What is 2010 to me; and Hello 2011!

What is 2010 to me; as a hairdresser?



Well; I have so much to share about life as a hairdresser this year.. I have changed a lot; psychically, mentally and spiritually. I considered myself a very lucky person because I have enough food to eat; clothes to wear and a shelter to sleep. I really thank God for his blessings. And as an extra, I met people I wished I could meet and even personally knew them and had a life with them inspired me along the way.

This year itself I met all kind of people; positive and negative. To all the positive people; thank you for being an inspiration and motivation; for it kept me positive throughout 2010.

But; to all the negative people; I would love to express my gratitude and appreciation for your free trainings; I honestly do felt thankful to you all because, if not because of you I would not have learnt the most in 2010...You guys did keep me mentally stronger; and improved me in some aspects of life; and I learnt a lesson money cannot buy. Without you; I will never realize the fact of life and the meaning of the life. After all life is a learning path. Like Winnie Loo used to share with me; "Anything that did not kill you made you stronger!"


Whatever it is..."Happiness" is always my priority ...And I am searching for pure happiness within me...as a person...and as a hairdresser. That is why I had a tattoo "Happiness" on the back of my head.

This year I have being very brave. I used to dislike tattoo; and percepted it as gangsterism..As I grew older and travelled around for awhile, I fell in love with it as I felt it gave me a strong feeling of being tough like Rihanna. I loved it as an art on my body. But; too bad I had to lie to my daughter that it is just a sticker haha....

I have 3 nice tattoos..which I've got them mid of this year; first one was Mystic Knot - pure happiness, health and wealth. The second one was a bangle tattooed on my hand, Maori for warriorism as I am a fighter...; third one was a word tattoo - "happiness", which very much inspired me to discover and share happiness with people surrounding me. I do not know if I would stop having new tattoo on me but I hope I can stay with 3 for now..ones that I really loved and kept me stronger and happy in facing anything in life would bring me.

P/S: I had to take 4 tablets of Actifast with a can of 100 Plus to overcome the pain...oopsss...I am still alive haha...




Mystic Knot


Maori Hand tattoo

My Happiness

Besides tattoo..my hair has become my own victim ...I used to have a very nice long hair in 2008; to mid length in 2009, with hair color of orange copper, blonde and white.... I enjoyed short hair this year and it's getting reallly really short now to welcome 2011. I loved the transformation as I enjoyed being different. In short I love doing total makeover on myself and; even enjoyed making over my clients. I love seeing them being unique and most importantly YOUNGER!! plus an easy maintaining hair....

2008 -Me, Winnie and a friend in Hong Kong

2008- Me, Hubby Lewis and Manne

2008 - Me and Amber

2008-Me, Lewis and Camelia

2009- Me in London Vidal Sassoon

2009- Me and Lewis in Bayswater London

2009-Sarawak Autistic Children Charity Gala Show in Kuching with Gilterama Girls

2009- Me, Brenda, Selina Aenie, Frederick in Kuching for good cause..

2009- Me and gangs for Malaysia Hairdressers Talent Night KL

2010- Me, Manne, Alvin and Richard at Stylo KL

2009- Me with Copper Short Hair

2010- Me with Blonde Hair

2010 Me in Sereni&Shentel head band.

2010-Me in platinum white

2010- a photo of myself taken by myself...

2010-Short platinum blonde

2010- Me in action

2010

2010- "Nyamuk Aedes"

2010- Enjoying fashion

2010- My Mohawk..

2010- In action

Latest - Oopsss - Brave short hair

From the photos you can see...how different I have become..but I love it....my mum love my short hair....she said I am cute haha....I am happy I am unique in my own way...

I would summarize that 2010 is a positive year for me as a person.. Firstly I had a drastic change in my appearance - take a look on my transformation from 2008 to date...

