with shimmery silver and black coordinate

(I used to sport this hairstyle too, but in red!)

 Bold and stylishly edgy.

I’ve seen some fashionistas donning this look lately!

This model portrayed a very metro-modern look with

side-combed hair and sci-fi inspired glasses

This model had a dual coloured trojan-mohawk.

Brown on his left and bright red when he turned to reveal his right!

He was draped in brown and black fur, fish net sleeves with marble designs on his tightpants

This model (with an impressive physique no less!) came out in a skin-tight spandex outfit,

long flowing “hair” and looking like a dangerous cross betwen Darth Vader X skull face.

 I honestly don’t know how he can see while catwalking!

This model featured a semi-formal look with a daring twist. Huge ruffles of black frills

adorned his shoulder and netting were binded around his legs

Covered fully in a black cloak, the blonde dip-dyed mohawk

stood out boldly from this look

Can anyone say Avatar with a warm, bronze twist? These ‘conjoined twins’ walked

with an aura of Red Indian braves, the kind that would instil fear and respect from their tribe

In her very high platforms and metallic silver outfit, this model walked precariously

on stage and I even held my breath with every step she took! 

Mysterious and clandestine, this model walked up slowly but steadily on stage

dressed fully in shiny black and large circular tubes in tow

Adapting science fiction fantasy into fashion, this outer space-like model

catwalked on the runway on stilts and threw a few stunts too!

Doesn’t this look like a giant optical illusion? 

The final performance was a very dainty and sophisticated one.

It was interesting to see how ballet and hair were fused together.

While ballet dancing, this nimble and quick artist transformed her white hair almost entirely to red!

Amazing 34 was indeed a visually arresting showcase of both radical hair and fashion works of art. 

I was wowed over completely. It may have taken only a few minutes for each model to exhibit each fashion statement, but the amount of effort, designing and styling by the creative minds at work behind everything we saw tonight certainly deserved a standing ovation.

It is with such creativity and innovation in the hair and fashion industry that commanded a

humongous crowd witnessing the unique display at Amazing 34 that night.

Just when you thought the show was over, A Cut Above had another surprise in store for us all.

The larger-than-life sized red centrepiece which we all thought was just a prop started to move about.

And the final model of the evening emerged!

Everyone, myself included, was startled but pleasantly surprised! 

She reminded me of Queen ‘Padme’ Amidala from Star Wars.

Although appearing mildly menacing, her moves were graceful, and her gestures, elegant.

Check out the runway video we made featuring the avant-garde collection

This wasn’t in the day’s agenda, but looks like the surprise element came from someone else this time.

Guess who decided to surprise our dear Winnie instead?

Her adorable god daughter Crystal Lee crooning Miley Cyrus’ ‘The Climb’ and Jessie J’s ‘Price Tag’ to all of us

My favorite part was when she rapped. Although I’ve heard her sing this song many times,

I can never get enough of listening to her rap that verse

Winnie giving her speech of gratitude for a successful night.

It’s always beautiful to see the mother-daughter love between them; so sweet and moving! 

The event came to a closure with the fashion designers and stylists making their way on stage.

A thunderous applause followed thereafter, for without the entire creative team behind this brainchild, we would not be able to even catch a glimpse of such challenging and meticulously-crafted masterpieces of fashion! 

Winnie was extremely busy buzzing about everywhere but I managed to catch her after the show!

She still looked so gorgeous and glowing even by the end of the day. 

I would be so stressed, frazzled and sweating buckets if I was the one hosting a show as huge as this!

Back to back with my favorite hair personality of all time, Winnie! 

Thank you for a wonderful Tuesday night of a spectacular, out-of-this-world fashion and hair party.

A Cut Above never fails to impact their guests with of the most eye-catching and trend-setting that ever existed.

With the beau, who was my date for this exclusive event

With Edmund of A Cut Above. Thank you too, for the invite!

I’ve known him for a while too, Ed’s such a nice and patient person to deal with

Ohai! Bumped into Josh and Olivia at the party too.

We were standing beside each other during this entire time and I didn’t even realize till after!

With sweet and stunning Amber after the show

We have a funny story. Also, I cannot count the number of times Paul and I

bump into each other whenever we shoot events. Expect a collabo soon! 

