Life As A Hairdresser

My First 2 Weeks Off - Paris and London 2010

2010-10-21T01:14:00.000-07:00

First time in my 12 years of career as a hairdresser, I took a brave step to give myself a longer break - 2 weeks. I was really nervous before I flown off to London. After all it is my longest holiday ever. The main purpose for the trip was to get myself inspired and attend Toni and Guy 2010 Project 10 Launch and training.

I reached KL LCCT on 3rd October 2010 at 11.30pm. I was alone.. and I stayed awake for 24 hours in LCCT for the next day, flight to London at 12.30pm. Gosh, I was drowsy...I had Faye Wong as companion...and a book.."Bangkok Tattoo" to read but my eyes were so tired I just sat on the floor and people watching...I realised something that night... I understood one point that when I was in a rush during work I felt stressful; but I could not believe myself that too much time to kill was even depressing...

walk to airport to kl

me and my boots as companion

bangkok tattoo, a drowsy reading

Long waited for 11 hours; I finally met my long time girlfriend from Melaka who was also on the trip with me. Joanne came only after I checked in. I had to as I was too tired to think of the luggages..

Everything went smooth and we checked in and the first things I did was laid down and slept...lucky one seat besides me was not taken so I could sleep better...I was so comfortable; slept for 12 hours and woke to refresh myself again before landing. It took 13 hours to reach London but I was okay as I had some sleep.

We took a ride on coach of GBP 8 per trip to Victoria Station before taking tube to Embankment where we were staying. It was just 5 min walk to the apartment and it was a great place to stay and safe...We had a good rest and the next morning we were bound for Paris via Eurostar train. We bought first hand and had a good rate of GBP 69 for return; through website and checked in was easy as we had pre print our ticket.

tea to wait a train to paris

Waited..excited as it was our first time and we both were trilled and reaching the city was so cooling..and romantic haha...I missed my hubby that moment and I could not believe I made it to Paris...after dreaming for it ever since I was a kid. I enjoyed the scenery while walking and finding the hotel we were to stay..

Everything were within reach. Montmarte was a great place to stay. We tried whatever we could afford. However we felt that Paris food was very costly and it was not that great except the Italian food we had at La Galle if I am not mistaken of the restaurant name. .... We visited Eiffel Tower and went sight seeing..walking and relaxing....We stayed for 2 nights.

paris eiffel tower

Travelling in London; we felt much comfy as we stayed in Joanne's friend, Sean's apartment. It has everything from kitchen to laundry. Whoa....we both saved alot for more good shopping haha....Thank you Sean for the hospitality...

me and joanne wait bus to london

sean and joanne

me and London Eye

First day touring around London, (8th and 9th October) we were finding all the routes to where we want to go; by foot. Haha....saved GBP 1.80 per trip. We managed to walk to Trafalcar Square, Piccadily Circus, Oxford Circus, and Old Bond Street ...and you know what we meant...

burberry

memories

It was very cold and windy but we were enjoying it.

10th October was the Mainstage and I was very excited about it as it was my first time to such huge team celebration..and it's the Toni and Guy team and I am very proud that I am part of it...

It was at the Battersea Power Station and before it started our team from Malaysia and Singapore gathered for a drink at a nearby pub. It was freezing but we were okay..haha...

Queueing to enter the launch; we saw many hairdressers like us; all over the world...and we are the Toni and Guy and Essensuals and it were about 3500 of us. Shows started in 5 min time and for the first time I saw Toni and Sacha Mascolo in real person and I was immediately felt "God, thank you for the journey...it is tough but it is worth it"...

10.10.10

10.10.10 stage show

I enjoyed the shows and went home feeling amazed and looked forward for tomorrow training, from 11th till 15th - Project 10

I met so many great people during this journey.... - I met :

Toni Mascolo (Backstage of the Mainstage), Toni was very friendly to me and very down to earth too...

