Let this be a fresh start

Recently I went for my monthly hair trim at my usual hair salon, Hair Journal at Aljunied and it dawned on me that I’ve never really written about the salon or how a visit to the salon is a therapeutic experience for me.

Hair Journal is a little salon in the heartlands. It may not be an award winning one or one that boasts the top hairdressers in Singapore but with a hairdresser/ hairstylist that can really cut my hair, at an affordable price (especially if you join as a member, 40%), it suits fine by me So yea, I guess it deserves mention, at least here in my blog.

Hair Journal was first introduced by Rina, who used to work in the area. If I’m not wrong, she chanced upon the salon, had a haircut, liked it and was telling us about the place. Rina was also telling us about its baroque inspired interior and the antiques (Gilbert, the owner collects them) you can find in the salon. I remembered after that, Galuh had a haircut there, with me following suit. In the end, our short hairstyles looked pretty much the same, with each of us sporting a teeny weeny tail like end at the back of our heads. It was soo funny but it was well done.

To date, I’m the only one who is still patronizing the salon. I remembered my first visit to Hair Journal four years ago. I went with the intention of chopping off my curly, thick, heavy, locks. I wanted the short hairdo back and also mainly becoz I lost the bet Mohd and I made while he was in the USA. I went with heavy contemplation becoz not everyone can really cut my hair. I was introduced to Toni and gave him all my trust to give me that drastic change. I remembered everybody in the salon especially all the staff was amazed at my big hair. Some of them even mentioned how “sayang” it was to chop it off. Initially, Toni was very skeptical but he said he’ll try his best. End result: a new funky short hairdo which I immediately fell in love.

Since then I kept going back till Toni resigned. Livia had cut my hair before so it’s only natural that she was my next alternative. She still is my fave hairdresser. She is the longest serving staff there, followed by Eve who cuts really well too. Mohd, Nassar and Amirul go the same salon too. Kotak, Amirul’s fren also goes there too.

The monthly visit that usually lasts about 1 hour or so indeed acts as a stress reliever for me. The snipping sound and motion of the thinning scissors and the ‘whole hairdressing procedures’ can really calm me down, switching to relax mode and eventually falling to sleep. I also particularly love the hair washing session where I’ll be given a good 10 – 15 mins head massage. That is good enough to perk me up. So really, these are the little simple pleasures I look forward to every single month.

I have friends introducing their hairdressers to me and there are times I have the intention of trying them out and at least to expand my choices. Some of them though are costly. For someone who needs a monthly maintenance like me, paying anything above $30 is rather heavy on the pockets. So I guess, till I really need to find another hairdresser, I shall stick to Hair Journal.

You can find Hair Journal at Blk 113, Aljunied Ave 2, #01-23 Singapore 380113 Tel: 67438616. Do make appointments.

From the last visit, I was told that Hair Journal has opened yet another salon in the Tampines heartlands. The 2nd one was opened at AMK hub a year ago or so. Not too sure about the exact addresses but you can check out with the staff.

On Monday, I hurriedly chucked all the blues in the deepest, darkest nook I could find in the office and made my way to Bugis to meet up wif the GGs for dinner at Seoul Garden. A very much needed one I must say. We filled our tummies to the fullest, especially since we were sooo hungry and having to wait for tables for almost 40 minutes. The only bummer: none of us actually remembered to print out the coupons that entitled us ladies to 50% off. Oh well.

Nin joined us halfway through when the rest of us were almost mendak from all the food, smoke, gossips and noisy bunch at the next table. Was glad to know that Awan was no longer missing (the reason why Nin was late) Btw Nin, dun worry k, u were not a downer that nite.

After dinner, we decided to continue the night at Arab St. It took us a good 20 mins or so (or mayb even more) to get to Arab St coz we were cam whoring along the way. Oh, and what actually got me shrieking in joy and instantaneously, belting out Beyonce’s ‘All the Single Ladies’ and dancing at the traffic junction? It is none other than a ticket to catch Beyonce live in September!!! It was an advanced birthday gift from the Butterfly Gals. Fiza flashed it out in front of me, just before she and Jjay said goodbye. Thank you gals!!! For awhile, I totally forgotten about my bloated tummy and aching back.

Over at Kampong Glam Café, where we finally decided to have drinks becoz the sarabat stall was packed, our conversations and gossips thrived effortlessly, accompanied by the keroncong music, blasting from the trishaw parked opposite us, as background music. Soon after, we turned our attention to a group of minahs, who was trying to do a photo shoot under poor lightings and with the model sitting on the rickshaw, (in nin’s words) posing Variasari poses. One of the minahs happened to be someone Salim and I acquainted before. Someone with a reputation. Someone whom I choose to categorise under our so called “salah people” circle. Sibuk betul dia, feeling jadi art director cum stylist. Haha.

That nite, I went to sleep still feeling all bloated and waking up the next morning, feeling the same. Salim and I agreed that we just simply can’t eat as much as we did 10 years ago. Our bodies can’t keep up anymore and we feel the effects straightaway. Despite all that, I welcomed the morning with gratefulness. Thank you for the joy and laughter.