EVERY WOMAN ABOVE 25 WILL succumb to an emotional impulse for a new haircut and style, which may be a disaster. In my case, it was about half a year ago when I decided to coax a famous stylist to cut my trademark long locks jaw-length short and slightly layered because I feared I was stuck in a style rut.

But I realized a month and a half later that the new cut did not suit me; it was far from wash and wear and still too short to cut.

So I went to another salon and opted for a tiny trim and full bangs. I knew I had made it worse when my husband and family looked so horrified and remained silent when asked what they thought.

The mid-neck-length hair plus bangs made my square jaw line look enormous and the bangs that covered my forehead gave me hamster cheeks.

That was four months ago and I did not have anyone cut my hair again till last week.

There was no room for experimenting and I decided to go to that one person who always made bad hair days extinct for me?Louis Philippe Kee.

At this point, my slow growing hair barely reached my shoulder and I told him I wanted the same length with a style that flattered my face shape.

He opted to give me strategic highlights of mahogany, auburn and red gold, but not before dyeing my base color lavender brown. My hair which was very scraggly near the ends were infused with several Kerastase treatments such as Vita Cement and Aqua Oleum to nourish and strengthen the strands from within as well as leave a protective coating to boost the shine and softness.

Then came the haircut. Louis has a method to make cowlicks behave and rebellious waves work for you so that your hair always falls the same way you want it.

It covers bald spots and hugs areas of your face so you look slimmer or fuller where it counts. My hair can be tied in a ponytail, but even when loose nothing falls on my face as the layers curve back in face framing waves without any styling products. The new hair coloring is customized to flatter the client?s skintone even without makeup so there will be less effort to get ready for a day or night out.

Facts

1. Haircut with Louis does not come cheap. For men: P1,100; for women, P1,280-P1,680 depending on hair length.

2. My hair is very fine, flat and on the thin side and tends to flyaway ends. This seems to be Louis? forte as everyone I have taken with this hair type has been very happy and willing to reinvest. Those with very thick hair, with thick strands, or very curly are not all as enthusiastic.

Out of maybe 10 people I have brought in with these varying hair types around six or seven are happy but the others are undecided and have decided to keep looking.

Must try

Those bothered by persistent muscle pains, especially on the calves, shoulders and back, should try the salon?s hour-long Full Body Massage (P980). Masseuses Odessa and Rachel are both trained in Swedish, shiatsu and Thai Massage.

Louis Philippe Kee is at One McKinley Place 4th Ave. cor. 25th St. Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Call 8563388.