Ben and I catching up. It’s been a while! Also, he coaches amazing

catwalks by the way, thus hailing him as the catwalk guru! 

Winnie with the creative team gathering on stage for a final appearance

To me, this party was more than just a celebration of 34 years of excellence. It was no doubt, a hallmark and pinnacle of modernism in the domain of fashion and hair. 

Breaching boundaries and departing from practical guidelines of fashion as well as society’s usual expectations of style and appearance, tonight was hands down, a cut above the rest of all the other fashion week events I’ve attended this year!

Kudos to the mastermind of the entire concept behind A Cut Above’s Amazing 34!

You’ve outdone yourself again, Winnie dear 

One more thing, most of you always ask me where I usually get my hair done.

I have only one answer – where else but A Cut Above? 

Out of all the hair salons that I’ve tried, I only recommend and trust A Cut Above to give you only the best of anything hair-related. From hair cuts,  hair treatments, to hair makeovers or anything at all, rest assured it’s handled by the experts! 

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Hair appointments can be made by:

Contacting them at +603-2283 3131

You can also:

Visit their official website at www.acutabove.com.my

Join A Cut Above Group of Salons on Facebook

Or follow @acutabovegroup on Twitter and Instagram

“Charity . . . is the opium of the privileged.” ― Chinua Achebe, Anthills of the Savannah.

Tonight certainly made that old adage crystal clear, as A Cut Above Group of Salons was set to deliver a night of love, music and kindness in its finest grandeur.

I was honoured to be invited to this philanthropic celebration, known as 'A Musical Evening for the Children' in Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa's Grand Ballroom.

My look tonight is influenced by the grace of Greek goddesses.

I was aiming for purity, grace and elegance and attended the evening donning white and gold

Here's what I wore to the event:

Accessories in gold & the white sequinned toga dress is from a boutique in Melbourne, Australia

I arrived the venue and was already amazed by the first thing I saw; the decorations of the building!

All set for an ethereal night ahead!

Upon entering the Grand Ballroom

The moment I arrived, Winnie dearest, the Chief Creative Director & Founder of A Cut Above had just begun giving her welcoming speech.

Great! Just in time 

Winnie Loo addressing all her guests

She spoke of her aims of this ball & ultimately wanted us to enjoy our evening with her.

Just by listening to her speak, I knew she had high hopes for tonight and I could also forsee that it will be a successful evening; leaving us with beautiful memories and warmth in our hearts.

I was ushered to my table and took my seat

The celebrity emcees of the evening – Chui Leng and Baki Zainal

He had a really epic hairdo!

It was all shaved around the sides but had some sort of dreadlocks tied up in a long ponytail.

Before gala began, there was a cheque presentation to the Malaysian Children's Aid Society (MACAS)

As expected, the contributions, donations & sales from the charity was a success! 

If you can't see from the mock cheque above, the amount was an impressive figure of RM312,000!

That's an amazing figure, don't you think? But that's not all.

An auction for an exquisite piece of jewellery was held at the end of the gala! More on that shortly!

The main VVIP table

The very first entertainment of the night was a graceful performance of ballet dancing!

The children were decked in adorable animal outfits dancing in a nimble, yet sensual & languid motion

Moving to the rhythm 

These lovely children were from Karen Barnes Dance Studio, who danced to 'Symphony of the Forests'

Their moves were smooth, synchronized and executed in perfect harmony. Well done, kids! 

Next up, was our favorite nine year old songbird Crystal Lee!

She belted out several renditions of popular songs, ranging from the oldies/classics to the contemporary.

It was wonderful to see her wide range of vocals at such a tender age! 

This little songbird wowed us all with her confidence and melodious voice.

She actually looked really tiny singing her solos all alone on the huge stage!

See what I mean? 

But she wasn't going to be alone any longer.

Her mentor, violinist Dennis Lau joined her onstage and performed an incredible duet with his prodigy!

They brought down the house with a mind-blowing version of Jessie J's Price Tag!

I couldn't help but to bop my head to the rhythm & sing along with them too!

A photo with Dennis and Crystal 

A stark contrast of musical entertainment soon followed.

