image credits: Katherine Ahn / photographer, Andrea Claire / hair & makeup, model: Fernanda Campelo / Diva Models Singapore

The key to beautiful hair is a compilation of healthy choices.

Diet: You are what you eat, and so is your hair. [insert cliche but true healthy food list, drink water, blah blah blah]

Shampoo:

If you can read this blog then you probably are thinking 'um... I've been shampooing for years now, but thanks Andrea. *eye roll*  I think I've mastered the lather, rinse, repeat'

Well - hold the phone on the eye roll Ladies and Metrosexuals!

Now it's: lather... wait for it... rinse! The new thoughts are extra washes just add to stripping the hair and scalp of the natural oils so allow the shampoo to sit for about 30 seconds, massage if you like which aids in lifting pomades, sprays, pollutants etc then rinse. Kinda makes sense when you think about it.

*Choose a shampoo geared to your hair type.

If you have:

Fine hair use volumizing ala PhytoRhum

Coloured hair use colour protecting ala L'Oreal Elvive Colour Protect

Damaged hair use protein enriched ala Pantene Color Preserve Smooth

Curly hair use hydrating/ anti-frizz ala Marc Anthony Strictly Curls

Swimmers or over-users of hair product - build up removing shampoos ala Philip B Peppermint and Avocado 

Conditioner:

Yes Virginia, everyone needs a conditioner.

 A light cream rinse ala Aveda's Rosemary Mint for shorter virgin hair and very fine hair.

Colour maintenance conditioners ala Marc Anthony Brilliant Color tend to help with colour fading issues and have UV protection in them. Generally found in shampoo/conditioner pairs and worth reaping the added benefits.

Protein conditioners ala Aveda Damage Remedy are for rebuilding the bonds of fried hair - don't mistake damaged hair with thirsty hair. Dry hair is not the same as damaged hair. You can have dry hair without the damage but if your hair is damaged generally you will need both a moisturizing conditioner and a protein conditioner. If you have coloured your hair with every trend of the season, chemically straightened and curled it with tongs then you need hair help and a beauty intervention.

Moisturizing conditioners ala Fekkai Shea Butter Moisturizing Conditioner are formulated to replenish thirsty hair.

*Always comb through conditioners with a wide tooth shower comb prior to rinsing out. This evenly distributes the conditioner throughout your hair.

The latest in towel-drying? Don't. Grab an old t-shirt and wrap your shower-soaked hair until it is damp. Roughing up the cuticle occurs when you aggressively towel dry your hair creating breakage and flyaways.

Styling:

*If you want your hair to do ANYTHING you have to use product. This is not a choice, this is a must-do.

Styling lotions ala Aveda Confixor are great for a light hold with little to zero stickiness.

Have a choppy cropped cut? I love spray waxes ala Sally Hershberger Genius Spray Wax. Spray wax has a movable hold so you get a fun chunky effect but it's not stiff.

Pomades for me are a little too 90s so I rarely use them. They are the 'Dad' hair product like what moms are to jeans... I prefer to use hair powder ala Schwarzkopf Dust it for styling men's hair with a controlled messy texture.

Thermal Protectants ala TRESemme Heat Protectant Spray are a MUST when using heated styling tools as they guard against heat and friction to keep your hair shiny and incredibly soft. Truth: I used this on the model's hair, image above.

Hairsprays come in working sprays, flexible/medium holds and fixing sprays. Essentially freeze your hair in shape with a fixing spray ala Redken Forceful 23  all others are lighter holds. I LOVE this one as the lid locks in my kit therefore no leaking hairsprays draining on my tools.

*Honestly, the product list can go on and on... have a hair type or texture you need guidance on with products or styling? Leave your question below. 

image credits: Katherine Ahn / photographer, Andrea Claire / hair & makeup, model: Tiffany / Diva Models Singapore

Spray shines ala Philip B Shin Shine are a great finish for galas, red carpet and bridal or if you are starring in a hair ad otherwise don't bother wasting your moolah. You can add shine by simply utilizing your ceramic round brushes and cooling button on your blow-dryer. Aim your blow-dryer up your hair shaft for volume and down the hair-shaft for smoothing and shine. Check out here for some more blow-drying tips.

*NEVER brush curly hair unless it's prior to a shower as a pre-shampoo detangling and then I recommend the Tangle Teezer! Awesome brush for everyone!

Frustrated with your curly hair? Don't rebond it - embrace it! Check out my favourite curly hair divas at My Deva Curl who know all there is about combating frizz!

