My hair had always been the part of me that undergoes various experiments – from short to long, bleach and dip dyes – it's gone through a lot!

Over the last 2 months, it had undergone colour changes that really made me love and appreciate my hair more – and also receive more compliments.  It was all thanks to Number 76 Salon, which is one of the rapidly growing Japanese salons in Malaysia that helped the crazy 'unicorn hair' trend go viral amongst us Malaysian girls.

During my first visit, I got Director Sato (who is seriously one of the best – and he's Japanese, and good-looking) to give me a special ash ombre look. It took 4 hours of bleaching and colouring with treatment as well, but it was extremely gorgeous. The colour was on point, and the curls that Sato created for the final result really highlighted all the different hues in my ombre do.I went back to get an additional round of treatment as my hair was really dry from the bleaching. Treatment is VERY important for coloured hair! Number 76 has this unique Ultrasonic Treatment that I've reviewed before here – which uses a vibration technology to help infuse the treatment creams even deeper into the hair follicles for longer lasting smoothness.

I personally find that my hair's health and colour maintains better when I do at least one Ultrasonic Treatment a month.

My gorgeous ombre hair followed me around for about a month or so, but because it was bleached, the ash colour soon started turning yellow (the yucky bleach colour) and was also getting really dry. Any hairstylist will tell you that bleaching your hair is a very big risk because it really damages your hair, no matter how many rounds of treatment it undergoes. It really requires proper care, like careful brushing and regular conditioning and treatment with the right products as well.

Luckily for me, before the ombre really yellowed out, I got the talented team at Number 76 to create a few simple styles and blowouts for my event days – and it certainly got everyone asking "where did you do your hair?" every single time. It makes me so proud of all their hard work! Hair styling looks easy but it takes a lot of care and work. Look at the lovely braid Hikky, yet another talented Japanese hairstylist, gave me!

Another gorgeous blow out by @number_76 and I also did their Ultrasonic Premium hair treatment (RM370) that helps keep colour treated hair healthy and smooth because collagen is used for this treatment. Get yours done if your hair was as dry & damaged as mine.

A photo posted by Michelle L. (@coquettishmish) on Oct 22, 2015 at 9:34pm PDT

Everyone at @number_76 is so talented! This lovely do is created by @76hikky 💜💜💜

A photo posted by Michelle L. (@coquettishmish) on Nov 2, 2015 at 6:08pm PST

I just discovered the delights of Japanese-style hair pampering.

Number 76 is no new kid on the block, with already 5 outlets within the Klang Valley, but the Japanese hair-salon concept is relatively new in Malaysia. I didn't think much about the difference between our regular salons and Number 76, until I was given the opportunity to get my hair pampered there.

I arrived at the Bangsar outlet along Jalan Telawi, and just like all its other outlets, the Number 76 on Telawi is industrially-chic on interior, with a lot of wood and unfinished brick/cement walls. Even the facade is chic in white bricks and wide glass panels.

I was promptly given a seat at a large, large mirror. The place was busy, but I had this section all to myself, and I took some time to observe the various activities being carried out by the busy staff. I find that Number 76's patronage is mostly women but surprisingly, there were also a handful of men too. Anything from hair cuts to coloring, treatment and styling up-dos, there's quite a lot of things they can actually do for your mane.



My hair was assessed by Ivan (one of the best stylists there, in my opinion) and he decided that my hair is way too dry after all that Balinese sun and coloring. So he prepped my mane for a Ultrasonic Premium (rrp. RM370) hair treatment, and told me to just relax.

There were a lot of moisturizing Japanese products used, and it is always different for everyone as they tailor each session per customer, depending on the hair condition. Basically, I got a nice hair wash, before they applied a moisturizing white creme all over.

Then a special Sonic Premium vibration tool is used. This tool has an ultrasonic vibration that works to break the molecules within each strand to help in nutrient absorption. It's not hot, although it looks like your typical hair straightener. I even tested it out by putting my finger in between, and it's fine, it gives off a quick tingly vibration. The treatment is said to last up to a month, or more with proper care.




The process takes about 20 minutes where the Sonic Premium tool is moved laterally across each section of hair a couple of times to ensure that the vibration aids the absorption of the creme, which has collagen and various moisturizing agents in it.

Right after, the creme is washed off and another treatment creme is applied while I lay on the sink-armchair (what is the official name for this? A shampoo chair?) and snoozed a little. One amazing thing is that they have an eyemask to put over your eyes so that you do not have to either: stare awkwardly at the person bending over you to wash your hair; or scrunch your eyes tight against the overhead lights which can be very bright. So thoughtful!

It all ends with a nice blow-out and Ivan is specially amazing for creating my favorite kinda curls, without using a curler. He used a hair straightener to quickly roll out these curls, amazing or what?! And all the products used are either Shiseido or some premium Japanese brand, which has got the loveliest scents! Overall, I had a pleasant experience, as true to the Japanese way, everyone there were friendly and did their best to make everyone else feel comfortable and good.




