New year, new me? Josh Kua goes through a “good boy gone bad” makeover on this episode of LSA Beauty Call and we’re here to tell you how to maintain those light tresses.
In the spirit of The Disruptive Issue, Josh Kua undergoes a transformative “good boy gone bad” makeover on the latest episode of LSA Beauty Call. The new year comes with a desire for change, prompting us to give the multi-talented Josh a fresh and bold look. Known for his refined image, whether performing as a dashing violinist in a minted two-piece suit or showcasing a clean and minimal day-to-day style, Josh’s jawline steals the spotlight effortlessly.
To showcase his rebellious side, Josh dives straight into what we’d like to call ‘a drastic makeover’. First, we are trading his beautiful and lush centre-parted hair for a buzzcut – the epitome of rebellion. Taking it a step further, he’s going two notches higher on the bad-boy scale with a full-bleached hair situation. But at LSA Beauty Call, makeovers aren’t just for the fanfare. In this episode, we’re ironing out all the details on how to select the perfect buzz cut for your face shape and how to maintain that freshly bleached buzz right at home.
A Clean Slate
In the wake of Evan Mock’s trendsetting influence, the buzzcut has experienced a resurgence, capturing everyone’s fascination with the allure of a bad boy. But before you chop off all that hair, you’ve got to plan. Don’t just go crazy with the clippers — and yes, we are here to warn you!
The first step of embarking on the journey of the ideal buzzcut is choosing the right cut. The right buzz relies heavily on your facial structure. So, understanding the right cut for your facial structure is paramount.
As we navigate the contours of facial features and personal preferences, here’s our editorial guide to help you choose the right buzzcut:
- Oval Faces: Virtually any buzz-cut style complements the balanced proportions of an oval face.
- Round Faces: Opt for slightly longer lengths on top to elongate the face and add definition.
- Square Faces: Embrace shorter sides and a slightly longer top to soften angular features.
- Heart-shaped Faces: Strike a balance with a mid-length buzzcut, maintaining volume on top.
The fade is a quintessential element of a refined buzzcut. It involves a gradual decrease in hair length, creating a seamless transition from longer to shorter sections. Fades come in various styles, such as high, mid, or low fades, allowing you to tailor the precision to your liking.
Beyond the traditional uniform length, buzzcuts offer a spectrum of styles to frame and highlight your features better:
- Crew cut: A classic choice with slightly longer hair on top, perfect for those seeking a timeless yet contemporary look.
- Army cut: Uniform and low-maintenance, the butch cut exudes a clean, confident aesthetic.
- Ivy league cut: Blend sophistication with edge by incorporating a bit more length on top for versatility in styling.
Choosing the right buzzcut is a collaborative journey with your trusted barber. Your barber is your friend. Their expertise, coupled with your preferences, ensures a tailored outcome that aligns seamlessly with your style narrative.
Don’t hesitate to communicate your vision and seek their professional advice for a haircut.
Blonde Ambition
Selecting the perfect shade of blonde is an art that involves understanding your skin tone, personal style, and the level of maintenance you’re comfortable with. It’s essential to consider your natural hair colour and its compatibility with the chosen blonde shade to ensure a seamless transition and harmonious overall appearance.
For warm undertones, golden and honey blondes can complement the complexion beautifully. Individuals with cooler undertones may lean towards ashy or platinum blondes for a striking contrast.
In Josh’s case, we’ve selected an ash blonde that leans slightly warmer to complement his complexion – IGORA Royal 10-14. The blonde ash colour — not to be confused with ash blonde — is a blonde with a slight ashy undertone that suits Josh’s warm skin tone without making it too cool of a colour.
Tip: Always err on the side with caution! Consulting with a professional colourist can provide valuable insights, helping you tailor your blonde hue to exude the elegance you desire. What you want might not always match your skin tone.
Blonde Hair Care 101
Being blonde is hard work! While we often associate blondes with a carefree spirit, the maintenance can be a nightmare. The wash routines, shampoos, conditioners and treatments can really do you in. So, you’ve got to fully commit before jumping on the blonde-tourage bandwagon.
However, we’re here to make your life easier and give you all the best tips on how to keep that flaxen mane at its best.
The Wash
Now that you’ve gotten your lightened lengths, we need to talk about the pains of washing. The base of your new blonde hair care routine will consist of two fundamentals – sulfate-free shampoo and purple shampoo
We suggest the Bonacure Color Freeze Shampoo specifically formulated for colour-treated hair to gently cleanse and protect hair while maximising colour retention. The formula ensures a gentle cleanse, providing protection and enhancing colour retention. With pH 4.5 Balancer Technology, it tightens and stabilises the matrix around hair cortex microfibrils, effectively securing colour pigments within the hair to prevent fading.
A bottle blonde’s worst enemy is those brassy tones that come post-washing. The second shampoo you’ll need is a purple shampoo. The opposite of yellow in the colour wheel is purple and a good purple shampoo can help neutralise any brassy or yellow tones that may show up. Apply the Bonacure Color Freeze Silver Shampoo and leave it on for 2 to 3 minutes, and wash it out for refreshed brass-free tresses.
The Nurture
After all that bleach, your hair will need some TLC. Many of us strive for that ideal blonde shade, but the process often involves subjecting our hair to considerable stress. As mentioned earlier, bleaching dark strands can be a harsh process, stripping your mane of the oils and nutrients sealed within the cuticle. The aftermath? Dry, stretchy, and brittle hair.
A deep conditioning hair care routine is the key to ensuring your beach blonde era is here for a long time, not just a good time. To keep those straw-like hair at bay, invest in a good conditioner.
The Bonacure Color Freeze Conditioner will help to replenish any moisture loss in the hair and prevent future damage rejuvenating those locks. When you apply the Bonacure Color Freeze Conditioner, imagine it as a protective shield that strengthens each strand against damage from the environment and styling. The conditioner actively contributes to the overall health of your hair, making it more resilient and vibrant despite the challenges of bleaching.
For an added layer of protection and the added benefit of easy detangling, spritz the Bonacure Color Freeze Spray Conditioner on towel-dried hair. The lightweight spray not only acts as a barrier against potential harm but also improves the manageability of your new blonde locks.
To shop Schwarzkopf Bonacure Color Freeze, click HERE.
editor-in-chief MARTIN TEO | creative direction MALLIE MARAN | assisted by PUTERI YASMIN SURAYA | photography CARLOS KHU | videography POR JIA JUN | makeup SAHIR SABRI | hair styling HAAGEN HO using SCHWARZKOPF PROFESSIONAL| accessories GENTLE MONSTER | wardrobe COACH
—
LSA Beauty Call is a monthly feature hosted by resident writer and beauty junkie, Mallie Maran. In LSA Beauty Call, Mallie gives you the tips, tricks and lowdown on what’s hot in the beauty world.
Tags
Written by
Mallie Maran
Writer, Beauty & Jewellery
Bornean born and bred, Mallie enjoys luscious skincare, a bottle of bubbly and chic garments. With a background in Public Relations and Journalism, Mallie is now exploring the world of writing. When not hunched over the laptop, Mallie can be found exploring the latest bars or at home recharging with a face mask.
