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17 outstanding Singaporean hairstylists you should try

In this month of August, we would like to highlight and salute 17 outstanding hairstylists who aren’t just great at what they do, they are also born and bred in Singapore.

While we may be lured by the likes of Japanese and Korean hairstylists at times, Singaporean hairstylists tend to be the ones we go back to because no one else understands us better than them.

There are only a handful of Singaporean hairstylists who are born and bred here, so why not #supportlocal and check out these precious few outstanding local hairstylists who may just turn out to be THE ONE you’ve been looking for.

1. Noel Ng from HARTS Salon @ Bugis Village

Not just a cute face, Noel Ng, Director at Harts Salon, is both a humble and gifted hair stylist with numerous awards under his belt.

From clinching first place in the ASEAN Skills Competition to being awarded the Medallion of Excellence in World Skills Competition for Hairdressing, Noel breaks the negative perceptions and social stereotypes of ITE graduates. He is also one of the Top 5 Goldwell Colour Zoom Hairstylists.

Noel starts every hair service with his signature smile and a thorough consultation where he listens attentively to the customer’s needs before suggesting a hairstyle that best fits them.

And he doesn’t just walk away afterwards to let the hair assistant do the work. He limits the number of customers to two at a time so he’s able to work on each customer’s hair exclusively for a significant period of time.

Noel is also an astute colourist; his subtle balayage techniques allow him to create one of the best balayage hair colours we have ever seen.

2. Edward Chong from Evolve Salon @ Liang Court

Edward Chong may have won several hair competitions both locally and internationally, but the Evolve Salon Director holds his own as the go-to stylist for magazine editorials.

His works have been featured numerous times in established magazines such as L’Officiel, Harpers Bazaar, Elle, Her World, and Prestige Chinese.

Edward’s versatile and fashionable hair designs have yielded him a huge customer base, many of whom know him through word-of-mouth recommendations.

Unsurprisingly, as one of the most in-demand hair stylists in Singapore, it’s not easy to secure an appointment with him. We recommend a booking in advance if you want you tresses handled by one of the best in the business.

3. Samantha from Color Bar by Full House Salon @ Tampines Central

Influenced by her hairstylist mother, Samantha began cutting her own hair at the age of five, colouring her friends’ hair at age 10, perming Barbie dolls’ hair at age 12, and embarking on a hairdressing course at a ripe old age of 14 years old.

Prior to opening her own salon, Color Bar by Full House Salon, Samantha has worked at several top hair salons, including Kim Robinson and Colour House.

This exposure further developed her hairdressing skills, strengthened her knowledge about different hair chemicals, and sharpened her intuition in giving the best hair colours for customers. That is probably why customers are willing to travel all the way from western Singapore just to get their hair coloured by her.

4. Jason from Picasso Hair Studio @ Bugis North Bridge Rd

We have met many hair stylists, but few have impressed us as much as Jason has. If your hairstyle is not suitable for a specific hair style or colour, you can count on him to tell you honestly what is best for you.

Having deconstructed what makes a specific cut or colour work for each individual, you can expect a perfect hairstyle that is tailored specifically for you. This may be a reason why he has a long line of customers, most of whom know Jason through word-of-mouth referrals.

Formerly a hair stylist working at Kim Robinson salon, Jason is currently the Creative Director at Picasso Hair Studio – yes, the very salon famed for its gorgeous hair colour creations.

5. Aris Teo from Kenaris Salon @ Wheelock Place

Aris, the founder and director of Kenaris Salon, thinks that hair is a canvas that people use to express themselves, whether consciously or subconsciously.

Over the past two decades, many have entrusted their ‘canvases’ to her because her professionalism, experience, skills and personality gives them the reassurance that their hair is well taken care of.

Aris loves to experiment with new styles, and is particularly good with perms. What we especially love about Aris is that she doesn’t just continuously strive to further hone her skills but that of her colleagues as well. She is never afraid to share her knowledge with colleagues or customers.

