Worst hair salon ever

The grand award goes to Kiseki Hair House. They claimed to have two branches, one at Tanjong Pagar and the other at Boon Keng. At my last visit, the shampoo girl said they have two more outlets under a different naming.

Update: BEWARE! They have renamed themselves as Rebornz Hair @ Work or similarly Rebornz Hair@Work! They also have new deals e.g. this.

Shop signage

The deal I regretted buying

I really regretted buying the deal from deal.com.sg (shown above) in June 2013, so much so that I haven't bought any of the services again from such sites. A past experience with a manicure deal also scarred me. In fact, I will rather pay more for a reputable place next time. It was S$8 for the hair cut. In fact, they advertised to have stylists from Hong Kong, but from my experience, they do speak Cantonese but they are all Malaysians! So let me describe my ordeal to you:

First cut in July 2013 @ Tanjong Pagar
I was served by a slightly plump lady named Catty. She was really good with the scissors and her mouth was exactly sharp like one. My hair was shampooed by another young girl whom seemed like a trainee. The whole cut took me 1.5 hours with the trainee and Catty taking turns to blow my hair. This already smelled of a disaster, two stylists trying to style my hair differently. But Catty took over and then she pressured me into buying a package. It was S$75 for another 5 sessions of hair cut after failing to sell me 10 or 20 sessions. She said there wouldn't be a deadline to use up those sessions but how would I know if they would close within the next month (it was worrying after the first session). And her face was black like coal after managing to convince me to get the 5 sessions. What bad customer service! I didn't know how but it just sounded so much like a guilt-trap and she was good at it. I never again saw her at any of my subsequent visits, so I really reckon she's either one of the bosses or she has left.
(Anyway, at S$15, I assure you can easily find a better haircut at other neighbourhood salon or an opening promotion in a BETTER salon in a mall.)

Second cut in August 2013 @ Boon Keng
So the dear Catty called and said Tanjong Pagar outlet had been really "busy" and recommended me to try my next session at Boon Keng outlet, boasting its bigger space and more number of stylists. In fact, I think the Boon Keng outlet was so new and the stylists were even "newer" that nobody really patronised the place. I booked for 3 sessions, bringing a friend and sister along. It also helped me to get rid of that package sooner before they "disappear" one day. Bad decision. In fact, I felt bad now for bringing others there. There wasn't any upselling but the staff barely knew what was going on. When I quoted the package I bought, they had no idea and had to phone the other outlet a couple of times to get things straight. Then I also didn't have to verify my identity! The stylists were all well-dressed in black blazers and pants, but their skills were mediocre. My sister was the first to get a cut. After a while, she was done and when I looked at her, I commented,"Did you have the cut? Why does it still look the same?!" It was then, the stylist began to rework on it and then we had a slightly more satisfactory result. Then she did mine, I told her exactly what I wanted, which was only a trim so it was easy. This lady stylist who did both mine and my sister's hair is not as "professional" as Catty, but she was friendly and eager to learn or please. She's slim, with long kinda dyed dark blonde hair (I can't remember her name but she was at Tanjong Pagar branch on my last visit). But for my friend, a bloke did her hair, as she had a shampoo before she came, she did without one. But the bloke barely touched her hair, she wanted to trim the dead ends and fringe but he must be a newbie, he didn't even feel brave enough to cut much for her. It was a complete disaster at Boon Keng and I swore never to come back to this outlet again.

Third cut in October 2013 @ Tanjong Pagar
So I came back again for yet another trim just a day before I attended a wedding. I tried to restore some faith in the Tanjong Pagar branch. None of the stylists I knew was around and so a pretty baby-faced guy named Eddy attended to me. I think this is one of the best things that happened throughout this ordeal! Eddy! IF YOU HAVE BEEN COAXED TO SIGN UP A PACKAGE HERE, ASK FOR EDDY AS YOUR STYLIST. I can assure you even though he's young, his personable character and genuineness is a rarity in this salon. He seemed new from the way he was shampooing my hair, he didn't use the tips of his fingers and he knocked me a couple of times with the hairdryer! Like I said, a trim was a trim, so it wasn't too difficult. He commented about my hair loss but didn't push me for any treatment (knowing that I'm unemployed). But besides that, he did a better job, I received a compliment on my hair right after the hair cut when I met my friend. He also tried to make conversations, well, I thought he was just trying to impress since that was the first time I met him. But when I came back again, he did remember me and what we last chatted! Eddy, thanks for the 'friendship'!