Toni Mascolo

Sacha Mascolo (I saw her talking to Indira during the backstage of Toni and Guy Show at the Salon International...she was so near to me but yet far as I had no chance to talk to her even a hello as everyone was too busy with the model preparations; rushing for 12.30pm show and presentation);

Jane Stacey and Efi Davies whom I met in Singapore last March and again in London; Jane shared lots of color techniques and her works is very outstanding. Efi...she has unique ideas of avant garde and I am amazed of her plaiting skills..fast and accurate.

I was happy that I was given the opportunity to see and help the artistic team backstage for the London Salon International Show on the 16th October at Excel . I would like to extend my gratitude to David Mercer and also Janice Kok of Toni and Guy Singapore; my mentors for the arrangement.

Jane Stacey

backstage badge

team at work backstage

Bill Watson, Cos Sakkas, Richard Mannah, Indira Schauwecker and Pinar Necati whom I met backstage firstime after the mainstage at Battersea Power Station...met them again at the academy. I also saw Hide Saiga, Silje Vincent, Beau Vincent, Mohammad Samghabady and many other Toni and Guy International Artistic Team during training days.

In short, all the artistic team are super friendly, super helpful and very very hardworking

I felt very much inspired by the as team as each and everyone has their identity and great at what they do. All these would not be happening without team support from Toni and Guy Singapore and I would like to thank all my mentors David Mercer, Janice Kok, Issac Ng and Jacky Ng for their care and guidance during the week in London.

with David Mercer and the team

Issac Ng of Toni and Guy Singapore

Jacky Ng of Toni and Guy Singapore

me at backstage

Beside meeting Toni and Guy Essensuals team mates, I met Kiong Kong, a regular clients of mind back in hometown Kuching. He has been staying in London for about 6 years now, finishing his degree. So good to catch up.

Kiong kong

I also met Ms Winnie Loo, founder of A Cut Above in Salon International and gosh...i forgot to take photo together..it was so cool to catch up there and chat for awhile. Seeing her there was very very inspiring too as she is really a great mentor and she is my no 1 Idol haha..and that is why I created http://www.winnieloofans.com/ just for her...It was so fated that we met again at Oxford Street in the evening of the last night I was in London. Will catch her up again soon in KL..

Salon international

During the 2 weeks trip, I have learnt a lot...seen a lot...inspired a lot....eat a lot ...and window shop a lot...but I can't stopped the desire to have one Dr Marten London boots. I am a boot person so I got them at quite reasonable price...and even helped my best friend Cherrine bought a pair of limited edition Hello Kitty boots too ..cool huh...

hello kitty limited

walking down town london to get Cherrine her limited edition Hello Kitty boots from Dr Marten.

My happiest moment throughout the 2 weeks trip was when I attended Hillsong Church in London with Janice and Joanne and I was really touched by it and I hope I can attend them again in future. I thanked Janice for telling me about the church and I was very very happy that day...halleluyah....

me, Janice and Joanne

I have a great time these 2 weeks and I am glad I am a hairdresser...It's tough, sometimes unbelievably hard, but I am proud to be one because I get to meet so many amazing people around the globe and hopefully my next journey will be better and inspiring...Hey..I have got a great friend coming for vacation with me to Kuching..He is Dave and he is a hairdresser from Toni and Guy Hereford...cool guy....

dave and me at airport

I hope I will have more great trips in the future...

Cheers xxx........

Hairdressing As A Career. A Good Choice....

2010-05-30T00:00:00.001-07:00

Hairdressers As A Career. A Good Choice...

Talking about a life and a career...Which one do you consider? A life without having to work hard or a life with easy money? I guess everyone will choose to have an easy life, easy money. But think thoroughly....easy money usually do not last long. Ask every successful men on earth, they gone through many pains and failures to get there.

Persistency and discipline are required as a hairdresser..

Being a hairdresser is not an easy job but personally I felt it guaranteed us a life of "no starvation". Why? Well for example, let's say I am now jobless...and very hungry, I can easily have a bowl of noodle without having to steal it... I can just take out a pair of scissors of mind and offer to cut a cook's hair for a free bowl of noodle. True enough, with the skills that I have, I will not starve to death.....