Secondly; I learnt to overcome my fear of travelling alone...Winnie Jie, you are my witness...Haha..I used to scare taking flight alone worrying that the aeroplane may explode..so I always make Lewis travels with me...But amazingly 2010, I traveled alone to Singapore lots of time to meet my TG team in Singapore for training and meeting...even traveled to KL alone for the transit flight to London for Toni and Guy yearly training and updates..I am proud of myself...haha...I really do..

2010 me and my no.1 Idol Winnie Loo

Thirdly, I learnt to look at things at different point of views; and did a lot of self monitoring and appraising in handling problems that arised at work. I worked everyday with my small team of great team players from 10 am to 10pm..and only get to see my daughter and hubby for couple of hours everyday..I believed quantity is not the issue but the quality times shared together is most important.. even just for just a couple of hours everyday...At least I still get to see them everyday..unlike some family, due to oversea work they only see each other two or three times a year...

Lovely every morning with hubby and baby..

Being a hairdresser, 2010 is also a great year for me and my team. We often get invitations for charity function; mostly charity cut to raise fund for Kuching Autistic Children, Sarawak Children with Cancer, Perkata etc. I hope in 2011, we can help more.

2010 Go Bald

2010, is another year that me and my team get to share our ideas of hair in Malaysia Hairdressing Gala Night in KL; which is also another great year of myself in supporting Hair Malaysia Competition; being one of the judge for the event. I am proud being a Malaysian Hairdresser as I saw many young talents have mushrooming in West Malaysia...and I hope it is also the same in my own home town Kuching....To my students..you guys are really talented...and keep up the good work and improve yourself everyday...

P/S; I learnt a lot from you all too as much as you guys has learnt from me...

Me and my students..

Me and Students during Spring Fashion Week.

Me and my team at MHA

Me as a judge at Hair Malaysia Competition 2009

Me as a white hair judge at Hair Malaysia Competition 2010 :)

Me with other esteem Judges of Hair Malaysia 2010

Getting model's hair ready for MHA 2010 in Toni and Guy Academy KL

Gratefully, my clients base has also increased and I am so happy that I get to do hair for so many great people in my beloved hometown Kuching everyday. I am so blessed that my work is greatly appreciated and loved. Here, I would like to take an opportunity to thank all of my clients for supporting, trusting, and believing in my skills. I will try my very best to give the best to you all..Thank you for your great supports.

2010 London

2009/2010 as Toni and Guy Team

My most excited moments this year was meeting Toni Mascolo , founder of Toni and Guy and all the Toni and Guy Artistic Team in London.

Besides that; when Sereni Linggi and Shentel Lee of Sereni&Shentel (an upcoming and leading headband business ) visited our Essensuals salon for haircut and haircolor; I was very excited too. Both of them are super friendly and talented woman..Hey...it's great to be East Malaysian..and there are so many great talents yet to be discovered in this island Borneo we called home...

Sereni&Shentel

I also catched up with my Singapore team in almost every month in Singapore and went to London last Oct 2010 with some of them (super cool people).... Xavier Mah during MHA (gosh he is another young and talented man...and he has a fan page guys...checkout http://www.xaviermah.com/), and Brenda Chiah during her chinese new year programme shooting in Kuching lately (her new drama series will be on NTV7 soon, 30th December 2010). So, tell me.....I do not have any reason to not like my job as a hairdresser ....haha...

Me and my TG Team from Singapore. My idol Mr David Mercer is standing right next to me..

Me and Xavier Mah

Me and Brenda Chiah

Despite of all the positive things that happen in my life as a hairdresser, I faced 2 saddest incidents this year; incidents that really put me in great tests..incident after another continuously without a break at all; which I admitted that I nearly failed at it..

First incident was when I lost all my ten pair of scissors when some bad guy just smashed my car window and stole my precious 10 years collection of scissors which I hide in my car boot. I lost everything..identity card, passport, phones and my more than 10 years red bag which I always brought with me whenever I traveled (you can spot the bag in some of the photos).

