Looking for a fuss-free hairstyle? Our beauty writer puts Picasso Hair Studio's rebonding perm to the test.
Be it skincare, cats, or gadgets and gizmos, every woman has a vice (mine’s makeup). And while I tend to leave the house with a painted face of varying extravagance, it’s usually always accompanied by my usual mop of unstyled hair. I’m hopeless when it comes to hair hacks – all the styling tools in the world are wasted on my uncoordinated hands, and actual looping or braiding are kept to the basics.
So when photos of shampoo commercial-worthy perms from Picasso Hair Studio repeatedly appeared on my feed, I was intrigued. From subtle waves with a styling perm to elaborate curls with the S curve rebonding, these guys are clearly one of Singapore’s top salons for perms. But the magic words that had me sold? Rebonding perm.
A little hair-story
My hair routine has been the same over the past two years – bi-annual trips to the salon with the same request: half rebonding (permanent straightening) from my roots to past my ears, followed by a hot perm for my ends. Sadly, I came to expect mediocre results after numerous trips. My locks lacked body and movement, and were exceedingly dry post-treatment. Replicating a similar finish after leaving the salon was also impossible – any attempt with a hairdryer left my hair frizzy. And don’t get me started on the exorbitant prices; two services combined plus treatments always meant hidden costs. But those days are gone now; Picasso Hair Studio offers the same service in a single billed treatment and at NETT prices – yep, it was my hallelujah moment.
The salon
The two-storey salon takes its name seriously. Its location at the forefront of Bali Lane (a street away from Haji Lane) is an immediate indication of its artistic theme. Co-founder, Shiyun, confirmed this – the salon’s locale in the hip district was specifically chosen due its proximity to hipster hangouts, hole-in-the-wall cafes, indie boutiques and overall eclectic vibe.
Entering the salon, you’ll be greeted by a larger-than-life mural of a muse with paint-splattered luscious locks. Meticulous care is given to details, down to the easel-themed styling chairs and mirrors to clipboards which resemble paint palettes. Up on the second floor lies the other half of the salon, and a hair spa for scalp and hair treatments.
The experience
I was given a hot towel, hand cream and a drink of my choice while waiting for Jeremy, the salon’s Hair Designer, to attend to me. My treatment kicked off with a thorough analysis according to the customer consultation sketch sheet. I’d previously remained blissfully unaware of my mane’s conditions, but Jeremy explained the true nature of my scalp and hair type for better care. My face shape was also carefully studied to determine how best to bring out my facial features.
The treatment
To add shape and definition to my heavy locks, my hair was cut into long layers, thinned and trimmed of dried ends. A stronger L’Oreal Xtenso cream was applied to the crown was which due for rebonding (my roots tend to get wavy with little time), while a milder Arimino Cosme Cream was applied to the bottom ends.
We began with rebonding first. A round with the hair straightener worked wonders for a smooth crown, while a digital perm helped lock my curls into place. Jeremy added large curlers to the mid section of my hair for bigger, natural looking waves, which would naturally transition to my curlier ends, which was prepped with medium curlers. The treatment ended with a Kérastase cream to deeply nourish my hair.
The result
The end result, as expected from Jeremy’s expert manoeuvring of my locks, was expectedly gorgeous. After all that processing, my hair was incredibly smooth, and soft – even the formerly dried ends! The entire look looked as though I had a thorough, glam blowout. At this point, I was worried about achieving a similar finish but there was hope: Jeremy taught me to blow-dry my hair the same way he did by handing me the hairdryer and making me attempt the technique on several sections of my hair. Success: The effect was the same! Achievement unlocked.
As for the burning question: Hell yes I’ll be returning in a few months time. Over a week has passed, and my hair still looks fab. I’ve also gotten a little more adept with my hairdryer – glam curls for days! Thanks Picasso Hair Studio – you’ll be seeing more of me.
Picasso Hair Studio, 662 North Bridge Road, Singapore 188798, p. 6291 0691