It sounds logic to me..however many give up halfway as a hairdresser because of wanting easy fast money.. Skills are to be developed within a time frame and it cannot be mastered overnight...yet those who have little talent usually took even longer time to master certain skills . Learning hairdressing is neither hard nor easy. Patience, Passion, Persistency, Discipline and Quality skills are the key words. With all that, there is no way we cannot be successful as a hairdresser.

Every hairdresser will go thru a phase which I named it "a hairdressing cycle". Before one can work in a salon, he or she must go thru a training in hairdressing academy for a period of 8 months to 12 months. Then when they graduated, they will start from assistant level to junior stylist level before proceeding to pro-stylist and senior stylist level.. It took years to reach there.

And in my 10 years of working in Kuching as a hairdresser I saw many give up hairdressing for something else as they could not work hard and lack of patience.

As a hairdressing student, their job is to learn as much as they can.

Look around us. There are hundreds of hairdressers but not many are on the top. What makes them different? It took decades to succeed sometimes. Who can do it? Not many, because not many have that kind of patience.

For example, Winnie Loo, an idol of mind..it took her 35 years to be at where she is now..35 years of long hours working, 7 days a week working...working...working...and working...and still she is working even until today...I supposed at her stage now she does not have to bother working anymore but why is she not stopping??? ..I asked her once, she told me she wanted to touch the stars......The only difference I see is that; now she allowed herself one day off per week.. Only now...can you imagine? How many can do this?

Being a hairdresser, we are blessed having many great successful hairdressers as our inspiration. And in my case, Ms Winnie Loo is my inspiration.

From left to right, Alex of LaMode, Chung from Cutting Edge Kuching, Jacqueline (me) from Essensuals by Toni and Guy Kuching, Lewis from Cutting Edge Kuching, and Winnie Loo of A Cut Above in red.

Being a hairdresser when we won any hair awards, we felt grateful as all the hard work paid off.

But everything starts from zero, from a student; to a great future stylist.

As a hairdresser, we get to perform on stage: Mr Lewis Fong of Cutting Edge The Hair Salon and Academy and his models during Malaysia Hairdresser Association Gala Night 2009.

Being a hairdresser, it keeps us connected to other hairdresser around the world too.

From left to right, Henne Mercer from Toni and Guy Singapore, Jacqueline (me) of Essensuals Toni and Guy Kuching, Lewis Fong from Cutting Edge Kuching, Isaac Ng from Toni and Guy Singapore

Being a hairdresser; we also got the chance to do hair shows and share our ideas.

As a hairdresser; we keep learning and can never stop..

As A Hairdresser, our Skills are valuable... but, we all started as a student...

As a hairdresser; we are not only doing clients' hair but also do hair fashion.

As a hairdresser; we get to do charity for the needy. For example, we cut for free for the needy.

And as a hairdresser; our life is full of color....

I sallute all the hairdressers who never complain working late every night, 7 days straight without fail... To Lewis, Rich, Chung, Chang, and Pei, you guys are the best...!!

KL and STYLO 2010

2010-04-04T04:14:00.000-07:00

KL BREAKAWAY..RELEASE STRESS!!

I was a lot in stress lately..and BOOOMMMM!!!! I was last minute deciding that I should take a flight to KL with my best friend whom has already planned earlier on..SHORT BREAKAWAY--OR SHORT TERM MEMORY LOST? I called her and asked her to help me get airticket that morning..and guess what? I hopped in the plane later in the evening..thanks to my best friend Cherrine, the Gaga Hello Kitty girl...

Wednesday, 31st March:

I reached later at night and took train to Sentral KL whom a friend came to pick us and we went straight back to Cheras and put our luggages and came out for CRABS...delicious and comforting...GOSH..I really haven had a break after so so so long...