Heavy bass filled the air! All produced not by the speakers or the sound systems of the event, but by the mere sounds coming from one's throat. 

I'm sure you've heard of beatboxing 

Koujee the beatboxer amazed the crowd with his remarkable and rather rare vocal talent.

Koujee beatboxing!

He then burst into a duet with Dennis Lau who once again, made his appearance on stage.

Their breathtaking combination of both vocals and instrumental talent got the crowd roaring for more! It was a very peculiar medley of beatboxing & electric violins but it worked so well! 

Koujee & Dennis Lau performing a duet

Among the tunes I managed to catch were Black Eyed Peas' I Gotta Feeling, Benni Benassi's Satisfaction, PSY's Gangnam Style and several more others all mashed up together in a seamless duet.

They even got down from the stage towards the crowd and personally entertained some of the main tables

We were next serenaded by Enfinity Academy's 14 student choir group of all ages!

After their heart-rending choir, the Glitterama Ladies Charity Group then stole the limelight.

They were dressed to the nines in embellished and flamboyant ball gowns with decollete necklines! 

The 24 beautiful ladies stood before us, ready to sing their hearts out in unison

Winnie was part of it too! I loved her ravishing mustard-yellow ruffled and bowed ball gown

It reminded me of Belle from Beauty and the Beast

These stunning ladies dazzled with us with not only their alluring beauty, but also their diversely distinct vocals in belting out various alto and baritone/soprano notes 

Singing with passion

We were captivated by their renditions of 'Phantom of the Opera' and a Whitney Houston medley of 'Greatest Love of All', 'Saving All My Love for You' and 'I Will Always Love You'. 

Award winning ballroom-dancers, Cecilia Yong & Alfred Choo complemented the Phantom of the Opera moment

It was plain to see that all the guests of the evening were having a ball of a time. 

What could be better than an exclusive gala of friends, food, music all in the name of good faith?

Sipping on my 3rd pint of Kronenbourg amidst all the chattering and catching up 

The next two notable singers to steal the show and wow us with their impressive voices were Vic Teo and Dina Nadzir of Malaysian Idol (Season 1) fame.

He had a very Michael Buble-cum-Il Divo vibe about him when he sings!

His deep and velvety voice worked the soul, swing and jazz numbers in perfect harmony

Dina performed a very cheeky Malay classic song & vocal pop

She executed it so well, befitting her bubbly personality!

I would know! As I religiously followed Malaysian Idol and loved her voice and demeanour since 2004

I was getting even more and more captivated by the line-up of entertainment for the night. 

It was such a luxurious and sophisticated ball of magnificent talents! 

Dama Orchestra soprano Rachel Tan performing the symphonic 'Think of Me' and a classical 'Time to Say Goodbye'

Just when you thought the next act would be another fine vocalist, the night surprised us with a twist

Next up, was a special appearance by the 16 finalists of the Miss Universe Malaysia  2013 pageant.

They strutted down the runway in a catwalk featuring the elegant, chic and feminine fashion designs of Bill Keith's latest collection. 

Sashaying down the stage

The winner of the Miss Universe Malaysia 2013 was Carey Ng (left) by the way!

She will be representing Malaysia in the Miss Universe pageant next year to compete with other winners from other 89 countries. All the best, and make us proud, girl! 

A bright red expression

The next highlight of the evening was a one-of-a-kind, show-stopping hair & fashion show.

Not even a slight hint of exaggeration! See it for yourself 

I held my breath when they walked precariously on those killer sky-high heels!

The eccentric hairdos I saw left me shell-shocked. They were very unconventional and was certainly a bold prophesy of future fashion conventions and standards. 

This could very well set the bar! 

This avant garde fashion showcase left me feeling like I was in some alter-universe of a galactic fantasy.

It was bold, and many never-seen-before gender-bending styles were brought to life.

The MCs of the evening then announced the results of the silent auction

Throughout the dinner course, a silent auction of an 18K Gold South Sea Pearl Necklace Set With Diamonds from Flower Diamond were being bid for. 

I don't have the exact photograph of the resplendent pearl neckpiece in question, but it looks similar to this

The final call of RM34,800 by Dato’ AK Nathan won the bid, 

contributing another immense amount of money to the proceeds!

