Japanese skincare and hair care products never fail to fascinate me. The Japanese always aim to impress with exquisite packaging, unforgettable scents and quality ingredients. ErucA is yet another Japanese hair care brand that caught my eye recently. It was love at first sight, and judging from its beautiful packaging, it is not hard to see why.

ErucA Hair Care

Physical appearance aside, ErucA is keenly aware that beauty is more than skin deep. Beyond its intricate packaging, it is sulfate-free and uses only natural ingredients harnessed from 12 types of seed oils to add brilliant shine, volume and glossiness to your hair in the healthiest way possible.

Its star ingredient, broccoli seed oil, is widely referred to as ‘natural silicon’ as it imparts shine to your hair without the harmful effects of chemical silicon, which unfortunately is still being used in many hair care products today. Other key ingredients include seed oils from cowberry, bilberry and milk thistle, as well as rich botanically-sourced organic oils such as argan, virgin prune and marula oil to thoroughly cleanse, moisturize and rejuvenate our tired tresses.

There are three different product ranges to choose from depending on your hair and scalp condition. All you have to do is use the right amount of shampoo for your hair length (short hair –  about the size of a 10 cents coin, average hair length – about the size of a 50 cents coin, hair past shoulders – about the size of two 20 cents coins), lather, rinse and apply conditioner for beautiful, luscious hair!

Scalp & Volume

ErucA’s Scalp & Volume range is ideal for those of you with common scalp issues and fine hair. Personally, I use this range after sports (e.g. yoga classes) to lift the dirt and perspiration from my scalp and to prevent itchiness and dandruff. Broccoli seed oil, cowberry seed oil and bilberry seed oil help to revive and restore balance while hyaluronic acid repairs and hydrates the skin on your scalp.

ErucA Scalp & Volume Mask

My head is lighter and my scalp feels much cleaner whenever I use the shampoo, conditioner and mask in this range. Unlike many scalp care products which tend to dry out your hair, ErucA leaves you with silky smooth, voluminous hair after every wash.

I also adore its sweet floral fragrance, a refreshing departure from the typical minty scents that define scalp care products.

3D Volume Up

3D Volume Up Range

For an extra boost in volume, I would recommend spraying a suitable amount of ErucA’s Volume Up Foam on to your hand and running it evenly through your dry hair from the roots to the tips for an airy, voluminous finish.

ErucA’s Moist & Repair range is my favourite out of the three as my hair is very dry from the harsh winter conditions in China and requires utmost hydration to keep split ends at bay.

It lathers and cleanses well, again without stripping the natural oil from your hair. It also restores the water and oil balance in both your scalp and hair. More importantly, I know that I am in safe hands as harmful chemicals that have adverse effects on damaged hair such as Sodium Laureth Sulfate, mineral oil, alcohol and artificial colouring are omitted.

I have been nourishing my tresses with the Moist & Repair shampoo and conditioner daily and I find that my hair is less frizzy, more manageable and definitely smoother, thanks to the luxurious concoction of argan oil, virgin prune oil and marula oil. I would also use the Scalp & Volume mask once or twice a week to ensure that my scalp is in tip top condition.

To illustrate my point, I deliberately tried the products on just one side of my hair. Can you spot the difference between the texture and shine on both sides? The contrast is so stark that I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Did I also mention that it smells heavenly? My hubby hardly notices any changes in my routine but this time, he picked up the musky, sensual scent instantly.

If you too would like to go natural with ErucA hair products, you can find them at Guardian and Tokyu Hands branches nationwide. You can also purchase them online at Maimee’s Corner (www.maimeescorner.com). Retail prices range from S$18.90 – S$22.90.

For a limited time only, you can also click here to redeem free ErucA samples from Samplestore.com!

To stand a chance to win ErucA products, ‘Like’ ErucA on Facebook here to participate in their upcoming CNY contest and ongoing weekly contests!

*****

ErucA 

 Website

 www.eruca.sg

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/erucasingapore/

This “love” has been surrounding my waist for many months, given my hectic schedule with no time to exercise and a lot of stress-fuelled late night binging. With more yet to come in the upcoming Lunar New Year festivities, I am sure that many of you are experiencing the same despair as me. 