I slept very early that day.....4 am in the morning of April Fool...but i felt very calm...I woke around 9 some eventhough I slept late ...I supposed it was very natural because I woke around 8 everyday....Later in the afternoon I texted my idol Winnie Jie, whom I always tried to meet up with whenever I am in KL. She was so nice to invite me for the Stylo Gala 2010 night at Sentul the next day...

April 1st...a no April Fool day for me..but a blessed day...

I was at Sg Wang and in company with a friend, Manne (very talented model) who offered to give me a lift to Sentul together with celebrities photographer Alvin...(as shown in the photos below). They are cool aren't they?....

So while waiting for Alvin to finish work at 7.30pm, Manne and I went for last minute shopping..and at the same time I had a peep on my best friend Cherrine who at the time on the process of getting a tattoo on her leg...daring...7.30pm...we were heading for dinner first...great fish at the place I did not know where...haha..thanks to Alvin suggestion..and Manne's treat...

Wow the whole place was so red...the theme was red..but I was in black with RED spec haha. lucky..cool...everyone was so tall..I was so so short...Visit my facebook and you will see more photos under album Stylo...That night..I enjoyed well as I got the chance to catch up with some familiar faces and friends...cool...while seeing my idol's team did a great shows...awesome...

Stunning moment...celebrities during Stylo Fashion Night..

Nice RED party..cool!!

See.. even outside also so so so..SO RED!

Inside Elegante RED....

A great breakaway..I got the chance to met up again with Brenda Chiah during Stylo nights.

Me and Aenie Wong...nice to see her around that night too..

Miss them both..Aenie and Brenda are great people..I remembered last year doing charity shows with them in Kuching for the Kuching Autistic Children. They are very caring and loving and have great passion and patient in the whole show..my respect to them..very down to earth celebrities..not forgetting my idol Winnie Jie too ...all great people...

The Shows begun....with Andy Ho...followed by A Cut Above Winnie Loo and Lois Lee...great avant garde...

A Cut Above with Cabaret Dancer..entertaining....

Colorful Cabaret..check youtube video named Stylo Nights A Cut Above Cabaret Avant Garde

Winnie Loo and her team...

A creative show by Lois Lee : Check Youtube video named Stylo Avant Garde Night April 1st..

Special indeed..... a talented man...

2nd April - Old Time Friend..

The next day, I met up with my long long friend Joanne...she took me to Marmalade for great salad and lasagna...nice...then we were heading for a drink at the Curve, then Pavilion to meet up with Winnie Jie for a short tea chat...cool..during the busy time I still got the time to catch up with everyone...life is short ..well I tried my best to appreciate everyone..I kept this in my mind all the time...

My idol...Ms Winnie Loo..We had a nice time for chat at the Dome at Pavillion...guess what...we got free sample food for a try ha ha... I really hope to meet her again soon....seeing her giving me kinda of spiritual strength to be the best in what I do..

I went back to Kuching on the 4th April and straight back to work....life goes on..and say hello to Stress and be strong...haha...hope you enjoy some of this update..a life as a Hairdresser...who say easy?

GONG XI FA CHAI Double Celebration - Baby's Birthday..

2010-02-17T21:07:00.000-08:00

My hubby Lewis, mum Alice, bro Rich and bro girlfriend Jasmine and baby Tyan

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY...Tyan Baby...

Third Day Chinese New Year..was also my baby girl Tyan's birthday.. She was so happy because she received very huge birthday gift from Uncle Tiger and Aunty Nini... She loved it so much she yelled and smiled broadly..

Biggest Present from Aunty Nini and Uncle Tiger

Aunty Nini opened birthday gift with her..the presents too big and hardly opened haha...

Everyone sangs song for her..she was too shy she closed her ears..

Her cakes was huge from Secret Recipe..adult cake haha..because a lot of cake house was not opened..so no cartoon cake for her this year...

Our Family..

Tyan's most likeable che che Pei...

Tyan's favourite Uncle Tiger and Aunty Nini and Chloe Che Che

Hopefully next year birthday is great for her....