He was personally called up on stage by Winnie as she publicly acknowledged his kind, colossal contribution

Winnie's & MACAS' gratitude towards him was expressed with a warm bear hug 

Spread the love!

Here are some photos of the night with friends and associates 

We had a superb time catching up over dinner and the stellar entertainment!

Edmund and I 

Ben and I 

Leo and I 

Gim Ean and I 

Joshua and I 

Leo, Casey and I 

A night of music, talents and merriment steeped in love, kindness and compassion, was all what I had expected from A Cut Above's 'A Musical Evening for the Children' charity ball & gala dinner that night.

And true to its aims, the night was, hands down, certainly a memorable one. 

Here's a short video I made of the night! Watch it 

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ7XihjSwnQ

Enjoy!

“It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” 

― Mother Teresa

Winnie dearest and I   Doesn't she look stunning?! 

(She's wearing the same pearl necklace auctioned for RM30K+ earlier)

I'm so glad all her hard work & efforts with her team was well-worth every sweat & toil for the past few months in planning, coordinating and executing a spectacular night for us all to commemorate 

Tonight was elaborately celebrated, but its sole aim was simple, charitable and remained truest to the heart.

Congratulations to the A Cut Above Group for raising RM346,800 in total,

instantly catapulting this charity gala ball to greater success! 

From zero to hero in less than 3 hours.

This must be magic? No it’s not. It’s the Brazilian Keratin Treatment! 

Remember the recent tragedy/mishap that completely fried my hair previously?

Deep fried grass. There was nothing I could do.

Except…only one way to fix it.

Making sure it is given a good treatment to restore it back to health & its natural shine as well as having my destroyed ends perpetually cut off, little by little.

Shot these photos just before undergoing the hair treatment.

My dry & unmanageable, frizzy mane  I hated its damaged & rough texture!

There was only one place that came to mind. One place with the expertise that I trust to rescue my hair

So I hopped into my car and drove there immediately

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Before I begin, let me announce that I’ve decided to wait 3 weeks after this hair appointment

to publish this blogpost as I wanted to testify and prove that the results of

the hair treatment I underwent can be easily maintained and can actually last. 

After almost a month, it certainly proved it’s worth, my hair is still very smooth, healthy and straight – so impressive! 

—————————

I dropped in for my hair appointment at A Cut Above in Mid Valley Megamall

I loved the neat and minimalist-yet-classy concept of A Cut Above’s interior.

It was spacious and brightly lit too! Here, take a look 

The front desk/counter & the walkway

Various hair products & brands were displayed on a big open showcase of cabinets

Beautiful, right? I took my seat in this zone

Chief Creative Director & Founder of A Cut Above, Winnie Loo, consulted me on the condition of my hair. She’s one amazing person, by the way. One that I have much respect for since the day we met in 2009. 

I trusted the fate of my hair upon her. What’s not to trust? 

She’s a dear friend and also the bigboss of A Cut Above, that speaks for itself!

Winnie recommended me their latest technology, the Brazilian Keratin Treatment, as it would be the most suitable for my frizzy, wavy & unmanageable hair.

After she accessed the texture of my hair and gave me her consultation, she gave her staff some instructions before they began the procedures.

Ready for a detailed, long review and in-depth description of my experience?

Since many of you have been asking me to explain and shed some light on the Brazilian Keratin Treatment that I personally underwent, here it is! 

STEP 1 : Hair Wash/Cleansing

My hair was first washed with normal shampoo to cleanse my oily scalp.

Then it was washed again with a Pre-Treatment Cleanser and left to leave-in for 10 minutes. This is to ensure that my hair cuticles are gently opened, impurities stripped away and ready to absorb the KeraStraight treatment. 

STEP 2 : Preparation

My hair was towel-dried & blow-dried to remove the remaining moisture.

A light mist of Pre-Treatment Spray was sprayed on all the porous & weak areas of my hair.

After spraying a copious amount of Pre-Treatment Spray, they lightly blowdried it again.

At this point, my hair was ready for the treatment! 

This is the Brazilian Keratin Treatment solution used on me – the KS Complex Treatment by KeraStraight

Fun Fact! 