Hence, I was really excited when I learnt of Liposonix treatment, introduced by Dr Gabriel Wong at SL Clinic.

Dr Gabriel Wong

Here’s Dr Gabriel who put me at ease instantly and made the entire consultation and treatment process less nerve-wrecking for me!  

What is Liposonix?

Liposonix is a fat reduction treatment that uses high-intensity focused ultrasound technology to permanently target and destroy the stubborn fat. Yes – it targets the stubborn fat areas beneath the skin! This means that the skin is not harmed at all, as only the fat tissue beneath the skin is permanently destroyed. It can be used on areas such as the abdomen, thighs and back.

Liposonix
treatment has 10 years of research and testing behind its development.
It has a well-defined safety profile during and after treatment with
very good patient satisfaction, and it has been available in Europe,
Japan and Canada for several years. It was available in the US starting
in January 2012.

Is it the same as Liposuction? (i.e. sucking fat out of the body)

No, not at all! Liposonix treatment is non-surgical and non-invasive, with little to no downtime. What it does is it uses advanced ultrasound energy (the same energy source as diagnostic ultrasound) to very precisely target specific areas with high energy to destroy fat cells, where there is at least 1.0 cm of subcutaneous adipose tissue beyond the selected focal depth setting of the system. 

It can help you lose one dress or pant size without surgery, but if you are looking for crazy huge reductions associated with surgical liposuction, then please do have a consultation with the doctor to talk about your specific situation. However, the great news is that it does not have the uneven or lumpy results that you see from Liposuction, nor saggy skin.  It is also customizable to address specific problem areas. 

Why SL Clinic?

Dr Gabriel was
very professional, yet really sweet and gentlemanly.  His
easy-going demeanor makes it a breeze to share your concerns without
feeling shy or insecure and he dispenses sincere, genuine advice. I
would highly encourage everyone to give him a call for consultation.
After all, having treated many patients with Liposonix, Dr Gabriel knows
what is best for you. You can also rest assured that the cost for Liposonix at SL Clinic is the lowest per treatment area.
 

What is my main area of concern?

My main area of concern was my abdomen and you can see the problem areas here (*sob*):

Problem area – Abdomen

Dr Gabriel explained that he would put the head of the Liposonix device on the area to be treated – which would be the black dots that he meticulously measured out to ensure the entire abdomen was covered. 

Problem area – Abdomen (side view)

After meticulously applying the treatment to every one of my problem areas, I finished my first session! There was a slight tingle for certain dots, but Dr Gabriel assured that this was common for all patients as the treatment did its work, and there would be mild pain or discomfort and bruising for a few weeks. Fortunately for me, I did not experience any redness or swelling. Most importantly, this meant that the stubborn fats have been destroyed! Yay!

At the end of the session, the questions on everyone’s mind is definitely: 

How long will it take before I see results?

The good news is, most people see maximum results in 8 to 12 weeks, as this is the time it takes for the body to naturally remove the fat cells that were destroyed during treatment. 

  
[This post was written by Isabelle, a permanent writer on Shopping Queen’s Haven.]

****

About the writer Isabelle:

An MBTI personality profile that believes in making the world a better place (one starfish at a time), Isabelle is a communications professional who enjoys creating good memories for others, and balances realism with a healthy dose of joie de vivre and can-do positivity. 

****

 Having lived in Australia for about a year previously, I have personally witnessed how Emu Oil effectively nursed my dry cracked skin during the wintry months back to its former glory. Natural Emu Oil is hard to come by, even more so in Singapore, hence when natural skincare label Wild Harvest Care decided to bring its Emu Oil skincare collection to our sunny island, my heart literally skipped a beat.

(L-R) Wild Harvest Care Cool Moisture Body Lotion with Emu Oil Extract (S$32.90) & Pure Emu Oil (S$39.90)

I brought two of Wild Harvest Care’s star products, Pure Emu Oil (Lavender) (S$39.90) and Cool Moisture Body Lotion with Emu Oil Extract (S$32.90), along with me to China and I couldn’t be more grateful to these gems for keeping my skin soft, supple and moisturized during winter.