6. Eric from Hairpage Underground @ South Beach Avenue

Chief stylist at Hairpage Underground, Eric is insistent on upgrading his skills whenever an opportunity presents itself, even with 13 years of experience as a professional hairstylist.

He has been to Vidal Sassoon thrice to attend a different course each time, and has even travelled all the way to Croatia to attend ZGAT Academy.

As his demeanor suggests, Eric is artistic in nature and this shows through his original and creative cuts that are fashionable with a hint of uniqueness to them.

7. Serene Tan from Chez Vous Hair Salon @ Ngee Ann City

Having come a long way since her humble beginnings, salon director and Chief Trainer, Serene is one of Chez Vous Hair Salon’s most sought after colour specialists.

A pretty big feat for someone who started out as a mere shampoo girl!

Be it sophisticated hair colours, blonde hues or the more challenging ombre and Ikebana, she knows exactly what colour and the right mix to achieve the desired outcome.

Surprisingly, Serene’s knowledge and skills are not a result of learning under the tutelage of a famous master. Her accomplishments and exceptional knack for hairdressing can be simply attributed to sheer hard work and extensive training courses.

You know your hair is in good hands as the Kerastase Scalp Specialist in her will make sure both your hair and scalp are well taken care of throughout the entire service.

8. Preston from LeeKaJa Korean Hair Salon @ Mandarin Gallery

Senior Stylist, Preston from LeeKaJa Korean Hair Salon is definitely one hair stylist we would recommend you to have on speed-dial whenever you want to add some buzz to your everyday look.

Even to an untrained eye, it is clear to that the focus of his creations is always the customer. He never fails to ensure that the customer’s face is the highlight and that the hairstyle does not draw attention away from the customer’s beauty but rather enhances it in a way that looks natural.

Naturally, this talent of his makes Preston extremely popular among customers and most of these customers are through word-of-mouth referrals. So it’s pretty hard to get an appointment but try your luck ahead of time to avoid disappointment.

9. Valerie Koh from De Salon @ Bugis Village

Highly raved about in online forums such as Cozycot Hardwarezone, Valerie, Director at De Salon, is a homegrown talent who has been perfecting the art of hairdressing for over 12 years.

She has mastered the art of balayage, ombre, babylights, and ecaille to create a design that is distinctly hers. She attributes her success in colour and overall hair design to the continuous training and practice she demands of herself.

Other than attending Vidal Sassoon London, she continually gets inspired from Instagram, participates in hair competitions to sharpen her edge in colouring, and even styles the hair of celebrities like Jamie Yeo to keep ahead of latest trends.

As good as her hairdressing skills are, her genuine personality also takes center stage. Valerie is, after all, one of the few young outstanding female Singaporeans who has earned her street cred for being one of the most honest stylists around.

You’ll never find her pushing treatment or service a customer doesn’t need – in fact, she often starts by telling customers about the worst case scenario and then, over delivers with a bang.

Her no-nonsense consultation has impressed and earned her a huge customer base who has followed her for the past 10 years.

10. Annie Tay from CALEO Hair Salon @ The Adelphi

Annie, is one of the most in-demand hairstylists for women with curly tresses.

Having curly hair herself, she is cognisant about haircuts that work for curly haired customers and also the type of hair care routine that is required to maintain a neat look without rebonding.

She has also mastered the art of executing keratin treatments with minimal damage and even created her signature C Curl Keratin Treatment!

But Annie is not just a curl connoisseur, Caucasian ladies also find her blonde hair colouring technique and haircuts to be very precise.

Her innate talent for dealing with all types of curls and creating a customised look with a natural flair has customers wanting none but her to entrust their tresses to – in fact, when she joined CALEO, many of her previous customers contacted Beauty Undercover to find out where she had relocated to.

11. Tiffany from Picasso Hair Studio @ Bugis North Bridge Rd

Tiffany from Picasso Hair Studio is one of those special people who makes you feel comfortable and safe with her warmth and bubbly personality.

By treating every customer like a friend, she says what she truly thinks and takes the time to listen to your opinions and think from your perspective before recommending a hair service that is within your budget and still looks good.