Fourth and last cut in December 2013 @ Tanjong Pagar
I came back again, after I got a call from them. They seem to like to call every month to make you visit so they can make you buy more sessions again. I saw the stylist from Boon Keng, but Catty was never there. I was asked to move seats twice, not impressed. Then a shampoo lady whom was totally clueless about her job was tasked to wash my hair for me. She is the WORST shampoo lady ever. She did not ask about the temperature of the water and washed my hair with cold water until I commented that it was too cold. Then the water became so hot that I had to ask her to adjust. Then it was back to cold water. I bet this is her FIRST HAIRDRESSING JOB and PROBABLY FIRST DAY OF WORK even though she tried to convince me she was sent from another branch. Kiseki Hair House, your new shampoo aunt sucked big time! So initially a FAT bloke was assigned to do my hair but last minute he decided to take an old auntie as his customer... what f*cking service! Fortunately at that moment, Eddy was done with his customer and he saw me. His face immediately lit up and asked if I remembered him, of course I did, and so I was happy to have him do my hair instead. Fortunately, he didn't knock my head much this time round. I asked him for a new cut, shoulder length this time and shorter fringe. I noticed Eddy can be easily distracted, he looked around during the cut a lot when he heard people coming in or moving around. But other than that, I can feel he's learning and doing a pretty decent job than the other stylists, best of all, he doesn't push you to buy add-ons. He's also sympathetic and encouraging at the same time (as he remembers my unemployment). I told him I would go back to him when I find work. Sorry Eddy, if you move to a new salon, I will keep my promise. Because I will never go back to Kiseki Hair House ever, it's the worst hair salon (I pity those old aunties whom are not savvy enough to read reviews). Eddy, I sincerely hope you will find a better place to groom you!

Redeemed

Just a few days before November ended, I went for the first facial in my life. It was a birthday treat at Spa Rael at an unbelievable promotional rate, thanks to NTUC Income. They appointed a PRC staff to attend to me and apparently she's the only chinese they claimed to employ, the rest being Malaysians. I have no particular preference, in fact, I thought she was good and very attentive to me so I was quite satisfied. I was also trying hard to perfect my Mandarin by making conversations with her. After the treatment, there was a post analysis chat where they tried to sell you a package; even though the staff told me she wouldn't be pushy but it sounded otherwise. Anyway, it is easy to refuse when you're jobless but you have to be firm on it! Don't make a mistake like I did with a hair salon - shall describe the horror stories in another post!

It was also end of November, I gave my dear feet a pampering foot mask. Sister gifted me this mask from Nature Republic. It worked wonders. I soaked them in the liquid in the pack for about an hour or so. You wouldn't see any effect immediately. But give it a week, you will notice the soles start peeling. It's like skin renewing... or a snake changing its skin! I got impatient and started to peel them myself! LOL. After a week, I reclaimed a pair of smooth clean feet minus the dead skin. It would be great to do this every quarter of the year.

I couldn't remember when I resumed swimming. It must be the time Joy came back to Singapore, almost 2.5 years back. No matter how hard I tried, swimming didn't help me lose weight. But it gave me a more toned physique. I also started to swim again after Joy left a year back... alone at the public pool. Slowly, I picked up the stamina. Then I found a buddy for a while, but now gone back to being alone at the public pool again. I also ventured to the lap pool whenever I felt courageous enough. At times, I would also go up to the sun deck after a swim to have a lay and read for a bit. I can't deduce whether it's swimming or both with the diet, now I have lost a couple of kilos (back to my ideal weight 5 years ago!) and also more tanned from those swimming. More importantly, I am very happy to be able to wear some of my favourite clothes again!

