New Year, new hair.

There's something about a new year that has us itching for a change, and nothing is quite as instantly gratifying as a new hairdo. This Chinese New Year I wasn't as gutsy as the last when I chopped off the longest mane I ever had. Instead, I opted for a fresh coat of colour since I haven't gotten it dyed in a very long time (which explains the unintentional ombre hair).

As much as I love the colour red, I've always had a phobia 'cause I remember trying red highlights and hated how it turned out. But my trusty hairstylist, Elein, managed to convince and reassure me once again to give red another go.

It's always a battle trying to pick a hair colour 'cause you know it's something you've to stick with for a good amount of time so you want it to turn out right. After much indecisiveness, I settled for a copper colour. And rather than have streaks of red highlights to go with the copper, Elein gave me an underlayer dye.

I must say that the hands of my hairstylist really does work magic! The red turned out gorgeous and the shade matches the copper perfectly. The red underlayer dye is brilliant 'cause I get to hide it if I wanted to, otherwise it peeks out from the curls of my hair for dimension. Madly in love with my new hair! Plus what better colour than red itself to usher in the Year of the Red Fire Monkey?

Hopefully you've booked your hair appointment in time for a fresh hairdo to start the the year right. If not, do quote my name for perks when you visit Headlines!

Headlines Hairdressing

10 Anson Road, #03-32

International Plaza

Singapore 079903

Contact: 6223 3133

Website: http://www.headlines.com.sg/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeadlinesbyArtistry/?fref=ts

Instagram: @headlinesip

Photos & Editing by yours truly

"Hair brings one's self-image into focus; it is vanity's proving ground. Hair is terribly personal, a tangle of mysterious prejudices." -Shana Alexander

With love,

Clarabelle Faith

Swimming with whale sharks.

Country: Philippines

Location: Cebu, Oslob

Swimming with the whale sharks is always exhilarating despite the 4-hours-pain-in-the-ass-drive from Cebu to Oslob. Whale sharks are the largest fish (reaching lengths of 40 feet or more) in the world but definitely the gentlest of all giants. They feed on plankton by engulfing those microorganisms with their colossal mouths that are nearly five feet wide! Very much like human fingerprints, whale sharks have a unique pattern of spots around the gill area which allows identification of each individual.

If you're heading to Oslob for a swim with these marine giants, do remember to be early 'cause the chances of sighting them is slimmer after 10am. If you're lucky enough like I was, you'd be able to see 5-6 whale sharks. Then again, word of caution, too many whale sharks at one go also means you'll be extremely exhausted from frantically swimming and trying to avoid getting swiped by their tails or sucked in by their gaping mouths. Prepare to be blown away by the sheer size of the whale sharks!

No trip back to the city from Oslob is ever complete without making a pit stop at Lantaw SRP for some ridiculously delicious baked scallops and my all time favourite local cuisine, pansit guisado (the noodles in my photos). To top it all off, it's a great spot to catch the last light!

Photos by Ing & yours truly

Editing by yours truly

"The sea is emotion incarnate. It loves, hates, and weeps. It defies all attempts to capture it with words and rejects all shackles. No matter what you say about it, there is always that which you can't." -Christopher Paolini

With love,

Clarabelle Faith

One beat. One dance. One vision.

Country: Philippines, Cebu

Location: Cebu City

Although I've always had an Infant Jesus, or more commonly known as Santo Nino, statuette at the altar in my room, I never knew that it was one that holds so much significance till last year, when I attended Sinulog in Cebu, the Queen City of the South.

Renowned as one of the grandest festivals in Philippines, Sinulog is the recognition of their conversion from pagan beliefs to Christianity. It is a lively celebration that lasts for 9 days and leads up to the Sinulog Grand Parade that is held on the third Sunday of January, every year. Millions from all over the world flock to Cebu to witness the grandeur of this street dance parade that runs for 12 hours or more!

When I was preparing for my trip, I wasn't really sure what to expect 'cause I've never attended a religious festival even though going on a pilgrimage has always been on my bucket list. Sure, I've heard things like "crazy crowd," "partying all day," "face paint/henna," "revelers wearing Sinulog hats," "singing and dancing with Santo Nino figurines," etc. But none of that prepared me for the sheer size of its entirety. There's only one word to describe...... MASSIVE! Nothing quite as compared to being there physically, soaking up the atmosphere -- street dancers all clad in resplendent costumes, vibrantly decorated floats, drums, trumpets and native gongs blaring to a rhythmic beat. It was super hard not to dance to the catchy tune of the Sinulog song! Hear it for yourself here and here. And of course I checked another item off my bucket list when I took a helicopter to get an aerial view of the entire parade!

Sinulog for the 36th year running is happening tomorrow and I wish with all my might that I could be there to join the street party. Nevertheless, Viva Pit Senyor!

Photos by Ing & yours truly

Editing by yours truly

"Like all great travelers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen." -Benjamin Disraeli

With love,

Clarabelle Faith

Crowning glory.

Women go to great lengths to make sure they look good. A woman's beauty regimen, from skin to hair care, is therefore of top priority. Which is why I believe that some of the worst mistakes I've made in my life were haircuts. After a few bad hair makeover, I hardly go to the salon (maybe just once every 2 years) and even when I did, I'd ask for a straight cut. 'Cause of that phobia, I've never done anything different to my naturally super straight hair. Thankfully I bumped into one of my girlfriends, Kaiting, who introduced me to Headlines Hairdressing. She raved about her hairdresser, Elein. But it was the fact that her hair did look really smooth and silky that got me sold.

The hardest part about finding a good hairdresser is finding one who actually understands, understand my struggles of having fine hair that tangles and breaks easily, frustrations that no matter how I tong my hair it still falls back straight within minutes. So it was comforting that Elein listened when I shared about my concerns before recommending the hairstyles and treatments that suits me.

I've always wanted curls to add volume and bounce to my otherwise flat and lifeless hair yet never had the courage to do so till Elein reassured me that it'd be a good change. If you're interested, I had the DYNA argan oil treatment done. I shan't bore you with the facts of argan oil 'cause I'm sure we've all heard the rave about its benefits and how it revives damaged hair. But in a nutshell, the DYNA treatment targets the scalp. For healthier hair, you've got to start from the roots (all pun intended). The best part is that the treatment gives you smoother and shinier hair that lasts for about 6 months! On top of that, it can be paired with curling your hair without the use of any other chemicals other than the one used to lock in your curls at the very end.

From straight hair with dying ends to healthier locks! Glad I took a leap of faith and visited Headlines Hairdressing to get my boring hair fixed! Makes me wonder what took me so long. It's a relieve knowing that my hair is well taken care of by a hairdresser who genuinely cares about the condition of my hair rather than making it look aesthetic by piling on the colours or giving me a funky hairstyle just for the sake of money.

Finding the right hairdresser is priceless 'cause it's the difference between whether you leave the salon loving your hair or whether you feel like you just got ripped off or worse still, the need to hide that ugly cut for awhile. Well, they don't call it the crowning glory of women for nothing!

Don't take my word for it till you visit Headlines Hairdressing and try it out for yourself. Do quote my name for perks!

Headlines Hairdressing

10 Anson Road, #03-32

International Plaza

Singapore 079903

Contact: 6223 3133

Website: http://www.headlines.com.sg/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeadlinesbyArtistry/?fref=ts

Instagram: @headlinesip

Photos by Elein & yours truly

Editing by yours truly

"I think that the most important thing a woman can have -- next to talent, of course -- is her hairdresser." -Joan Crawford

With love,

Clarabelle Faith