Having rescued customers’ hair for the past 8 years with a good haircut and great colour, Tiffany has earned a reputation among her customers as “the magic hand”.

She always has some brilliant ideas to spice up your hair while ensuring that it looks work-friendly.

Naturally, she has accumulated a huge number of loyal customers who just can’t find anyone else as talented as her.

12. Jerry from LeeKaJa Korean Salon @ Mandarin Gallery

Highly favored by ladies in the know for his legendary bob and pixie haircuts, as well as his combination perms, Jerry has been perfecting his skills for over 11 years.

A hair service with him will keep you coming back again and again, especially since his hairstyles are low maintenance and voluminous.

His impeccable skill and genuineness make him a must-try hairstylist when you head to LeeKaJa Korean Salon.

13. Xavier Leong from Hair by Xavier @ Seletar

Xavier is a genius when it comes to hair colours! Highly sought after by magazines such as Cosmopolitan, Harpers’ Bazaar, Nuyou, Her World, and even hair care manufacturers who just love how he can bring out the best in their hair colours.

Xavier is definitely a must-try stylist if you are looking to give your locks a colour makeover.

His artistic intuition together with his charming banter and idealism in giving customers the best makes it really easy to trust and connect with him whether you are a Tai Tai, working professional or hip student.

Add the one-to-one hair concept he provides and you’ve got an unforgettable hair experience!

14. Jess Kong from Act Point Salon @ Dhoby Ghaut

Senior Hairstylist Jess Kong is one of the key hair cutting specialists at Act Point Salon.

Though skilled at all major hair services, she is particularly fantastic at perms and short hairstyles for females that have earned a loyal clientele that even includes a few Caucasian ladies.

Many of her customers follow her for life, even bringing along their children to get their hair cut by her.

Jess is another honest and homegrown stylist we love for her ability to make us feel comfortable and as if we are chatting with a friend.

If you are thinking of getting your hair permed, give Jess a try as her perms are affordable at only $150, including cut and treatment.

15. James from J7Image Hair Salon @ Far East Plaza

It’s not often that we hear of a hair stylist having sensitive scalp since they often have to colour their hair and expose their scalp to different hair chemicals.

But Co-Founder of J7Image, James was willing to suffer for his passion and took this suffering as an opportunity to find a solution that can help customers with a sensitive scalp, which is why he focuses on scalp treatments and non-ammonia hair colours.

James’ specialty, however, is haircut and rebonding. His training under senior and very experienced stylists has made him very detailed in both haircut and rebonding, so much so, you’ll find that James is extremely detailed that he will straighten every single baby hair!

On top of being happy with his hair services, most customers love to chat with James too. He is a great listener who offers advice that will make you feel better.

You’ll find yourself leaving the salon with a happy heart and a happy head.

16. Selyn from Style NA Korean Salon @ Parkway Parade

Often requested by bloggers and customers in the know for her creative hair colouring skill, Selyn is one of Style NA Korean Hair Salon‘s most prominent colour experts.

Her hair colours are not always vibrant as Selyn understands the constraints of her working customers and the desire not to damage their hair.

Thanks to her constant drive to keep updating herself with the latest hair colour trends, Selyn is still able to add magic with colours and highlights at the right places to make your hair come alive.

Her passion for hair colour is obvious, especially during the consultation where she will share various ideas with you.

As a true blue Singaporean hair stylist, it is easy to communicate your hairstyle preferences to her.

17. Matt from 99 Percent Hair Studio @ Katong MODA

His ardent love for hairdressing, his honesty, and notable skill makes 99 Percent Hair Studio‘s Senior Stylist, Matt stands out as a young local hairstylist to watch for.

He is able to listen and quickly understand what the customer is asking for, then delivering a result which exceeds customer’s expectations.

You’ll never get a cookie-cutter hairstyle from Matt as he is always pushing the envelope for that very special cut or colour. Each time you go back to him, you see a whole new self as he surprises you with something you haven’t seen before.

Aside from his lovely colour creations, Matt is the man for pixie haircuts as well!