Haircare is the new skincare. What better way to find out more about haircare being the new skincare than from an expert in the hair industry such as the one and only Datin Winnie Loo, Founder & Chief Creative Director of A Cut Above who has pioneered the hair industry in Malaysia until today.
A Cut Above was founded by Datin Winnie Loo and her husband Datuk Richard Teo who started from a humble 428 square feet salon in 1979. Today, the award-winning A Cut Above group grew from one saloon to more than 30 salons nationwide, their own hairdressing academy and two sister brands such as X-Cut and Restyle+.
As an award-winning hairdresser herself, Datin Winnie Loo is the best person to ask when it comes to all things haircare and when we heard that A Cut Above collaborated with Hair Rituel by Sisley Paris, we got curious and had a #QuickChatwithPamper to find out more about this collaboration.
Kye Lin (KL): I understand that A Cut Above is the only salon group in Malaysia that carries Hair Rituel by Sisley, how did the collaboration came about?
Datin Winnie (DW): I have been in the hair business for a long time and in our shop there are a lot of good brands. But some thing out there, we’re still looking for a brand that’s uniquely different from the rest. And I’m sure that you know that the latest thing about haircare is ‘haircare is the new skincare’ so there we are. Yes, we decided to that something great is happening to the market and with the Hair Rituels collaboration, we became the only salon in Malaysia to have it which is amazing.
KL: What are your thoughts on ‘haircare is the new skincare’?
DW: In the market actually a lot of people spend a lot of money for their face but they overlook the importance of a good haircare product that is for their hair and scalp. Don’t forget, the hair and scalp is an extension of the face, just because the scalp is covered by hair. To me, you need to know the right way to handle the hair and scalp so choosing the best product is important.
KL: But most people would go for the cheaper alternative when it comes to haircare so as an expert in the industry, what do you think about that?
DW: In A Cut Above, we have all sorts of clients and we can’t please everybody but there are some who would still go for the cheaper alternative because they think that as long it’s a shampoo, it can clean their hair so these are the type of people who will stick by their choose. But there are some who think that hair is their crowning glory, where it’s important and a must to put the best on their scalp so we look at the market that’s so big. There’s definitely something for someone so good products are for the ones who love their hair.
KL: Some people would say that they already used a conditioner so why do they have to use a hair mask. What is the difference between a hair mask and a conditioner?
DW: If you have very limp, fine hair, just using a shampoo is good enough, you won’t need a conditioner. But generally, because of the trends most women and guys are dyeing, blow drying their hair, they do so much damage to their hair so a conditioner is definitely a must but that’s still not good enough. The application of all heat styling from hairdryers, the irons and tongs, you definitely need a hair mask. Just like how we need a face mask for our face for maybe 2-3 times a day. I would definitely encourage my clients to do a hair mask at least once or twice a week to have better hair.
KL: What do you think is the biggest hair problem for men and women in Malaysia?
DW: I think in Malaysia, the biggest hair problems are oily scalp, dandruff, and hair loss. Dandruff and hair loss are could be due to stress, lifestyle, and late nights. Malaysian men especially don’t really mind hair loss but in my opinion, the hair is your crowning glory so to take care of your hair you need a good product and a good habit.
KL: What’s a good hair ritual that everyone can follow?
DW: I think there are many good products in the market but what Hair Riuel by Sisley Paris has done for now is so suitable for many. Especially when they have a fantastic skincare range, they must be ready to do something great for the scalp and hair. So I would definitely recommend it to those who have a deeper pocket to explore haircare that is like a skincare. I think it’s fantastic and worth checking out, you can find them at our salons and Sisley Paris counters. We’re very honoured to be the only group of salon to sell Hair Rituel by Sisley.
Follow Datin Winnie Loo on Instagram to see what she has up her sleeves and A Cut Above on acutabove.com.my, Facebook & Instagram to see the latest hair trends.
