Sarah Geronimo let go of her long, shampoo-ad hair and now sports a sexy, wavy bob. She still looks every bit the pop princess, and still endorses a shampoo brand.

The singer surprised guests in the recent Sunsilk Hairkada Fair with her new ’do by stylist Jing Monis. She wore a hot-pink jumpsuit paired

with silver heels, her layered bob complementing her summer look. Her short hair gathered some “OMG, Sarah G!” comments online—mixed reactions from fans used to seeing her long locks.

Cutting her hair short is Geronimo’s newest adventure, but her greatest adventure would be to climb a mountain.

t0314irene-sunsilk_feat5_2 — CELEBRITY endorsers make up a Sunsilk “Hairkada,” a group of free-spirited and adventurous young women.

“I would like to climb Mt. Pulag with friends,” Geronimo said. On breaks, she chills with friends by having a “movie marathon at home.”

Geronimo has been the face—and hair—behind Sunsilk shampoo and conditioner for five years. Her low-maintenance hair and sweet smile make her look prim and polished. Long hair, meanwhile, works for her co-endorsers Jasmine Curtis-Smith and Julia Montes. The three make up a Sunsilk “Hairkada,” a group of independent, free-spirited and adventurous young women.

Selfie-ready hair

Smith, 19, said she goes to concerts, practices Pilates and takes photos for fun. Her biggest adventure would be to visit all Disneyland parks in the world. She said girls her age who are experimental with hairstyles and color should also practice proper hair care.

“I don’t burn my hair by curling too often or using a lot of products,” she said. “I give it rest days, usually Sundays.”

Her regimen is pretty simple: shampoo, condition, air dry. “I put my hair down and let it dry fresh out of the shower.” Her natural hair color is lighter than the brown shade she has now which is needed for her coming TV show “Jasmine.” She admits taking a lot of selfies, and Sunsilk helps her have selfie-ready hair.

Montes, meanwhile, loves restaurant-hopping, food-hunting and cooking. Her dream adventure would be to backpack around Europe with friends.

t0314irene-sunsilk_feat5_3 — UNILEVER PR head for personal care Apples Aberin; marketing director for hair Dorothy Dee; Sunsilk endorsers Julia Montes, Sarah Geronimo, Jasmine Curtis-Smith; Sunsilk brand manager Ann Esteves; Sunsilk brand assistant Cristina Cu

She keeps her hair long and straight, and has learned how to take care of it from her grandma. “I used to brush it 100 times! And I woke up with silky hair,” she said.

Geronimo, Smith and Montes shared their hair-care habits at the Sunsilk Hairkada Fair recently held at Greenfield Park, Pasig City. The pink carnival had four stations. There was a popup salon where one could have a shampoo and blow-dry, and a music-video booth where one could be a “Popster” and toss hair to dance music. The adventure booth had a trampoline where one could test if hair stayed smooth after jumping, and a Fashion Booth for DIY hair accessories and flip-flops.

The fair also served as the venue for the launch of the Sunsilk Hairkada Adventure digital promo. To join, interested parties can upload a group shot with a Sunsilk pack on www.facebook.com/hairexperts; include hashtag #sunsilkhairkada and a caption indicating the group’s dream adventure—which they could win.

Five natural oils

t0314irene-sunsilk_feat5_4 — ADVENTURE booth where one can test if hair stays smooth after jumping on a trampoline

Sunsilk brand manager Ann Esteves said the Hairkada Fair promotes the Smooth and Manageable variant in time for summer. It is Sunsilk’s bestseller in a pink bottle, formulated by hairstylist Yuko Yamashita with five natural oils—almond, argan, coconut, jojoba and olive. It leaves hair with a fruity-floral scent fit for tropical weather and outdoor activities.

Sunsilk Smooth and Manageable is for everyday hair care, Esteves added. It works for color-treated hair like Smith’s, straight hair like Montes’ and short hair like Geronimo’s.

PHOTOS BY ROMY HOMILLADA