I don’t blame you for asking that question because this very same question popped up in my mind when I was first introduced to Emu Oil.

Highly prized for its anti-inflammatory properties and high amounts of vitamins E and A as well as omega 3, 6, 7 and 9, Emu Oil works well as a natural moisturizer and can be used on both your face and body. It also promotes the healing of wounds, burns, bites, blisters, sunburn, relieving pain and itching while reducing the possibility of scars forming. 

Here’s what Emu Oil can do for you:

Multi-tasking
products rank high on my beauty list because I travel frequently, and
while I prefer to travel light, I do not wish to compromise on my
skincare regime. Wild Harvest Care’s Emu Oil products suit both my lifestyle and beauty needs perfectly, plugging the gap beautifully.

Only 100% natural and chemical-free ingredients are used, which makes their products suitable for sensitive and eczema-prone skin, children and even pregnant women. 

In fact, Wild Harvest Care uses Emu oil derived from free-range Australian Emus which feed on a healthy diet of natural grain, without additives or hormones. The Emu oil is then processed at a world standard rendering plant that complies with Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) standards, HACCP and GMP certification. With Wild Harvest Care, you know you are in safe hands.

  Did you know that
the best time to moisturize your skin is immediately after a shower?
Applying body lotion when your skin is still damp helps to lock in
moisture, keeping your skin well hydrated all day long.

To ensure that this doesn’t slip my mind, I always keep my Wild Harvest Care Pure Emu Oil (Lavender) and Cool Moisture Body Lotion within easy reach.

Loving the lightweight body lotion which absorbs readily into my skin

I start off by applying the Cool Moisture Body Lotion all over my body. Its lightweight texture is a godsend for Singapore’s humid climate as the lotion absorbs instantly, leaving a veil of moisture on your skin. In addition to Emu Oil, it is formulated with certified organic aloe vera and a blend of carefully selected natural ingredients including Vitamin E. It also contains Mandarin Cold Pressed, Grapefruit Pink and Lavender essential oils, which give it its amazing scent.

 My skin itches in dusty or cold environments and I find that this body lotion works remarkably well in relieving itch and rashes too. 

Smoothing on an additional layer of Pure Emu Oil in drier environments

When I sleep with the air-conditioner switched on or when I travel to temperate climates, I smooth on an additional layer of Pure Emu Oil to further enhance moisture absorption, giving extra attention to dry spots such as my legs, knees and elbows.

Formulated with Emu Oil as its main ingredient, it is further enhanced with a delicious concoction of Lavender, Bergamot Calabrian and Patchouli essential oils to nourish your skin and leave you smelling absolutely divine.

With all the upcoming year-end festivities, give yourself (and your loved ones too!) a well-deserved treat and pamper your skin with the natural goodness of Wild Harvest Care Emu Oil products.

*****

Exclusive Discount for All Readers

You’ll also be happy to know that Wild Harvest Care has kindly extended an exclusive discount to all my readers. 

Key in the code “REGINA5OFF” upon checkout to get 5% off all your purchases! Offer is valid from 26 December 2015 – 16th Jan 2016.

Wild Harvest Care

Website
http://www.wildharvestcare.com/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/wildharvestcare
 

  Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/wildharvestcare/

Pinterest
https://www.pinterest.com/wildharvestcare/

Christmas is just around the corner, and we all know what that means – the season of giving is here and it’s time to go shopping for your loved ones!

If you have yet to decide on a gift for your girlfriend, colleague or that special someone in your life, I will be sharing some wonderful gift ideas from The Body Shop today.

Before we go into the details, let’s take a look at the lovely hamper that Body Shop gifted me this Christmas:

 Now, here’s the good news. I will also be giving away some of these products in another hamper worth S$150 so do read on to find out how you can participate in this giveaway.