Second incident was when I lost a great loyal friend Tung Tung of 13 years of great companion..I had to let him go due to his great suffer in pain..I remembered clearly the effect of the just one shot that end his pain and of course his life....It was heart breaking...and I was so down for awhile...but I told myself he will always be around and he will never be forgotten..I really miss him; and how handsome he was ...

Tung Tung, in rememberence forever (a day before he left me forever...)... I love you..

2011 is a year I am looking forward to; as my resolution is to search for pure happiness...2001 would be the time I am pursuing the happiness in life as a woman, a mum, a wife and most importantly a hairdresser..

2010 make me realised something in life....

"Prosperity is not Wealth but Happiness....Prosperity is Happiness"

To Pei, and Chung, thank you for your great contribution to this unique team and I wish us all a great success in the future and more excitement in 2011.

To Winnie Loo and David Mercer; both of you are always my idols and thank you for all the guidances and inspirations.

To Henne, Dict, Quester, Isaac, Janice, Jacky, Patsy, and Roy; thanks for the sharing..

To Cherrine and Tiger, thank you for everything and thank you for showing me what true friendship meant in life.

To hubby Lewis, thank you for being the strongest one among us all; overcoming all the stress in life and showing me what persistency and consistency really mean. I wish you more success in 2011 and years ahead...Stay Happy and Healthy. To Tyan my little girl, thank you for making mummy happy at all the time even by just looking at you...

To my mum Alice, thank you for being the most understanding person; good or bad, happy or sad...without you..I am not who I am today...

Goodbye 2010....Hello 2011!

Love,

Jac

A Stylist For a Cancer Patient....

What is Cancer?

According to Wikipedia, Cancer is a class of disease in which a cell or a group of cells display uncontrolled growth , invasion (intrusion on and destruction of adjacent tissues), and sometimes metastasis (spread to other locations in the body via lymph or blood). These three malignant properties of cancers differentiate them from benign tumors, which are self-limited, and do not invade or metastasize. Most cancers form a tumor but some, like leukemia, do not. The branch of medicine concerned with the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer is oncology.


In short, if cancer is not treated earlier; its deadly.


As a hairdresser how does it affect me as a person? The stories begin......


I met Irene 3 years ago if I am not mistaken. How do I met her? Well, she came to me for a haircut since backed from UK for good. Since then, I am her hairdresser.

Being her hairdresser; it gave me lots of great feeling, confident, and a kind of special bonding with her. She is kind, cheerful, honest, and to me she is really a beautiful lady. She always came in with her daughter Karen; when visiting me for a hair cut. And I always do my best to give her and Karen great unique looks.


Often in conversation; we shared idea about life and stuff. She told me a lot about her younger age days and how she was always the odd one...and how a daring person she was...From her face, I sensed how gorgeous and pretty she must be when she was a young girl. Obviously too as she has a great pretty daughter. I always looked forward for her and her family to visit my salon. In short; I love her.


Lately; she came in with a news that she had a tumor on her left breast. I was very worry about it and prayed that it is not something bad. Result told us that it was a cancer tumor and I was really worried. I hoped it is not a serious one.

Go Bald at The Spring Mall - 2010

I was shaving a guy hair who supported GO BALD fund raising campaign.

For few years now, I was involved in charity cut and one of them is GO BALD; a fund raising (http://gobald.my/) to help Childrens' Cancer Society. From there; I learnt a lot about cancer and I remembered that it is curable if detected early. Based on the information I had, I felt relieved as I knew that Irene's cancer was at preliminary stage. Thank God..but she still had to go through phases of recovery. She also shared she had to undergo 3 sessions of chemotherapy treatment to kill the remaining bad cells after the tumor is taken off.

I saw her after the first treatment and she was telling me that she may get her hair fall soon due to the chemo; so she wanted me to cut her hair really short..so I gave her the James Bonds girls haircut; short and elegant.

After a week later; she came in quite late and told me she needed all of her hair shaved as her hair were really falling out. I was sad and hold my tears to it..I tried to look strong and laughed and joked with her. But my heart melt every second I shaved her hair...She felt happy and I carved some designs on the head to make it looked cool..