This Complex Treatment is a protein based straightening & repair treatment for normal, wavy, unruly & damaged hair. It is formulated with low pH protein technology which improves the condition of the hair and smoothens it. 

My hair was separated into sections & clipped up for easier manageability 

STEP 3 : Application

When they began to apply the KS Complex treatment liberally to all the sections of my hair, I was already bracing myself.

Had initially expected a pungent chemical smell to fill the air, but I was so wrong!

Making sure the treatment is evenly spread on all the strands of my hair

It had a light, sweet and fruity scent to it – to my utmost surprise!

This made my experience all the more pleasant.

STEP 4 : Development

They had it to leave-on for about 20 minutes so that the treatment “sinks in” properly.

Gotta make sure it’s benefits are maximised and penetrated deep into my hair shafts! 

STEP 5 : Blow-drying

Once the treatment had set in during the previous stage, they both began to blow-dry my hair with medium heat.

I was impressed how it made good progress. The results were already beginning to show a bit even when the the entire process of the Brazilian Keratin Treatment was not over yet.

My hair definitely felt softer & less frizzy even at this stage! 

They also used a paddle brush to help smooth my hair during the blow-drying process

The next step fascinated me a whole lot. I was given a surgical paper mask to wear.

When I glanced at both the hairstylists attending to me, they were already wearing it!

How interesting. This is the very first hair treatment I’ve undergone that required me to wear a mask!

The both of them and I with our masks and their latex gloves. So professional; safety first! 

Before I could even ask why we needed to wear the mask, they noticed my puzzled expression and explained to me what the masks were for. 

Apparently, some customers didn’t like the smell of the gas or couldn’t stand the mere sight of the “smoke” emitting from their hair. 

STEP 6 : Ironing

I didn’t mind the smoke/gas at all. In fact, I thought it was pretty cool 

But rest assure to everyone out there, there is no need to be paranoid or worried.

A Cut Above only uses the Brazilian Keratin Treatment by KeraStraight. Their products are Formaldehyde (toxic carcinogen) free! 

The Brazilian Keratin Treatment requires a process of sealing the liquid keratin right into the hair cuticles.

For this purpose, a heated flat hair iron is used.

Winnie took some time off her busy schedule to check on the progress

She made sure everything was going fine. It sure was! Her team of hair stylists were doing great.

We engaged in some chit-chat while the two of them were still ironing the liquid keratin into my hair.

She also explained to me certain interesting facts about this Brazilian Keratin Treatment

as I was curious to know how some of the processes work

I have to admit though, I was rather afraid when I saw the smoke and how they ironed my hair several times. 

I thought that my hair was on fire or that it was going to be ‘fried’ or ‘burnt’ during this process!

Winnie debunked my initial worries and assured me that I have nothing to worry about. The high volume of protein in the keratin solution has coated my hair and acts as a form of protection from any damage. 

Without the heat from the flat iron, the liquid keratin will not be able to penetrate the hair shaft as effectively anyway.

Check out how smooth and frizz-free my hair looks after the ironing!

It looks flat here because it’s fresh off the hot iron!

But it won’t be flat for long because the next step is…

STEP 7 : Shampoo & Condition (Mask)

He then rinsed my hair from all the treatment cream and shampooed it clean.

The KeraStraight Straight Maintain Shampoo was used.

This shampoo is great as it is sodium chloride & sulphate free. (More about that at the end of this post!)

After that, he conditioned my hair with the KeraStraight Protein Mask to leave-on for 5 minutes

Fun fact!

This protein mask is a powerful concentration of low-weight proteins that reconstruct & revitalize damaged hair. It improves hair elasticity & rebuilds it as well – preventing breakage! 

Washed everything off once it finished setting in!

STEP 7 : Blow-dry to finish!

We have come to the end of my two-hour Brazilian Keratin Treatment session.

It was a very fascinating and eye-opening experience. My hair has never been this hydrated and healthy! It felt so much softer to the touch and the texture was so much smoother and frizz-free.

My hair’s natural shine has been restored & enhanced 

Apart from having softer, smoother & shiner hair, this Brazilian Keratin Treatment has semi-permanent straightening effects too.

As it naturally straightened, the result lasts for at approximately 4 months depending on your hair type and your own protein keratin in your hair’s inner structure. 