This year, The Body Shop is also partnering with international charity organisation WaterAid to help transform lives through access to safe water. Every gift that you buy from The Body Shop will provide a family in Ethiopia with one day of safe water.

Swing into plum temptation with The Body Shop’s new Frosted Plum Body Care range, the highlight of this season’s collection. Indulge your senses with the sweet, sophisticated extracts of plum from the orchards of Turkey. Infused with elegant ripe plum, magnolia and peony notes, this special edition fruity-floral range is a pampering treat that will instantly put you in the Christmas mood.

Some interesting products to look out for in this line-up include: Shimmer Mist (S$21.90), Bath Fizzers (S$39.90), Sugar Scrub (S$36.90), and Scented Candle (S$36.90).

 Your escape to paradise begins right at home with The Body Shop’s most luxurious range to date – Spa of the World bodycare range (S$209.90) which consists of a unique blend of fine, natural ingredients from four corners of the globe. Scrub, massage and moisturize your skin to restore its glow and luster before the holiday season begins. I have to admit that I was highly attracted to its sensual yet invigorating scent.

 The Oils of Life Skincare Collection (S$121.90) is enriched with three precious seed oils, namely black cumin, rosehip and camellia. This is the perfect gift for skincare lovers.

 

The buildable formula allows you to dial down your eye makeup for an easy everyday look or dial it up to achieve sultry, smouldering eyes for all your year-end parties. The colours in both palettes are very wearable and versatile, giving you free rein to create a variety of looks.

Here’s what the lucky winner will be receiving:

Frosted Plum Body Wash

 Frosted Plum Shimmer Lotion

Frosted Plum Sugar Scrub 

Strawberry Festive Picks

Eyeshadow Palette in Grooving Gold

To participate in this giveaway, follow these 3 easy steps below:

Click here to Like my Facebook Page

Like and Share my Giveaway on Facebook

E-mail me at regina.chow@gmail.com and tell me which product is your favourite!

**Extra bonus points if you follow me on instagram (@reginachow_sg) too!**

Do note that this giveaway is only for Singapore residents. The deadline for this giveaway is 6 December 2015.

Good luck!

I have to admit that I am superficial, even when it comes to buying sanitary pads. I am drawn to beautiful packaging and more importantly, brands that claim to be thin yet highly absorbent, especially for overnight pads.  Kotex LUXE Ultrathin Overnight Pads (32cm) and Day Pads (24cm) stole my heart way before this review came along and I have been a loyal supporter ever since. 

Most, if not all ladies experience heavier flow during the first two days of our menstrual cycle and all we want to do is to feel comfortable and dry all day long without having to worry about leakage at any point.

Don’t we all worry about leakage when we are out or when we head to bed? The Kotex LUXE Ultrathin Overnight Pad takes it upon itself to free you from leakages and give you the comfort you deserve with 3x faster absorption. It is the pad that will help you realize that overnight period leakage is never your fault and I speak entirely from experience. I use the Overnight Pad during my heavy flow days and I have nothing but praises for it.

Appearance matters. The sleek black packaging and individually wrapped pads in an array of fun vibrant colours lift up my mood instantly.  Gone are the days when you have to hide and feel ashamed of your thick, clinical-looking, diaper-lookalike pad.

The paper-thin pads also come in pretty pastel floral designs that will set your heart aflutter. Indeed, times have changed and aside from its chic packaging, here are more reasons why Kotex LUXE is a notch above the rest:

1) New Honeycomb Liquid Locker

The blue portion of the pads that you see in the pictures below is the new honeycomb liquid locker that is specially designed to absorb and lock away fluids to prevent back flow, keeping your skin dry and comfortable all day.

2) New Ultra Comfort Cover

The soft cottony surface offers intimate care for your skin to ensure that you get the best of both worlds – comfort and dryness.

In my opinion, the level of comfort and dryness is unrivaled even during heavy flow. Both the Kotex LUXE Ultrathin Overnight Pads (32cm) and Day Pads (24cm) are extremely thin and soft yet so incredibly absorbent, they do not irritate your skin and you’ll feel like you are wearing next to nothing.