She was so brave and strong...I meant; I have shaved almost more than 600 heads along with my team during the GO BALD fund raising function for SCCS, but this was the first time I am shaving a good friend client ...and I was not strong enough compared to her...I was feeling sad...I should not be, I should be grateful that she was strong and took it all positively; which was the best way of healing.

I am dedicating this blog to her and also other cancer patients...I wanted to tell her that I admired her positivity, her braveness, her courage and attitude. I wish her long life and hope that she can recover as soon as possible; so her hair could grow back fast and that I can keep seeing her every 5 weeks for a haircut with me...

I believed she will live long and grow old; as old as she wanted; and still can walk into my salon for a haircut...Irene dear; you are the bravest woman I have known... Keep fighting..I know you can..!

Look how gorgeous she is with the new look..so cool...

For you out there who are diagnosed with cancer; please stay strong and never give up...Your family love you and will be with you at all time to fight this disease.

Trust me; it is curable as I have seen real life examples. Fight it earlier before it's too late.....

Jac

My First 2 Weeks Off - Paris and London 2010

First time in my 12 years of career as a hairdresser, I took a brave step to give myself a longer break - 2 weeks. I was really nervous before I flown off to London. After all it is my longest holiday ever. The main purpose for the trip was to get myself inspired and attend Toni and Guy 2010 Project 10 Launch and training.




I reached KL LCCT on 3rd October 2010 at 11.30pm. I was alone.. and I stayed awake for 24 hours in LCCT for the next day, flight to London at 12.30pm. Gosh, I was drowsy...I had Faye Wong as companion...and a book.."Bangkok Tattoo" to read but my eyes were so tired I just sat on the floor and people watching...I realized something that night... I understood one point that when I was in a rush during work I felt stressful; but I could not believe myself that too much time to kill was even depressing...




walk to airport to kl

me and my boots as companion

bangkok tattoo, a drowsy reading

Long waited for 11 hours; I finally met my long time girlfriend from Melaka who was also on the trip with me. Joanne came only after I checked in. I had to as I was too tired to think of the luggages..

Everything went smooth and we checked in and the first things I did was laid down and slept...lucky one seat besides me was not taken so I could sleep better...I was so comfortable; slept for 12 hours and woke to refresh myself again before landing. It took 13 hours to reach London but I was okay as I had some sleep.

We took a ride on coach of GBP 8 per trip to Victoria Station before taking tube to Embankment where we were staying. It was just 5 min walk to the apartment and it was a great place to stay and safe...We had a good rest and the next morning we were bound for Paris via Eurostar train; we bought first hand and had a good rate of GBP 69 for return; through website and checked in was easy as we had pre printed our tickets.

tea while waiting the train to paris

Waited..excited as it was our first time and we both were trilled and reaching the city was so cooling..and romantic haha...I missed my hubby that moment and I could not believe I made it to Paris...after dreaming for it ever since I was a kid. I enjoyed the scenery while walking and finding the hotel we were to stay..

Everything were within reach. Montmarte was a great place to stay. We tried whatever we could afford. However we felt that Paris food was very costly and it was not that great except the Italian food we had at La Galle if I am not mistaken of the restaurant name. .... We visited Eiffel Tower and went sight seeing..walking and relaxing....We stayed only for 2 nights.

paris eiffel tower

Travelling in London; we felt much comfy as we stayed in Joanne's friend, Sean's apartment. It had everything from kitchen to laundry. Whoa....we both saved a lot for more good shopping haha....Thank you Sean for the hospitality...

me and joanne wait bus to london

sean and joanne

me and London Eye

First day touring around London, (8th and 9th October) we were finding all the routes to where we wanted to go; by foot. Haha....saved GBP 1.80 per trip. We managed to walk to Trafalcar Square, Piccadily Circus, Oxford Circus, and Old Bond Street ...and you know what we meant...

burberry

memories

It was very cold and windy but we were enjoying it.