I guess my mane has now found a new place to get pampered. ;) To see what they have on offer, head on over to Number 76 and check out their extensive menu. Do call ahead for an appointment!

I think my hair has been under enough duress.

Over the last few years, it has been bleached and dyed and colored over and over again – without any rest period in between. It has becomes something that even the best of Redken or Kérastase can't save. Way past its salvageable texture, my split-ends are a cemetery of tangles. My hair has been dip-dyed when I rode the 2013 trend, into a blue-purple combo, which later on faded to pink.

The pink octopus of 2013.

At a later time, I chopped off all my pink bottoms (that's one upside to dip-dyeing) and was grateful for my black hair, which I think looked less damaged.

A few months later, I got itchy feet and decided to get some blonde under-lights. It's just like getting highlights, but underneath instead of on top. This makes it so much easier to maintain – no more visible black roots, yay! I kinda really liked this look too, my hair looks honey-dipped.



Of course, the vibrancy could only last for so long. The honey-tones started to fade off after 7 months and slowly turned into a very yellowish blonde which I despised. So, I decided to dye my hair again, this time with just purple. I had a crazy purple color obsession at the time, so I decided to be a pony.



It was so gorgeous and I loved it terribly, even now. But then, I went to Boracay for a beach vacay, and the color started to fade out considerably. But the purple is pretty resilient, and I even made it till CNY without losing off too much of its vibrancy. It was until recently in April that I realized that my magic purple have more or less disappeared completely, leaving me with hay-like hair, that literally looks like hay. I can't risk dyeing more colors to cover them up, I'll face the same issue a few months down the road again anyway.

So I decided to dye it one last time. Back to black.


Look at how bad my hair looks! Blonde with a hint of purple, not very classy. The blonde is also quite irregular and doesn't share the same even shade of blonde in random areas. And black somehow makes hair look extra healthy. And it's not possible to dye other funky colors into hair once your go black – so I'm sticking to this for a verrryyyyyyy long time.

To have crazy hair with crazy colors – that makes you a trendsetter in today's society. Everywhere I go, I see heads with a million colors and in so many styles – from dip-dyes to highlights, to a full head of purple hair. Conservative reds and browns are so yesterday.

I, myself am no stranger to colored hair. Just a year ago, I had purple-blue dip-dyed hair which faded to a shocking pink color later on. I chopped it all off later on to go for some honey-blonde underlights. And now, I have green hair. It was an accident – that green color, but that's a story for another time. There are other bloggers I know who also donned that crazy-rainbow-colored hair trend.






There was a post I wrote about regarding the proper care (in my books), for dip-dyed hair. And now, in this post, I would like to highlight the amazing hair care range from Joico, that will give your tresses all the tender loving care that is very much needed, from all that peroxide that had ruined your hair's health. I've used Joico's K-Pak shampoo range before, pre-peroxide hair period, and I loved it!

The brand has since made vast improvements to the formulas, with its new Bio-Advanced Peptide Complex added to all ranges, for different hair needs. Here, I'm highlighting all the main products from their vast range – that is perfect for damaged or colored hair, or even both – which is perfect for my hair!

THE DAMAGED HAIR'S HERO
Joico's K-Pak! The best for dry, damaged and frizzy hair. It will strengthen and repair hair where necessary and of course, contains the new advanced complex that will gives your hair the much needed TLC. You'll find increased hair elasticity and also better moisture retention for smooth, sleek hair. Now you can flip your hair with confidence, like how they do in hair commercials.




FOR LONG LASTING COLOR
Hence why it's called Color Endure. It is a deep hydration shampoo and conditioner, that is sulfate-free and contains color-locking complex that keeps your hair vibrantly shiny and bright for a longer time. It even comes with a UV protector to keep your hair safe from the sun's damage. Which is perfect, because then you get to frolic along the beach, under the sun and not worry about your hair being covered all the time!





Also,  I want to shed light onto these people, who are rarely acknowledged or known for the good work they have done (because they're always behind the scenes). These two below here are Joico's guest hair stylists, who are responsible for beautiful hair and style on the models.



On the left, is Cherry Petenbrink, who is member of Joico's Elite Color Competency. She is a former salon owner, a celebrity stylist and a Hollywood film color consultant. Did you know that Cherry was the color consultant for the first ever Hunger Games movie? She has since worked with many other celebrities from Nicole Kidman (in Stoker) to Scarlett Johanson (in Captain America) to even Tom Hanks (in Saving Mr Banks, oh how I love this movie!).