3) New Surround Lock Protector

Do you see the surrounding embossed star contours? They offer additional leakage protection and security, so you’ll never have to worry again.

I applaud the Kotex LUXE Ultrathin range’s well thought through design and how it goes the extra mile to deliver both comfort and performance is highly commendable. If you have yet to try it for yourself, I strongly recommend that you do. I did, and I never looked back! 

Try a free sample of Kotex Ultrathin on Samplestore.com or head over to Kotex’s Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/kotexsingapore to redeem your free sample!

Traveling always takes a toll on my skin, leaving it dull and dry, hence when I received an invitation to visit South Bridge Aesthetics Clinic to review their Carbon Laser Peel treatment, I arranged for my appointment to take place immediately after my recent trip to Europe.

 

South Bridge Aesthetics Clinic was established by Medical Director, Dr Winston Lee, a warm and friendly doctor who has 10 years of experience in the medical field. The clinic aims to provide quality non-invasive aesthetics treatments at competitive prices and carbon laser peel is one of their most popular treatments.

What are the benefits of Carbon Laser Peel?

It promotes radiant, glowing skin and helps to reduce imperfections such as enlarged pores by removing the outer layer of the skin to stimulate collagen production. It also improves your overall skin tone.

Effects can be seen immediately after just one treatment and you can see my before and after photos for comparison at the end of this post. This treatment serves as a quick pick-me-up before important events and can also be done regularly, just like a facial. 

As the entire process takes only about 30-45 minutes and there isn’t any downtime, it is the perfect lunch-time quick fix for time-pressed working professionals.

What does the process entail?

A thin layer of carbon lotion is first applied to your face and allowed to dry before Dr Lee uses a laser machine to deliver short yet intense pulses of light. The light is absorbed by the carbon lotion, causing an explosion of carbon particles which exfoliates the outer layer of your skin and removes dirt from your pores.

I was initially very worried about the pain factor but I came to realise that my worries were unfounded. Dr Lee was also very reassuring and chatted with me throughout the process. His humorous and affable personality put me at ease. I was done within the blink of an eye and there was hardly any discomfort at all. 

South Bridge Aesthetics Clinic

Address
277 South Bridge Road
Singapore 058826

Contact No.
9730 8999


Opening Hours
Mon – Fri: 10am – 6pm
Sat: 10am – 3pm 

I have always found SK-II’s #ChangeDestiny campaign inspiring. 

You may have read my thoughts on how we can overcome challenges and societal perceptions to change our destiny a couple of months ago. This time, in the video above, renowned Singaporean fashion designer Priscilla Shunmugam shares how she chose to ditch her law degree and pack her bags for London to pursue fashion design simply because she believed that was her calling.

When Priscilla graduated from law school, as per her parents’ plans, she had a bright future ahead of her in the legal industry but deep inside, she knew this was not what she wanted. Today, she owns fashion label Ong Shunmugam. How many of us have the courage to step out of our comfort zone and go against all odds to realise our dreams, just like Priscilla?

A calling makes work and life meaningful. It gives you a purpose in life. Everyone has a calling, but have you already discovered yours? If you haven’t, you are not alone. 

What is your calling?

To find out what your calling is, the first step is to understand the difference between a job and a purpose in life. When the main objective of work is to support your family, the paycheck is what you are going after. That is a job. 

On the other hand, if you are working to further an idea to bring it to fruition, it is important not to let your paycheck, no matter how fat it is, become an obstacle. And this is exactly what Priscilla is telling us in this video.

For more inspirational #changedestiny stories, check out the links below:

SK-II Facebook Page

SK-II Website

SK-II Youtube

**This post was sponsored by SK-II, but as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

 Just last month, I received a number of queries about how to contact my hairstylist Michelle who has since left her previous establishment. Well, here’s the good news. Michelle now has her own salon! 

Michelle’s brainchild, ToliV Hair Salon, is conveniently located at Purvis Street (close to both Bugis and City Hall MRT stations). I can’t help but feel a sense of joy, seeing how far Michelle has come in the hair-styling industry, wielding her magic wand in the form of scissors and creating effortlessly chic hairstyles that require minimal maintenance. Thanks to her, I hardly have to style my hair before I head out of the house, much to the surprise of most people I know.

