Hair Colouring @ JB

Actually more specifically, at Holiday Plaza. It's after A levels and having a change of hair colour seemed like not a bad idea. I decided to get it done at a salon simply because I wanted a taste of it before I convert to the more affordable option of DIY hair colouring. Since quite a few of my friends have had rather pleasant experiences doing their hair in JB, I decided to give it a go there.

Of course I researched quite a bit for where exactly I should go and the current rates there. Generally people went to salons in Citysquare or KSL City, but I was actually considering Holiday Plaza. Holiday Plaza, for those who are not familiar, is a rather old shopping centre with a variety of beauty services, mainly nails and hair salons with some clothing and beauty product shops. Since the rent is likely to be lower than in Citysquare or KSL city, the rates would naturally be lower too right? That was what I assumed and so I decided to simply ask for the rates at all 3 places! Not in one day of course. My mom went to Citysquare and KSL city to ask for the rates a few days before our designated Hair day. The rates there were pretty similar. Overall, for the long-haired ones out there, expect to dish out around 350 RM for colouring, cut and basic treatment. The salons there also generally had better furnishing so I guess you feel more confident there too. Honestly, 350 RM is not a bad price and when compared to the rates in Singapore, I'd say it's still a bargain.

But! Lo and behold, Holiday Plaza had even better rates! I approached quite a few and the better-furnished, seemingly cleaner ones charged me around 260 RM for colouring, cut and treatment for my waist-length hair. That is really quite a bargain no? And so it was between Toyako Salon(not exactly Toyako but one of their branches) or Benefit Hairdressing. If not for my mom and lil sis who are doing their hair as well, I would have gone for Toyako for they seem to be more professional and skilled. But since perming is cheaper at Benefit, we decided to do our hair there.

*On a side note, if you are thinking of perming your hair, it seems like perming is more expensive than other hair services? Toyako charged us 350 RM while Benefit charged us 240 RM and it is for short hair! Like hair above the shoulders.

My sister and I started first since there seemed to be only 2 hairdressers who are pro enough to handle hair colouring and rebonding(my sister did rebonding). I had a lady with blonde hair tend to my hair and she handled my hair from the start to the end, never leaving it alone to others, with only another helper to help her with the application of colour and treatment. I find that quite reassuring since you know there isn't going to be a misunderstanding throughout the process. I find her skills to be not bad(not that I have much experience with doing my hair in salons) but she was rather rough with my hair....or maybe I am just too gentle with it since I think I have a hairfall problem from all the stress of A levels and would like to maintain my thick hair. Anyway, it was not a big problem.

Basically this is an outline of how she did my hair:
Haircut to the rough length I want first -> Apply colour to my hair -> Wait, checking in occasionally to monitor the degree of colour -> rinse off colour + wash my hair -> apply treatment and steam for around 10 minutes -> wash off treatment -> back to haircut for a more defined style -> blow and perfect style.

Overall it was a smooth process. They also had free wifi that was working well so I was well-entertained throughout the process which took slightly less than 2 hours. They served a cup of tea initially but did not refill unless you ask for it. The hair colour was quite nice and even, but perhaps too even as the top of my hair seemed lighter than the ends as the light shines on the top first. Also they somehow avoided colouring the roots, in other words when you part my hair at the roots, you can see my black natural hair. I'm not very sure why or if salons do it that way or its just them but I don't really appreciate having black roots when a DIY hair colouring would not have given me that. I do like the haircut that she gave me though, she also gave a few helpful tips of managing my hair and future styling. As my hair is thick and considered healthy, rebonding is not necessary and I just have to make sure to use good hair products at home and blow dry it instead of air drying it to reduce frizz.

I can't say how the 350 RM hair colouring in city square and KSL city would be like since I have never done my hair there but Benefit Hairdressing is not a bad salon for hair colouring with very affordable prices too. Their rebonding was not bad as well, according to my sister, as it seemed to be smoother than when she rebonded her hair at Far East Plaza SG. Perming though is not a strength for Benefit hairdressing as my mom did not get her desired hairstyle. In fact, her hairdresser tried to discourage her from perming and kept steering her towards hair straightening procedures like Keratin treatment or rebonding.

And that concludes my post on hair colouring in JB:) If you would like to find out more about hair care after dyeing your hair, look at my post on hair-care after colouring.