My First January 2010..My Birthday & Singapore Trip With My Team

2010-01-16T21:50:00.000-08:00

My trip to Singapore was just 4 days after my birthday...yeah....getting older...but am blessed with a great family and team. How do I celebrate my birthday?.... Simple dinner with my family and team mate at home..homecook..by me of course. I hope 2010 is a great year for me and family, healthy and happy..

6th January Midnight - My babes and My Pa...

11th January 2010
I woke up so early, 6 am to be exact. The flight was at 8.40am... The first things I did was texting my 3 guys...to wake them up to be exact. Preparing everything for the trip as fast as I could, I woke my hubby and carried my daughter to the car and sent her to my mum in law...As usual I kissed, smelled and told her I will be home by Wednesday; reminded her to stay good and I would buy her toys...her usual request when I am on official trip.

My hubby hold my hand while driving and looked dizzy...an early day for him...and I kept reminding him to eat, to drink more water, to go home early after work...as usual..nagging instead of concern..haha... I reached airport at 7.30am, my 3 guys were waiting for me impatiently as I told them we would meet at airport 7 am...am LATE...but checking in was good..not too crowded..and we proceed boarding after that after hugging my hubby and kept nagging the same things to him...but I know I would miss him a lot..as this is the only 2nd time I went travelling without him. Because of works, he had to stay back keeping a big eye on the salons.

Me, Pei, Chien and Roger, the Essensuals Team were heading for great hangout, skills refreshment and training..this time with the London Team in Singapore. We checked in around 8.15 am and ordered food at Mary Brown ...it was slow...very very very slow until we were being called to board immediately..they said they waited for the fried egg to cook..how long to cook an egg?..my god...they took 20 mins but we have not seen any egg; yet they were not busy at all.....we had to take away and eat inside the airplane..yeap Air Asia policy of no outside food..but really this time I needed to apologize for Mary Brown.

The flight was okay..and we all were really sleepy and reached Singapore at 10.10 am and rushed to find MRT, ORCHARD was our destination..rushing around with luggage...tiring but fun..Before we left for Singapore, the Team has agreed to travel around the savest way including accomodation and food...and we did it..for 3 days...our transportation fees were only SG$12 per person.. Food was just SG$25 per person..and left some for tiny shopping..cool huh?

Chien, Roger, and Pei in MRT heading Orchard

Happily waiting to reach Orchard..Pei- the "lost one" and Roger-youngest but talented

Candid Photo of me: taken by Chien..most naughtiest among all..

Another candid of me but I felt this photo means something...HUNGRY

One of the scene in Hairlah...

Too bad that we missed the show by our Singapore+London team..so sad but I have gotten the photos and will write another blog about the whole INTERACTIVE collection and training at our essensuals blog: essensualskch.blogspot.com. -Will post it online by Wednesday 20th Jan.

Dict Koh, Siaw Hui and Quester of Toni and Guy Singapore on the Seminar...yeah...we did not miss this one

Across the road..GUCCI store..gosh that time I missed my hubby..He is a HUGE fan of GUCCI

My bodyguards ....

Walking around Orchard for a short break..we took photos..and talked about hair..everything about hair..

Chicken rice anyone?

In Singapore, everywhere is chicken rice..We ate chicken rice for lunch for 2 days..but every different stalls we ate at were tasty...The one we took at Food Bazaar at Wisma Atria Orchard costed us SG$6.50 per person; was as tasty and delicious as the one we took at Dhoby Ghaut station for only SG$2.80. Cool huh..

Nice food court eh..

The big and the small....Think hard..

The nerd with the Cool ladies with whole body tattoos...Chien is in love with body tattoos..so when he saw these girls he was so nervous to ask for a photo session with them..I was telling him Now or Never..he quickly went to them..the Pretty ladies were so friendly and possed for him. Thanks ladies...

Prada at ION Orchard..really pretty at night...

12th January 10.00 am

The view of new Toni&Guy in Heeren Orhard..Me chatting with Bryan while waiting for the arrangement for Pei whom got her one day training at the salon..PERFECT...Seeing me standing with that red bag that I bought since 1999, it has been with me all the times until now...torned, old, but it is the bag I love most..