 

I had the opportunity to pop by ToliV to congratulate Michelle before I left for Nanjing. Her new salon is a quiet respite nestled in the bustling City Hall and Bugis area.

A newly refurbished shophouse with a minimalist vibe, it envelops guests in a veil of tranquility and puts everyone in the mood for an afternoon or evening of pure relaxation.

The name ToliV came about because Michelle’s mantra is to live a life that embraces simplicity and freedom of expression. She hopes to achieve this through her salon and also inspire others to do the same.

This, coupled with her acute ability to create hairstyles that suit both the personality and lifestyle preferences of her customers, makes her a hair maestro. 

Knowing that I was going to be in Nanjing for a while, she suggested that I try out a centre parting hairstyle and a darker ash colour to change up my look without the fuss.

 True enough, I received several compliments on my brand new hairstyle. I could choose to leave it straight or curl it at the ends like what Michelle did for a more feminine look. Many of my friends exclaimed that my new hair was more versatile and seemed to make me look younger and fresher. 

I can only say that all the credit goes to Michelle.

It is without a doubt that it would be challenging for me to find another stylist in the same league as Michelle, especially in Nanjing, hence I am making it a point to visit her in Singapore at least once every 3 months!

*****

ToliV Hair Salon

Address:

5 Purvis Street, #01-01

Singapore

Tel:

 6333 9223

Website:

http://www.toliv.com.sg

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/tolivboutique

  

It is no secret that Korean eyebrows are able to take a few years off our faces and my personal experience with Korean Eyebrow Embroidery by Kelly, the lady boss at Arch Angel Brow confirms that. To give you a better idea of how much younger, fresher and well-groomed you can look with Korean brows, I am starting my review with a recent photo of myself taken two weeks on with just tinted sunblock and lash extensions.

Now, let’s take a look at the before and after photos for a better comparison. As you can see from my after photo, Korean brows soften your facial expressions, giving you a more youthful appearance. 

Do excuse my untidy crescent-shaped brows (don’t they resemble the moon? =S) in the before photo. My previous eyebrow embroidery done by Kelly two years ago when she was a trainer at another beauty salon had faded and lazy me just conveniently hid my brows under my bangs. Imagine my horror when I switched to centre parting! I could no longer hide my hideous brows from the world. Honestly, Kelly couldn’t have approached me at a better time. 

 

Located at Clementi 321 Mall which is a stone’s throw from Clementi MRT station, Arch Angel Brow was set up a few months ago by Kelly, who has close to 10 years of experience in this industry. The cozy atmosphere coupled with Kelly’s friendly and amiable disposition made me feel at home instantly.

Why should you choose Arch Angel Brow? How is it different from other eyebrow embroidery salons?

 In this day and age, eyebrow embroidery salons are a dime and dozen. Aside from Kelly’s experience and aesthetic eye, Arch Angel Brow’s Korean Combo Eyebrow, an exclusive state-of-the-art eyebrow embroidery technology directly imported from Korea, gives it a competitive edge.  

After all, when it comes to Korean brows, who else can you trust but the Koreans?

Kelly was also
based in Korea for a period of time and Arch Angel Brow is the only eyebrow embroidery salon in Singapore that is equipped with this technology currently. 

 Even the techniques and technology used for other services provided by Arch Angel Brow, such as eyeliner, lip and hairline embroidery, all hail from Korea.

What is the process like?

It is very much like any other eyebrow embroidery service and I will let the following photos do the talking. 

Kelly and I first had a discussion on my desired eyebrow shape before she proceeded to neaten and fill in my brows to alter its appearance. 

As my brows are naturally bushy, the Korean Combo Eyebrow service is suitable for me as it would enhance the colour of my brows using natural pigments that can be customised to suit your hair colour.