After-treatment care is extremely encouraged.

The KeraStraight Straight Maintain Shampoo & Conditioner!

The former is a luxury Sulphate-free shampoo that maximises the effects of the KeraStraight treatment.

It washes & cleanses gently without stripping away the protective layer of Keratin. 

The latter is specially designed to lightly moisturise the hair with its blend of complex proteins.

This lightweight conditioner’s low pH of 3.5 locks the hair shaft to prolong the results of the treatment.

Loving the results so much! 

I fully recommend this treatment above everything else for healthier & gorgeous hair!

Finally, it doesn’t look like unruly, deep fried grass on my head anymore.

This comes from the girl you know with bright red hair for the past 6 years. Throughout all my years of chemically-altered & damaged hair from all the bleaching, self-tonged-curling, dying, straightening, perming and everything else I’ve done to my hair, this Brazilian Keratin Treatment has done my hair a favour!

So yes, I can definitely vouch for this 

The starting price, depending on your hair type/condition, begins at RM600 (enquire within!)

Alright, alright. I know a lot of people will freak out when they think of the price.

To be very honest, I think this high-tech, natural treatment which strengthens & repairs your hair from within and without, is well worth every penny & a good investment to your hair.

I personally have spent so much on my hair (amounting up to several thousands!) over the years trying to give my hair the best it deserves.

After numerous, various hair treatments I’ve done & experienced, I’ve came to one conclusion –

– You decide you want to be stingy on your hair, so you only fork out RM80-RM200 for a mediocre 

hair treatment with high hopes that it will guarantee you healthier, stronger and smoother hair.

– You achieve only the result of softer hair which will last you for a couple of days, or a week, at most.

– You are dissatisfied and return for another hair treatment thinking that 

‘it is good to go for a hair treatment once every few months’.

– Your hair is still unhealthy from the inside, still damaged and not even close to being silky-smooth.

– Three times undergoing that so-called hair treatment of sub-par quality

(one that does not repair your hair but only gives you temporary softness!) would already amount to RM600. 

Do you see what I mean yet?

I was a very happy girl with very happy, healthy hair that afternoon

My point exactly. So.. why don’t you just put that RM600 to good use for the hair professionals to give you a high quality treatment that guarantees healthier, stronger & shinier hair once and for all?

Your hair will thank you for this.  Mine sure did; I could almost hear it 

Three cheers for the Brazilian Keratin Treatment – a newfound gift to hair!! 

After the hair treatment, I felt like having a trim or a nice cut to complement my brand new hair.

With her deft fingers and skills, Winnie so graciously gave my hair a magic touch 

Snip snip snip!

The master at work 

Being one that favours the bold, daring & experimental when it comes to hair styles, I left the decision entirely up to my hairmaster Winnie to surprise me with something new.

She told me that she will give me an edgy, non-conventional haircut to suit my personality.

Winnie truly read my mind  She’s wonderful!

She also gave me back my buzz-shaved, Skrillex-inspired undercut!

And lastly… a short, bold set of bangs!

DONE!!! 

What do you think? Something different, hey? 

Cool, right? I loved my new look so much! 

RIGHT – BACK – LEFT

She maintained my concave slant of my short hair but made it so much more choppier, edgier and deliberately uneven – just the way I like it! I noticed how this creative cut was also crafted to bear more of my nape tattoo.

Told you she’s a wonder. Blessed with talents & an amazing personality yet so down-to-earth and fun! 

I had a delightful time at A Cut Above. So thankful that my hair is in good hands now 

They made sure I didn’t leave without the after-care products too 

So for you people out there who have been asking me about dry/damaged/frizzy hair, you know what to do 

I hope my first-hand experience was comprehensive enough to guide you with everything you need to know about the Brazilian Keratin Treatment! I will continue giving you the latest updates bout new stuff/promos from A Cut Above!

Try it for yourself! You’ll be impressed by the results.

Today it has already been 3 weeks and counting! The long-lasting effects showed no signs of diminishing so far

The KeraStraight Brazilian Keratin Treatment is only available at A Cut Above Group of Salons.

To make your appointment, call 03-22833131 or visit their webbie at www.ACutAbove.com.my for more details.