Who better than the winners of the L’Oreal Professionnel Style & Colour Trophy 2017 competition in Singapore to tell us about the latest colour trends and how to care for coloured hair? A platform for discovering new hairstyling talents, this year’s competition saw these five winners picked from 200 entries.
Who better than the winners of the L’Oreal Professionnel Style & Colour Trophy 2017 competition in Singapore to tell us about the latest colour trends and how to care for coloured hair? A platform for discovering new hairstyling talents, this year’s competition saw these five winners picked from 200 entries.
WINNER
Den Ng, 27, hair director at Prep Luxe
Not only did he win the L’Oreal Professionnel Style & Colour Trophy competition at national level, Ng went on to win the International Cut & Style Award at the L’Oreal Professionnel Style & Colour Trophy International Grand Final held in Spain.
He says his top priority as a hairdresser is to listen to his customers. It’s the key to being a good hairdresser, he says – you have to know someone’s lifestyle needs to recommend the best hair changes.
Before you pick a new colour… “Tell your hairstylist what was previously done and what you’re now looking to do. It’s important because colouring is also about correcting worn-out shades and planning for colour correction in the future to give you a smooth transition.”
The colour-melting technique minimises the need for touchups. “Colour melting creates a soft gradation effect where the hair roots are a darker shade that fades seamlessly into the lighter shade of your previous colour. It works on a wide range of colour pairings, from browns and gold to oranges and pinks.
“Unlike with ombre, which gives a colour-blocking effect, the colourist uses multiple shades to create the ‘melted’ look – you can’t tell where the darker shades end and the lighter ones begin.
“The good thing about this technique? Fewer touch-ups at the salon – which is good if your hair grows fast.”
SECOND RUNNER-UP
Noel Ng, 25, director at Harts
He loves the latest trends, and says that taking part in competitions allows him to upgrade his skills and exercise his creativity.
How to make hair colour last longer… “The wrong products can damage hair, especially if it’s bleached. The right ones help prolong colour and may even lengthen the period between salon visits.
“Love switching colours? See your hairstylist regularly so he or she can understand your hair and scalp condition, and advise you on how you can better treat coloured (and damaged) hair to help the colour last longer.”
MEDIA CHOICE AWARD
Karl Ko, 25, senior stylist at Salon Vim
Ko won the Media Choice Award for his modern, wearable work. He’s been featured on popular Instagram accounts that curate beautiful hairstyles from around the world, including @mastersofbalayage and @guytang_mydentity.
Some colours don’t last as long as others. “Pastels like cotton-candy pink, lilac or silver fade quickly, from a matter of days to two weeks, while darker shades like midnight blue, violet and wine red tend to last for months.
“Don’t wash your hair for 48 hours after colouring it. And when you do, use only a shampoo for colourtreated hair. Apply a hair mask every time you shampoo.”
NOUVEAU TALENT AWARD
Finn Tan, 21, junior stylist at Top Image
He strives to create hairstyles that satisfy each customer’s needs. How a good colourist can choose the right hair colour for you.
“Whether you have a colour in mind or not, your hairstylist will take into account your skin tone, hair length and occupation before deciding what shade is for you.
“If you work in a conservative environment and want to try bolder colours like rose gold, ashpurple, ash-grey and pastel pink, your hairstylist can use more subtle colouring techniques. You can tie up your hair to reveal the bold colours after office hours.”
FIRST RUNNERUP
Timothy Ting, 24, senior stylist at Mi The Salon
His aim is to make every salon experience enjoyable, so that customers look forward to their visits. Ting spends time learning about his clients’ preferences to create the best hairstyles for them.
Three things to know before asking for pastel pink hair:
#1 It works for everyone. “It’s popular and bold, but while it’s loud, it’s also easily customised to suit anyone. Darker skin tones should avoid an entire head of pink; ask your colourist for the balayage technique, with dark to light gradation from roots to ends. If you work in a conservative industry, try babylights, with different intensities of pink.”
#2 If you have dark Asian hair, you’ll need up to three rounds of prelightening before adding pink. “How many times to bleach your hair depends on how damaged it is.
“After colouring, you should schedule in-salon post-colour treatments to strengthen your hair and keep it vibrant.”
#3 It needs a lot of care. “You should use shampoo and conditioner for coloured hair, a colour treatment mask every day, and a leave-in conditioner.” – KT
About the Longest-running Hair Competition in the World
While most trade competitions don’t affect consumers, the L’Oreal Professionnel Style & Colour Trophy in Singapore helps discover new talents in the hairdressing industry by showcasing their works to consumers. This year, 200 hairdressers took part, and winner Den Ng represented Singapore at the global grand finale in Seville, Spain, competing against the winners of 16 other countries.
