Celebrity hairstylist Min Kim encourages people with textured hair to embrace their natural hair (Image by Jessica Pag-iwayan)
Our hair is our crowning glory. This is why proper hair care practice is necessary to keep this crown in its prestige condition, but not all hair is the same.
In the Philippines, it’s a challenge for people with naturally textured hair, such as wavy and curly hair, to find a salon or stylist who’s experienced enough to take care of it. People with textured hair are often offered straightening services such as Brazilian blowout or rebonding. But for international celebrity hairstylist, master colorist, and L’oreal Professionel’s global brand ambassador, Min Kim, this shouldn't be the case, and today, the trend is shifting.
In an interview with the members of the press during the L’Oreal Manila Hair Show 2023 held last Tuesday, July 25, 2023, the international stylist shared some tips on how Pinays can take care of their natural hair, textured or not.
“In the past there has been a shift where everyone is straightening their hair and not working with the natural texture versus now that we’re really about embracing it. The thing that’s important is here in the Philippines, it’s so humid so you’re fighting a losing battle,” she tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. “So to find the right routine, the right haircut, the right color, and the right products to help make it work for you instead of against you is something that we really need to shift. And that’s something I’m seeing happening. There’s really a shift to where curly hair, natural texture is being embraced. [For people with curly hair] Don’t be afraid but also embrace it.”
Here are her pointers when it comes to choosing the right hair products:
- Trial and error is part of the process
“You have to be on top of that fact that curly hair really needs moisture and products,” she says. “And it’s not just one product, it's combinations. A lot of time it’s about playing with different combinations to see what works.”
- Try new products on free days
“If you’re trying a new routine and layering products maybe on a day or weekend when you’re not going out and have plans. This way you have time to play and really figure it out,” she explains. “It’s a learning curb. If you’re not experimenting you’re not gonna know.”
- Moisture and hydration are the key
“Moisture and hydration is super key, in addition to making sure that you’re taking care of it,” she says. “Curly hair people in general are afraid to cut it, but it’s not just about cutting everything off, it’s about shaping and removing the weight, so instead of the hair expanding, it’s working in a shape that flatters every single shape of a person.
Min Kim also emphasized that one should know her hair needs to establish what products to get.
“You need to think about whether you are someone that needs something that is more cosmetic or you need something that’s going to be repairative. Understanding the health and quality of your hair is really important because there are products designed for each specific need,” she tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. “It’s the reason why I love working with L'oreal professionnel because the technology and innovation behind the brand is something that I really believe in.”
To learn more about L'oreal Professionel's products, click here.