Have a happy hair day!

You might be able to guess from the background that this was shot in Paris!

I have been asked what makeup I used on this spread (Thanks Noelle for the FB question!).

Answer:

FACE atelier! You see this brand by my name lots. Nope, not a paid spokesperson - just a little mutual love and affection.

What's dollface is wearing:

FACE:

Ultra Foundation #2 (Ivory)

Blush in Tea

EYES:

Eyeshadow in African Violet and Mauve

Black Cake Liner

Lash RX in Midnight

LIPS:

Lip liner in Sand

Lipstick in Cameo

In her hair I used Marc Anthony Hair Care Full Blowout Lotion and Pro FINISH hairspray.

If you watch the behind the seams video you will realize that it was a windy day in Paris and hairspray was a waste of time so I stopped using it at one point. I could have chosen to shellac her hair in place but I personally love movement in the hair and loading up on hair products gives the hair a helmet effect; that is not how I do hair, I prefer effortless beauty. Tres chic.

Photography by Brendan Zhang and styling / creative direction by Furqan Saini.

Click the above image for a closer look at the credits. Sadly, you can't buy ELLE Singapore online yet but there are other ELLE franchises you can find on Zinio for purchase. See more of this spread here.

um... Go CANADA!!!

Yes. Marc Anthony is Canadian. And he's totes adorbs! We aren't besties or anything but we met on a shoot; season one of Superstar Hair Challenge. I was the lead makeup artist who led a team of fabulous artists collaborating with the hairstylists competing on the reality show... many moons ago...

Now, Marilisa (Marc Anthony's Artistic Director) and I are friends. We met when Marilisa was my 2nd in command for Toronto's Fashion Week. (That doesn't mean assistant, it means second in command, like Spock. Marilisa was my Spock.]

Marilisa messaged me via the Twittisphere wondering about modeling agencies here in Singapore. My response? A giddy "OMG ARE YOU COMING!!!" This is when I discovered that she indeed was and that Marc Anthony HC was launching in Singapore.

I have over the years of living in Canada tried some of the Marc Anthony product but for the most part when I was introduced to the brand I was under contract with L'Oreal Paris so 99.9% of what I used, especially in media and on camera was L'Oreal Paris.

I have really gotten my hairstylist's claws into it this week. This photo was my office for Cosmo (Singapore).

I still need to play around with the products cuz they gave me A LOT but, off the top recos:

bye-bye Frizz Blow Dry Cream - this was a special delivery. The distributors decided not to carry it. Why not? Who knows. I love it and it would be perfect here.

You sexy BEACH!! That's what they should have called this Dream Waves Amplify , I mean who doesn't want sexy Giselle CFM hair? (You in the back sit down)

A little Instantly Thick at the roots takes your flat hair up a notch.

I'm showing a pattern here with the creams and lotions aren't I? I used this Strictly Curls on a client for a lovely Veronica Lake wave.

Why do I like creams and lotions? They are lightweight and non-sticky. You get bounce, definition... whatever you are looking for but with soft tangible hair.

TIP: do not put in product when your hair is soaking wet otherwise the ingredients get dilluted and the results can be a weaker hairstyle.

Check back because I will be testing this bye bye FRIZZ 30 day no frizz treatment that IS AVAILABLE IN SINGAPORE! In fact... I have 2.

hmmm... gives me an idea...

BONUS!!! I think I may just give one away. Check out my FACEBOOK for details. Sorry Singapore residents only ask Marc to do a giveaway in your country. ;)

Marc Anthony HC is available globally and they have a wicked site with loads of tricks and tips. Check them out here.

Grouchy sidenote cuz that's how I roll: I excitedly mentioned the Marc Anthony event to editors on set and the fact that my friend and peer was going to be here to launch it. I then found out that I was invited to the blogger event and not to the media event with my peers. I am not a blogger.  I am a hair & makeup artist with a blog so, different; I love what I do and you just can't shut me up from sharing. So PR companies: if you send me a 'Dear Blogger' I just delete it. I didn't delete this invite because of my pal Marilisa, not because of the PR company here.

I know everyone is getting their footing still in the world of online media but I happen to know a few tv host / celeb types who have blogs; I know beauty editors who have blogs and neither of these peeps get blogger invites; they get media invites...At media events we know not to take the displayed products and shove them into our handbags, we graciously accept our media swag bags and press kits from our hosts as we leave.

just sayin'