I originally wanted thick and straight brows, but my slightly higher brow bone and the shape of my eyes did not seem to suit this style of brows. I actually looked depressed with such brows! I could still go for thick brows, but a slight arch would complement my features much better.

 Kelly was quick to point this out. I cannot stress enough how important it is to get an expert’s opinion  to determine the right type of eyebrow for your face. In fact, I actually turned down a few eyebrow embroidery sponsorship offers previously because I couldn’t be completely sure if the outcome would be positive. With Kelly, I knew that I would be in good hands.

Once the desired shape was achieved, numbing cream was applied and I was led into a private room where the eyebrow embroidery process commenced with a slim, needle-like instrument. A brand new piece is used for each customer, perfect for those of us who are hygiene conscious.

Does it hurt? This is one question that I often get. Well, you’ll be happy to know that the pain is very bearable and feels similar to eyebrow plucking.

Given our sunny weather all year round, a common problem that we face is an itchy scalp and if left ignored, this could eventually result in hair loss issues. The scalp is one of the unsung heroes of our body and I truly felt like I was
in scalp saver heaven after meeting with Joni, the expert consultant at
Svenson Hair Centre. 

  

 During the consultation, she carefully asked me about my daily
habits and routine, answering all my questions patiently. She also debunked some hair myths and assessed my scalp condition through a scalp scan before recommending a suitable scalp treatment for me.

Did you know that in theory, we can lose up to 100 strands of hair a day? 

However, due to our lifestyle, stress, dietary habits and lack of sleep,
most people are not as healthy as before, and our hair regrowth is
slower. This means that if we lose even 30 strands of hair daily (and
it’s usually double that amount, through daily actions such as running
your fingers through your hair), we cannot replace the hair as fast as
before, leading to hair loss issues.

Myth No. 1 – Since our hair is made of protein, we need protein shampoo

Yes, our hair is made
of amino acids – the simplest form of protein. That is why we need to
eat food rich in protein such as meat, fish, cheese, tofu, beans and
nuts, and vitamins such as Vitamin B, as that helps us to keep our hair
healthy and strong. Our digestive system’s absorption process must also
be efficient in order for our hair to gain sufficient nutrients.

However, this does not mean that you should run out to buy the latest protein shampoo (one of the haircare product trends recently). There really isn’t a point to protein shampoos because they are on your hair for only a minute of cleansing before you wash it off. The objective of using shampoo is to ensure that both our scalp and hair are clean. That is why we should apply two rounds of shampoos: the first for the scalp, and the second for moisturizing the hair.

P.S. I have been doing this ever since my Svenson consultation with the Svenson products that Joni recommended to me, and I do feel a significant difference in both my scalp and hair! If you are interested,  click here to read my previous post for more details on these products.

Myth No. 2 – Washing your hair daily strips it of moisture and nutrients

Another common myth is that hair should not be washed daily as it strips its moisture and nutrients. Joni shared this is because many off-the-shelf brands contain a lot of cleaning agents within their shampoos, and this makes it harsher for the hair and scalp. But professional haircare brands such as Svenson contain a good proportion of herbal or organic ingredients that are good for daily hair wash.

For someone who works long hours and has late night baths like me, it is also important to blow dry the scalp and hair before sleeping, as warm and damp environments encourage bacteria growth, and really bad for the scalp.

How do you tell if your scalp is unhealthy? 

Joni scanned my scalp prior to the treatment and here are some examples of what an unhealthy scalp looks like.

See the really thin reed of hair versus the thick black one? That’s a sign of weak follicles, especially if you have a lot of really thin reeds.

If there is a hair pore but no hair in it, that’s also indicative of a damaged scalp because it’s not growing hair anymore!

With problem areas identified, Joni recommended the Pre-Scalp Detox Therapy Treatment, High Frequency Treatment, the OxyJet Treatment, and the Corrective Treatment.

We went off to the treatment room, and look at how lovely the corridors are! 

Step 1: Pre-Scalp Detox Therapy

My therapist was a lovely lady, Justina, who started off the session with a wonderful shoulder massage, before applying a cooling detox scalp mask that was minty and cleansing. The Pre-Scalp Detox Therapy really helped to clear the scalp, as our hair follicles are often clogged with sweat and waste particles and if not properly cleansed, is not only irritated and itchy, but could also trigger baldness. 