On the right we have Kim Judkins Bonadio. She is a traveling stylist with impeccable hairdressing skills and an infectious positive spirit. She travels frequently to Asia and Europe to gain inspiration and lives by the motto of "creation.. not duplication." Her cut, color and styling talents have been featured in international media such as Jessica Code, New Straits Times, Hair For You For Me, Malaysia & Singapore, Beauty And Hair Indonesia – just to name a few.




It's amazing how the 'hair' industry has evolved because like it or not, hair is called our crowning glory for a reason. It gives the first impression and it leaves a lasting one as well. May you all have lovely hair, with the TLC from Joico's amazing products.

First of all, I don't know if everyone here knows what a beauty box is. A Modbox, is a beauty box. It is a box that contains a few samples of fun beauty items to try, before you decide on buying the full-sized product. So many times have I been deceived by pretty packaging of beauty products - and ended up splurging on something that doesn't suit my skin. Or purchasing a color of  lipstick that doesn't complement my skin tone.

Such woes can now be put to rest, because Modbox is here for you to test!




You can select 3 items (by that I mean beauty samples) of your choice across 3 different categories. You get to be adventurous and try that product that you don't want to risk splurging on... yet. Pick and pay for your order, no monthly commitment fees and no strings attached. And per box is only priced at RM9! Isn't that great?

Modbox deals directly with each beauty brand, so you are guaranteed original products. Some of the brands they have under their belt are Crabtree & Evelyn, Murad, Ronasutra; just to name a few. A delectable variety of stuff to try is a given! Choices vary from month to month though.

I was given the privilege to try out their Modbox Blogger Kit and I had loads of fun trying out new products I have never used before, some I've not even heard of until now. It was quite an adventure!





BIFESTA: EYE MAKEUP REMOVER
This is a water-based eye makeup remover that works as advertised! I had my usual makeup on; waterproof eyeliner, some eye shadow, light bronzer and eyebrow pencil. With a cotton pad, I soak just enough of it to use for both eyes, and tried on one side by holding it in place for 3 seconds, then swiping to the side.



I made a swiping motion only 3 times in left, right and downwards direction – and my makeup came off, all of it! That was just my eye, my eyebrow took just one swipe outwards. I flipped the cotton pad over and repeated the same thing on the other eye, and my face was makeup free right after! It's amazing! No more eye-rubbing like a maniac. :) It takes a bit more swipes for mascara, but it comes off pretty easily too. Safe for use on your lips as well. It has Vitamin B & E infused within, for softer skin when you wake up.







HUMAN NATURE: OVERNIGHT ELIXIR
Right after I cleansed my face and applied my toner (I'm using Shiseido White Lucent by the way), I tried on the Overnight Elixir. It's an oily concoction of 9 ActivOil Nutritive, that is a special blend of carefully selected oils for their revitalizing and antioxidant properties.




Oily as it is, it absorbs immediately into the skin to moment I apply and massage it in. It gives off a very mild herbal smell, which I have come to like very much. I had to try applying it every night for a week to give a fair review – and the verdict is that my skin does feel so much softer (no joke, really) and it looks radiant already by the third morning. It's not something I could capture on camera, but using it, you just know and feel the difference. This is actually one of my favorites out of this box!




DENTISTE': PLUS WHITE NIGHTTIME TOOTHPASTE
I was amused when I saw this – it's toothpaste! At first glance you would be thinking; what has beauty got anything to do with toothpaste?



First of all, it's a night time toothpaste to use before you go to sleep. Why? Because it is supposed to help banish the multiplying bacteria (while you sleep), and allow you to wake up with no morning breath! I was skeptical at first, but no harm trying. It tastes very much like peppermint, like the kind of taste you get from chewing gum, must be the xylitol. The paste also contains 14 natural extracts, among which are eucalyptus, mint and fennel. There's also Vitamin C, CDX (a type of molecule to help eliminate bad breath) and micro silica complex, that's sort of a fine tooth scrub. It's quite a mouthful, literally (YES, I JUST MADE A PUN!) but I got my boyfriend to check out my breath the next morning.



Usually, my breath isn't that bad (or so I think... I wouldn't know for sure, really) because I drink loads of water before I sleep, but there're still hints of stale breath. After using Plus White, there's definitely a decrease in stale breath and my mouth doesn't feel too gross in the mornings anymore. If you smoke or drink coffee regularly, this would work even better in your favor.




MIA CARE: ACNE PATCH FOR DAY
This is quite a unique invention. A patch that sucks the acne pus from the skin, which giving it protection from bacterial infection. It's a sticky little circle of gel-like hydrocolloid, about 12mm in diameter, that can be placed to blend in nicely with your skin.

I don't get acne usually, and I had none to test on. Instead, I got my younger sister to give it a try. In about 12 hours of having it on, her acne bump had flattened, and the acne patch has turned white – which is the pus it sucked out of the skin. It's quite amazing really, and I think vain teenage girls would find it useful.