10th October was the Mainstage and I was very excited about it as it was my first time to such huge team celebration..and it's the Toni and Guy team and I am very proud that I am part of it...

It was at the Battersea Power Station and before it started our team from Malaysia and Singapore gathered for a drink at a nearby pub. It was freezing but we were okay..haha...

Queuing to enter the launch; we saw many hairdressers like us; all over the world...and we are the Toni and Guy and Essensuals and it were about 3500 of us. Shows started in 5 min time and for the first time I saw Toni and Sacha Mascolo in real person and I was immediately felt "God, thank you for the journey...it is tough but it is worth it"...

10.10.10


10.10.10 stage show

I enjoyed the shows and went home feeling amazed and looked forward for tomorrow training, from 11th till 15th - Project 10

I met so many great people during this journey.... - I met :

Toni Mascolo (Backstage of the Mainstage), Toni was very friendly to me and very down to earth too...

Toni Mascolo

Sacha Mascolo (I saw her talking to Indira during the backstage of Toni and Guy Show at the Salon International...she was so near to me but yet far as I had no chance to talk to her even a hello as everyone was too busy with the model preparations; rushing for 12.30pm show and presentation);

Jane Stacey and Efi Davies whom I met in Singapore last March and again in London; Jane shared lots of color techniques and her works is very outstanding. Efi...she has unique ideas of avant garde and I am amazed of her plaiting skills..fast and accurate.

I was happy that I was given the opportunity to see and help the artistic team backstage for the London Salon International Show on the 16th October at Excel . I would like to extend my gratitude to David Mercer and also Janice Kok of Toni and Guy Singapore; my mentors for the arrangement.

Jane Stacey

backstage badge

team at work backstage

Bill Watson, Cos Sakkas, Richard Mannah, Indira Schauwecker and Pinar Necati whom I met backstage first time after the mainstage at Battersea Power Station...met them again at the academy. I also saw Hide Saiga, Silje Vincent, Beau Vincent, Mohammad Samghabady and many other Toni and Guy International Artistic Team during training days.


In short, all the artistic team are super friendly, super helpful and very very hardworking.

I felt very much inspired by the as team as each and everyone has their identity and great at what they do. All these would not be happening without team support from Toni and Guy Singapore and I would like to thank all my mentors David Mercer, Janice Kok, Issac Ng and Jacky Ng for their care and guidance during the week in London.

with David Mercer and the team

Issac Ng of Toni and Guy Singapore

Jacky Ng of Toni and Guy Singapore

me at backstage

Beside meeting Toni and Guy Essensuals team mates, I met Kiong Kong, a regular clients of mind back in hometown Kuching. He has been staying in London for about 6 years now, finishing his degree. So good to catch up.

Kiong kong

I also met Ms Winnie Loo, founder of A Cut Above in Salon International and gosh...i forgot to take photo together..it was so cool to catch up there and chat for awhile. Seeing her there was very very inspiring too as she is really a great mentor and she is my no 1 Idol haha..and that is why I created http://www.winnieloofans.com/ just for her...It was so fated that we met again at Oxford Street in the evening of the last night I was in London. Will catch her up again soon in KL..

Salon international

During the 2 weeks trip, I have learnt a lot...seen a lot...inspired a lot....eat a lot ...and window shop a lot...but I can't stopped the desire to have one Dr Marten London boots. I am a boot person so I got them at quite reasonable price...and even helped my friend Cherrine to buy a pair of limited edition Hello Kitty boots too ..cool huh...

hello kitty limited

walking down town london

My happiest moment throughout the 2 weeks trip was when I attended Hillsongs Church in London with Janice and Joanne and I was really touched by it and I hope I can attend them again in future. I thanked Janice for telling me about the church and I was very very happy that day...halleluyah....

me, Janice and Joanne

I have a great time these 2 weeks and I am glad I am a hairdresser...It's tough, sometimes unbelievably hard, but I am proud to be one because I get to meet so many amazing people around the globe and hopefully my next journey will be better and inspiring...Hey..I have got a great friend coming for vacation with me to Kuching..He is Dave and he is a hairdresser from Toni and Guy Hereford...cool guy....

dave and me at airport


I hope I will have more great trips in the future...