COOL Dior...

Walking towards MRT, we managed to go in the 50% discount store, and tried this BUMBLE BEE eye wear..Am a bee...haha...Me, Chien and Roger were heading to Park Mall at Dhoby Ghaut...

In time to take some photo...Roger with me..my youngest stylist..very good with husky voice when he sing...

Nice view in Orchard Central

Nice Restaurant...

EFI DAVIES and JANE STACEY: Sexy Outstanding Talents

Reaching Level 11 Floor, Singapore Wella Studio in Park Mall, we saw London team Efi and Jane were busy preparing models for the 7.30pm Interactive Staff Training. We were early so we got the chance to help whenever we could..

An Avant Garde...

InTeRaTive....check more on this collection in essensualskch.blogspot.com

Toni&Guy Staff Training ended 11 pm and we were so tired and we went ate, and back to hotel 12 some..and the next morning we woke at 6.30 am and left hotel at 7.oo am and head to airport for 10.40 am flight..taking relax time, eating at Burger King, shopping and waiting to fly home and straight to work...

Happy and Motivated to go home for work..TIRED but WORTHWHILE...

Check out blog on essensualskch.blogspot.com for more information about the HairLah and Hairshow...TONI AND GUY ROCKS....

Say NO to FEVER!! H1N1 SECOND WAVE? NO!!!!!!!

2009-12-12T03:52:00.000-08:00

I was not in good sleep for about 5 days..my baby Tyan had a very strong fever. I sent her to 3 doctors; 2 clinics and 1 chinese doc whom I called "SIN SEI MA"...

First night was scary..she was talking nonsence..all in the sudden at 4 in the morning she said to me, "Mummy, Yiyi mummy(my younger sister) and uncle Tak are shouting at each other"..I was huh? I ask when, she said "now lo" ...I was numbed and scared and texting my sister straightaway and there were no reply so I was at comfort...you know lah...we are chinese and we have so much pantang...they said it was the children soul that flew somewhere so I on the lights the whole night watching her closely after giving her medicine. The earliest morning I sent her to Dr Bibiana Teo...unfortunately it was not her..it was the replacement doc. He gave me orange flavour medicine and antibiotic..which was not the usual.

Then I went to work after sending her to my mum and kept in touch with her. GOSH I WAS SO DIZZY...

Her fever got heat up at night after she was home with me and I was terrified with her condition, I gave her an insertion to her butt. But in the morning her fever still there. Her whole neck was so so hot. I was so angry with the FEVER I brought her to see doc again, this time was Dr Choo, my doctor since I was born. Same, antibiotic and fever medicine.

AGAIN!! ... Around 7 pm I went to pick her and brought her to SIN SEI MA at Inti College nearby with a hope she would be able to heal my girl. She was so so so old already and its been awhile I had not seen her..I reached her house and asking for her and thank God, she was there ALIVE hahaha...I prayed to God for her longlife....

She quickly touched my girl's head and neck and said,"She had bad infected throat" Wasting no more time, her grand daughter took red onion and a tiny piece of rough salt and passed it to her; and the aunt rubbed my girls' back of the ear with the onion and poked the ear with the salt. My girl looked cool and did not even move. So glad. After the ear, the aunt continued the same procedure to the back bone and the tummy; claiming by doing so her heat will be let off. I believe it because my mum used to bring my brother and sister to her to get treatment for sickness that hardly heal with normal doctor..Bizarre but it is true.

The same night, my girl slept comfortably compared to other nights. And me? I at least can have a rest. So glad. Whoah....everything getting better for her.. Gosh my cousin's son was in hospital because of fever and I heard H2 N2 coming? I mean H1 N1 2nd wave...I hope not...

Now after a long stress week, I got a nice rest after work and watched 2012 with my hubby at MBO, again I was shown the world that comes to an end...is it true? If it's true, we really need to appreciate everyone surround us.