Just two weeks back, I went for a hair cut (my 4th one since July). I had been conned to sign a package, and thus this year I broke my own record of going to the hair salon for 4 times in 6 months. Anyway, to cut the story short for now, my hair is now shoulder length, it has been a while since it was this length. But I am ready to have it different. I also dyed them "Milk Caramelisee" color. I have started using these Beautylabo whipped hair color, this is the 3rd color I have tried and also the color best "absorbed" into my hair so far. I can really see the brown, especially under the lighting, it gets even lighter. I love the convenience of coloring your hair just like shampooing them! I wish they invent something for highlighting the hair which is just as easy!

So with a new hairstyle, hair color, new weight, new feet and also a revitalised face, I have redeemed myself. Not to mention, also credits to my friends, my mum and the little sister for all the love and encouragement... I found my renewed strength. This time, I am back stronger than before!

An experiment

So after a long time, I decided to master the courage to go to a party to mingle again. In the past, it was usually small house parties, usually friends of friend. And that was much easier. Also when you are from a same community like couchsurfing or dragonboating, it was not too difficult to just start a conversation with another member or teammate. But to arrive at a huge party alone, not knowing anyone... I have never done this. The recent years, I'd rather be spending my time being in my comfort zone... of course except times I ventured on solo trips. To a lot of my friends, they think so highly of me. They are thinking that I must be so sociable, brave and independent. And little did they know, I'm not borned like this! I have always been challenging myself, pushing myself out of my comfort zone because I know without them my life is just like any others. I don't aspire to be famous or rich but I want my life to be fulfilling and that I can only achieve by myself and not wait on God or the others.

So last night, I did this behavioural experiment. This party was said to have at least 600 attendees. I arrived alone, less nervous than I thought. I chatted up some unfriendly ladies but that didn't spoil my night. I knew there are bound to be people like them who only wanted to talk to the opposite sex. So I continued and made conversation with another lady. In turn, it led to many more conversations... men and women.. from one group to another... one person to the other, I spoke to at least 30 at the end of the night. That's 5% of the crowd (but I doubt there were 600!). I think this is a pretty successful experiment even though by now I can't recall half of their names. But I have met some really cool people, bumped into cousin of a friend and spoke to people of various nationalities. Awesome. I begin to feel this is only a beginning.

5 life lessons I've learned from swimming (1)

This post is inspired by 5 life lessons I've learned from running.

If you don't try, you will definitely drown.

And if you do, you have a chance of survival. Most of us in Singapore grow up with us taking compulsory swimming lessons in school. I guess that's a good survival skill. I passed the beginner course with ease, but failed my immediate due to another human fault. But that didn't hinder me from swimming. Immediate course was to master "frog-style" and now I already did, I even invented "doggy-style" where you swim with the head above the waters. That said, it leads to the second lesson (below).

Don't let a failure set you back from achieving your goal.

Sometimes you have to drown to conquer that fear you have.

Exactly. I almost drowned once, not in the pool but in the sea (in Thailand). I always had this phobia of not being able to touch the ground with my feet. But this is exactly it, I can never touch the bottom of the ground in some situations. I have to learn to accept or overcome it. Of course, I have never thought about using drowning to conquer that fear, it was a freak incident. After that, surprisingly it did not deter me from swimming. I continued to swim in the pool (though usually those I can have my feet on the ground). More recently, I found myself conquering a new territory - swimming in the lap pool! To me, that's an achievement.

Stamina comes with practicing.

Like everything else in life, you usually get better and better by practicing. When I went back to the pool after months or even a year of not swimming, the first few half-laps left me panting like a dog. I used to have swim dates with a friend,  it's a great motivation to have a sports buddy. But since she left for the States, I found my new friend (discipline). It's not as bad really. I have began to set myself a time frame to finish a certain number of laps. I began with 6 laps, then increased to 8, 10, 12 and occasionally 14 (all these in a few months)! 12 laps' pretty good for me since it's doubled of what I had started with.

Learn to enjoy it.

If you are passionate about something, you usually don't find it a chore. Doing it will help you relax. The best things about it - it keeps you active, clears your mind, relieves stress and also helps you to lose those extra kilos. In fact, I have shed a few and it does make me feel better about myself.

Failed contest

One of those contests you really shouldn't bother taking part... Look at the results, the same names appeared time and time again (wonder if they did an honest audit)! Same surname, are they a family? It's okay not being a lucky winner, but they should play it fair.