Cheers xxx........

Hairdressing As A Career. A Good Choice....

Hairdressers As A Career. A Good Choice...




Talking about a life and a career...Which one do you consider? A life having to work VERY hard or a life with easy money? I guess everyone will choose to have an easy life, easy money. But think thoroughly....easy money usually do not last long. Ask every successful men on earth, they gone through many pains and failures to get there.





Persistency and discipline are required as a hairdresser..

Being a hairdresser is not an easy job but personally I felt it guaranteed us a life of "no starvation". Why? Well for example, let's say I am now jobless...and very hungry, I can easily have a bowl of noodle without having to steal it... I can just take out a pair of scissors of mind and offer to cut a cook's hair for a free bowl of noodle. True enough, with the skills that I have, I will not starve to death.....

It sounds logic to me..however many give up halfway as a hairdresser because of wanting easy fast money.. Skills are to be developed within a time frame and it cannot be mastered overnight...yet those who have little talent usually took even longer time to master certain skills . Learning hairdressing is neither hard nor easy. Patience, Passion, Persistency, Discipline and Quality skills are the key words. With all that, there is no way we cannot be successful as a hairdresser.

Every hairdresser will go thru a phase which I named it "a hairdressing cycle". Before one can work in a salon, he or she must go thru a training in hairdressing academy for a period of 8 months to 12 months. Then when they graduated, they will start from assistant level to junior stylist level before proceeding to pro-stylist and senior stylist level.. It took years to reach there.

And in my 10 years of working in Kuching as a hairdresser I saw many give up hairdressing for something else as they could not work hard and lack of patience.

As a hairdressing student, their job is to learn as much as they can.

Look around us. There are hundreds of hairdressers but not many are on the top. What makes them different? It took decades to succeed sometimes. Who can do it? Not many, because not many have that kind of patience.

For example, Winnie Loo, an idol of mind..it took her 35 years to be at where she is now..35 years of long hours working, 7 days a week working...working...working...and working...and still she is working even until today...I supposed at her stage now she does not have to bother working anymore but why is she not stopping??? ..I asked her once, she told me she wanted to touch the stars......The only difference I see is that; now she allowed herself one day off per week.. Only now...can you imagine? How many can do this?

Being a hairdresser, we are blessed having many great successful hairdressers as our inspiration. And in my case, Ms Winnie Loo is my inspiration.

From left to right, Alex of LaMode, Chung from Cutting Edge Kuching, Jacqueline (me) from Essensuals by Toni and Guy Kuching, Lewis from Cutting Edge Kuching, and Winnie Loo of A Cut Above in red.



Being a hairdresser when we won any hair awards, we felt grateful as all the hard work paid off.

But everything starts from zero, from a student; to a great future stylist.

As a hairdresser, we get to perform on stage: Mr Lewis Fong of Cutting Edge The Hair Salon and Academy and his models during Malaysia Hairdresser Association Gala Night 2009.

Being a hairdresser, it keeps us connected to other hairdresser around the world too.

From left to right, Henne Mercer from Toni and Guy Singapore, Jacqueline (me) of Essensuals Toni and Guy Kuching, Lewis Fong from Cutting Edge Kuching, Isaac Ng from Toni and Guy Singapore

Being a hairdresser; we also got the chance to do hair shows and share our ideas.

As a hairdresser; we keep learning and can never stop..

As A Hairdresser, our Skills are valuable... but, we all started as a student...

As a hairdresser; we are not only doing clients' hair but also do hair fashion.

As a hairdresser; we get to do charity for the needy. For example, we cut for free for the needy.

And as a hairdresser; our life is full of color....

I sallute all the hairdressers who never complain working late every night, 7 days straight without fail... To Lewis, Chung, Chang, and Pei, you guys are the best...!!