Summer is here – and Hong Kong is getting its mojo back! Why not treat yourself to a session in a salon, so you can fight the frizz and get a fresh look to celebrate being outdoors? Glow Spa & Salon in Hong Kong has a team of local and international stylists with extensive experience, and a comfortable, friendly and welcoming salon where you’ll feel looked after and listened to. Here we take a look at two key services they offer – smoothing and colouring treatments – for sensational summer hair.
Hair Smoothing Treatments
HK’s humidity can turn even the most sophisticated-looking locks curly or frizzy. The Glow team understands this and offers a number of options to help you handle summer in this city by keeping the frizz at bay. They’ll ensure they match your hair type to the right treatment for the perfect outcome, too.
Did you know?
Glow says that frizz is caused by the hair’s cuticle opening in response to the humidity in the air. “When the cuticle is open, the hair doesn’t lie flat, producing the frizzing effect. Dry or underconditioned hair is even more susceptible to frizz.”
#1 Bhave
• This Aussie brand of haircare uses fully bioactive keratin protein naturally derived and extracted from the wool of New Zealand sheep. The keratin binds to damaged hair, while amino acids penetrate the hair, rebuilding the internal structure and restoring strength, elasticity and shine.
• Bhave comes in two formulations: Bhave Smoothe PLUS and Smoothe XT. Each provides beautiful smooth hair; the one you choose will depend on your hair condition, how much curl you want to retain, and when you want to show off your new, wonderfully manageable hair.
• At-home maintenance is easy: apply heat after each wash, either blow-dry and style, or air dry to 85 percent dry and finish with a five-minute blowdry and a couple of passes with a straightener.
#2 Goldwell Kerasilk Smoothing Treatment
• Three special ingredients give this treatment its power: engineered keratin, lightweight silk and an advanced ingredient inspired by the skincare scene. Together, they help to provide added beauty, strength and protection to hair.
• Goldwell Kerasilk consists of customisable in-salon hair services that provide long-lasting results; there are four different options according to how much curl, wave or body you’d like to leave in your hair.
• The treatment is suitable for all hair types, and takes around 2.5 to 3 hours. It’s recommended you don’t tie your hair back for 48 hours; however, you can wash it again that same day or the next if you choose.
#3 Brazilian Blowout
• A popular alternative to permanent straightening, the original Brazilian Blowout smoothing treatment uses bonding technology to create a protective protein layer around the hair shaft and eliminate frizz.
• Brazilian Blowouts are customisable; you can keep and define your curls, or go for a sleek, smooth look. They’re suitable for all hair types (those with frizzy, damaged or processed hair are great candidates), and can be completed in the salon. You can wash your hair the same day, tie it back to exercise, and use styling products.
• Typically, the effects last 12 weeks; the Glow team recommends using the Brazilian Blowout Açai home-care shampoo and conditioners for longer-lasting results.
Hair Colouring Services
We all need a change after the past few years. A change is as good as a holiday – and it’s especially welcome for those who might not have travel on the agenda just yet! Now is a great time to freshen up highlights, brighten up balayage, and frame the face with light cool colours to highlight sun-kissed skin tones. For darker tones, you can add texture with playful caramel and toffee colours.
We chatted with a handful of Glow stylists to see how they sorted the perfect look for some recent clients.
STYLIST: Rex Wong
What was the brief?
My client’s colour from autumn 2021 had grown out and she wanted a bright new look for summer. She’s an active, sporty person with very fine hair, and it was quite dry. She needed to trim the split ends, while keeping as much length as possible.
What did you do to achieve the result?
To create a natural, sun-kissed, creamy blonde look, I used both highlights and lowlights – this trick is to use the darker colours to make the blondes look brighter. I included Olaplex to protect the condition of the hair, and added moisture with a rich nourishing mask at the basin. The style is easy to manage and long enough to pull into a pony tail when exercising.
STYLIST: Tracey AuYeung
What was the brief?
This client had decided to embrace her grey! She wanted to move away from regular root touch-ups and reduce her ongoing hair maintenance, for a fresh new look for her summer travels.
What did you do to achieve the result?
As she was ready for this big change, it allowed me to cut out a lot of the dark colour, so I did a full head of highlights to power up the blonde for a super-light result. I added Olaplex and applied a K18 treatment for maximum protection before starting the highlights. This is a modern cut that’s easy to maintain and style every day.
STYLIST: Danny Li
What was the brief?
This client was ready for a big change and needed a colour correction. She wanted to visibly see a much lighter result by the end of the service. In addition, she was keen to get rid of the warm tones and go lighter and brighter for summer. As a working mother in the fashion industry, she wanted to keep her style modern, youthful and work-appropriate.
hat did you do to achieve the result?
I used the foliage technique and coupled it with a root smudge. I kept a very natural look at the root, getting progressively lighter toward the end for a balayage effect. We did a protein treatment to build internal structure and prevent damage at the ends, and the client left with the Olaplex homecare range to maintain her hair at home.
Glow Spa & Salon is at 8/F, Silver Fortune Plaza, 1 Wellington Street, Central. For more information about their range of hair smoothing and colouring treatments, call 2525 5198 or go to glowspa.hk.
This article first appeared in the Summer 2022 issue of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue.