I wrote them a feedback, but they took a while to reply and tried to brush me off by sending me some plastic folders (which I have trashed!). Not supporting your products anymore!

Reboot

I feel like I'm starting all over again but that's okay as long as I'm paving the right path, the foundation needs to be laid. I caught a glimpse through the thick fog, only to realise I need to wait till it clears before I can see. Somehow, I noticed my motivation returning, slowly but surely. Thank you books, friends, family and strength... You kept me going!

There are improvements. From calls from job agencies, I am going for real interviews at companies and not fruitless ones at recruitment agencies.

Some things about a recent interview irked me. This arrogant interviewer with such aloof attitude never bothered to acknowledge my e-mail after requesting me to send something over. How unprofessional! The whole time during the interview, he didn't smile and his body language was already telling me he wasn't really interested. I guess you do really meet all kinds of people - some nice and some a** like this.

A bad day turned around

This morning, another email came in... It didn't make things better. An unfulfilled promise. Maybe it will or maybe it will not... Not sure if it matters anymore. The whole morning, nothing seemed to be able to lift my mood. Even when I did my nails as a therapy, they became a disaster.

A last minute cancellation eventually led to a more fruitful day for me. I went ahead with the haircut appointment at a dreadful place I had been avoiding. I arrived there with a sulk, expecting the worst service like the last couple of times. I didn't expect much from the young stylist but he was trying to make a conversation the whole time and so I reciprocated. His skill was mediocre, I got knocked a couple of times by the hairdryer. But his friendliness made my day better. He tried to sell but failed because I was just getting better at saying 'No'. After the 45 minutes haircut, I left with a satisfactory finish... At least I like those fringe. I walked back to the train station, retracing a familiar path. It didn't seem as scary as I thought, I wouldn't bump into him, at least not at that timing. In fact, I saw a few cute blokes and one came up and asked for directions. Like a lost bird myself, I tried to offer help by googling on the phone. So hey, it's actually so easy to talk to someone on the street!

On the way to the airport, I kept my eyes on Nick's book "Life without limits". It lifted my spirits up slightly. I got to the arrival hall, shortly before that plane from London landed. I sat there, kept reading while I people watched and impatiently scanned for one of my favourite people. I saw people hugging their kids, their spouse or friend... Those moments made me happy, I saw those anxious faces around, just like mine... waiting patiently for someone they loved. Happiness can be this simple - welcoming a loved one home. Then we had a simple meal where the company mattered more than a conversation or the food. So valuable.

You got mail

An email made my day the other day. But the one today didn't. I should have expected it but I didn't. I thought it would never come. Sometimes I hate being human. Why are emotions so complex? Can it be just happy and sad and nothing else? I wrote a very frank email the other day, I never fail to amaze myself with what I can express through words. I don't even know if they have touched someone or even made them cry. But I know I wrote it with all my heart and I hope the reader would feel it somehow. I hate goodbye emails because I am never good at saying them. But inevitably in this life, I have been made to say it countless times on many occasions. I think I am done, I just don't wish to say anymore goodbyes. Can I?

Twigging

Yesterday you sent me another angel to spur me. I know you are looking over me. You know I have fallen hard and struggling to stand up. Again and again, you threw me some twigs, some branches... And hopefully one strong enough to help me stand. I saw it. Thank you. I know you keep telling me the time isn't right, and I can only wait. I am waiting... I am training this patience because I know you won't disappoint me. You will lead me to that path.

Terrible thirty-two

Ahhh... Another year older. Not excited.

I'm not supposed to be negative and I haven't really been for quite a while but I'm so not looking forward to having a celebration this year. I am still so lost. This crisis is not as minor as I thought. Just like I wanted to rush myself to get over those bad feelings, I wanted to do the same for this. But in actual fact, it doesn't help. It would only make me more confused. So I am taking time but at the same time I can't help feeling frustrated. To make it worse, I sent an email few days back to 'chase' someone out of my life, not really, but I didn't need another person to complicate my life further right now. I'm probably going to feel this is the worst birthday in my life... And I hope this also welcomes a fresh beginning for me.

*fingers crossed*