 

Shampoos normally only clean the surface of the scalp, but cannot penetrate deep within the hair follicles. This treatment not only deeply cleanses the accumulation of dirt, dust, dead skin, sweat, oil and bacteria. It also stabilizes bacteria multiplication and removes dead skin/ dandruff / accumulation of chemical products that we have from hair dyes, perms and styling products. This is recommended to be done once a month to aid in healthy scalp and hair (the detox is done from root to the tips of the hair!)

Step 2: High Frequency Treatment 

This treatment was really interesting because an infra-red treatment was utilized as part of the process, which rejuvenates the scalp condition for improved hair growth. The high frequency stimulates cell renewal and improves the product penetration,helping to eliminate toxins and acne-causing bacteria. The rapid oscillation can’t be felt so you can thoroughly relax during the treatment, but what happens is that the high frequency current improves nourishment and blood circulation, stimulates glandular activity and the heat soothes the nervous system to significantly improve the overall effectiveness of the post-treatment hair growth formulas.

Step 3: OxyJet Treatment 

The Oxy DH Therapy has a Peeling Phase and an Infusion Phase, and is important in revitalizing the scalp and hair with 95% pure oxygen! Justina used a specially-designed handpiece that delivered the oxygen to precise areas across my scalp. This treatment is extremely important in infusing peptides and actives to boost cell regeneration and lymphatic circulation. It also helps the penetration and absorption of the proprietary DH Hair Concentrate Serum formulated by Svenson’s trichologists, that was applied on both my scalp and hair. Containing a high concentration of copper peptides and plant actives such as Gingko Biloba, it eradicates receptor sites that block off blood supply, oxygen and nutrients, to slow down hair loss and accelerate hair growth, helping to maintain hair’s elasticity, texture and density!

Step 4: Corrective Treatment

Ever since my Outward Bound camp (yes I know it’s been many years!), my scalp has never been the same again due to the harsh conditions. The Corrective Treatment was especially helpful because it balances hair and scalp for healthier hair. For people experiencing oily and flaky scalp, it regulates, soothes and reduces irritated scalp even for dandruff. Importantly, it also relieves itchy, scaly and seborrheic scalp conditions such as psoriasis, with anti-septic, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties that effectively exfoliates decaying and dying epidermal cells, preventing bacterial proliferation. I was then given a head vibrator machine massage, and a beautiful blow-dry.

How was the treatment?

The treatment process lasted for 1.5 hours, and I must say that I was really impressed with the professionalism of the Svenson staff. I was the last customer left in the outlet because I went after work, but my consultation was a proper one (that even went up to 45 minutes with Joni carefully diagnosing my hair and scalp issues) before they started the treatment. They did not cut corners on the process, and Justina took care of every step of the treatment and even did a nice blow-dry of my hair. They could have rushed through it or showed signs of disinterest, but they instead showed true passion for their work.

Joni stayed right to the end – when I finally walked out with a refreshed lightness to my scalp and bouncy glossy hair – just to say goodbye and answer any final questions I had. Truly this was a great experience, and I’m definitely going back for more treatments as I can really tell the difference to my scalp quality. Thank you Svenson!

The prices for the treatments are as follows: Pre-Scalp Detox Therapy Treatment $80, High Frequency Treatment $40, OxyJet Treatment $90, and Corrective Treatment $90. 

*****

Svenson Hair Centre

Address:

360 Orchard Road
International Building
#09-06/07
Singapore 238869

Tel:
 6737 8575

Website:
https://www.svensonhair.com.sg/

 

[This post was written by Isabelle, a permanent writer on Shopping Queen’s Haven.]

****

About the writer Isabelle:

An MBTI
personality profile that believes in making the world a better place
(one starfish at a time), Isabelle is a communications professional who
enjoys creating good memories for others, and balances realism with a
healthy dose of joie de vivre and can-do positivity. 

****