Pamper
THE GLOW UP News from the beauty aisle
GET THE
CHOP
With her shoulder-length hair starting to feel like a drag, Sarah Fung waxes lyrical about the benefits of a short hairstyle for the summer.
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fter 10 years of wearing my hair shoulder-length, it’s time for a change. After having my second child, hormonal changes led to my hair falling out in handfuls, and it never quite regained its former thickness. Constant ponytails have taken their toll, leading to thinning and breakages. I have masses of flyaway baby hairs and my locks look limp, flat and lifeless. And then one day it dawns on me: It’s time to go for the chop. Dramatic hair changes call for expert stylists, so I reached out to Emmanuel Faipoux, owner and creative director of Emmanuel F, an organic hair salon in Sheung Wan. We discussed my reasons for going for the chop and went through some references, before landing on a textured pixie cut. “Summer is a great time for a new, short hairstyle,” Emmanuel says as he snips away. “Especially if you’ve had a major life change; cutting your hair can symbolise a fresh start.” However, Emmanuel notes that a short crop isn’t for everyone. “Not everyone will suit very short hair,
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and a good hairdresser will advise on the right length and style for the client’s face and personal style, rather than simply following the customer’s reference.” My main reservation with short hair was accidentally ending up with the dreaded “Karen” – that infamous, aggressively-angled short hairstyle that screams: “I want to speak to the manager.” I ask Emmanuel about the phenomenon and he laughs. “We have an equivalent in French too,” he says. “You need to make sure that the style you choose isn’t dated. Make sure that your hair has movement, that you can run your fingers through your hair, rough it up and play with it. That way, it’s still feminine and stylish without being stiff.” After a little over an hour in the chair, my new look is ready. It’s textured, a little scruffy in the chicest possible way, and extremely freeing. “The more you play with it, the better it will look,” advises Emmanuel. I can’t help but agree. I feel light. My scalp is no longer pulled by the weight of a ponytail, and the relentless
humidity actually improves my hairstyle. Win! Emmanuel advises that although shorter hair requires less day-to-day maintenance, more salon trips will be required to maintain it. It’s a trade-off I’m more than happy to make. emmanuelf.com