I did an experiment to show how well it blends in with your skin. It's not completely invisible, as you can still clearly see the circular patch, but with a bit of concealer, it's quite unnoticeable from afar.






SHAIRE LONDON: FRAGRANCE FREE DRY SHAMPOO
I absolutely love it when I receive hair products! My crowning glory is my favorite thing to experiment on – and I love dry shampoo even more because I don't wash my hair every day.



This fragrance-free dry shampoo cleans, conditions and reinvigorates hair. Especially when it hasn't been washed for quite a few days. I make it a point to only wash my hair once every 2 or 3 days (because long hair is such a chore to wash and because daily washing can cause long hair to be brittle), so it is kinda gross when I have accumulated hair sebum on my head. That's where dry shampoo come in as it is great for that 'in between' wash, without actually washing. It's also great for when you're late for events or meetings!





Enriched with seaweed extracts, it also repairs and strengthens roots, while preventing split ends. It smells a bit like herbal seaweed, but slightly nicer and it feels exactly like water, not sticky or heavy. Just spray, run your fingers or comb through your hair a few times, and voila, you're ready to head out with clean hair! This is another favorite of mine!




That sums it up for my Modbox experience. They have a wide range of useful and practical everyday beauty products – and you can choose what you want/need. Samples are great because you keep your space clutter-free. Within over a week, I have finished most of my samples, and I have less clutter in my beauty cabinet. Even if I have yet to finish some other samples, they are so small and so easy to store.

If you're a practical gal, who loves to buy and try – minus the messy clutters, Modbox is for you!

www.modbox.com.my

While having a mane of thick hair is a blessing, it is also a curse when it comes to hot weather and brushing. Frizz is one of them, and tangles are a never ending battle. I have always been battling frizzy hair, from my teenage years up until now. I tried straightening, hair relaxing, but these methods just make my hair look too flat.



Frizzy hair is awful, mainly cause of the tangles and dryness which causes split ends! Not to mention the hair dye that has totally dehydrated my tresses. Luckily I have already found the perfect shampoo for my dry, colored hair. The perfect shampoo alone cannot help naturally frizzy, thick hair.


Thankfully, all these woes can be put to rest with the right tools.



Just recently I got myself a small detangling brush from Sephora. It says small, but this is no travel-sized brush. It's the size of a regular brush, and it fits nicely in my hands.




What's so great about it?
First of all, it's a detangling brush that works. It untangles your hair without damaging your hair because the bristles are firm but gentle. Second, the bristles are infused with tourmaline crystals that releases negative ions upon contact with hair. This reduces static in hair, keeping your hair sleek, smooth and under control without frizzing. Tourmaline is known to help retain moisture and smooth dry, damaged hair.



It's very nice to hold, it has one of those 'ergonomic' (what a mouthful!) handles which curves to your palms and has rubberized grips for better hold. It's white and shiny, looks somewhat like porcelain. Now, the bristles are round tipped, which means it will not hurt your scalp and would actually feels nice when massaged against it. Best of all, it is completely washable so you need not worry about damaging or loosening some glued parts.




But of course, not all hair can be tamed with just a brush. Another one of my secrets is argan oil. I have a small bottle of pure argan oil that was given to me, and this oil is what many consider the 'Holy Grail' of hair beauty. It's very thick, with a luminous gold glow. But argan oil in the raw, does not smell nice at all! I found that it can be used to soften skin, nourish hair and body. Albeit all its benefits, I really can't take the smell. So what I do with it, is to use it as a hair-mask.



Before washing my hair, I take about 2-3 drops of the oil, and spread it through my entire head of hair. I leave for 30 minutes or more (overnight also works) before shampooing and conditioning as usual. It does make a difference in the softness of hair – and to think it's achievable without those added silicones in most hair shampoos. Au naturale indeed!



Blow-drying your hair can also cause frizz. I know, there is just no end to the torture of having lush, thick hair. I usually speed-up the blow drying by using Schwarzkopf's BC Oil Miracle Finishing Treatment. It's a bottle of magical goodness of botanical oils (it's a secret combination) that oozes thick drops of oil enough for my liking. I cannot tell you how irked I am with 'oils' that I've purchased from other brands that are just too thin and watery. This one though, is perfect and works as well as my other favorite argan oil brand which I raved about here.




This BC Oil goes very nicely onto hair and evaporates fast, so it doesn't leave an oily residue. It speeds up your blow drying and it leaves hair feeling soft and pampered. Love that feeling and the way my hair looks after. :)





So, there you have it, three must-have tools for effortless-looking hair. They are my everyday tools (except for the argan oil which is used for hair wash days), even when I don't wash my hair, the BC Oil is a must! Have any of you tried BC Oil before, and what're your thoughts on it? What about argan oil?