Olaplex, the acclaimed hair care brand, has successfully made its official debut in the Philippines, delighting fans with its Complete Hair Repair System. This comprehensive hair solution, known for its vegan, cruelty-free formulas and unique numbering system, promises to repair, strengthen, and nourish hair from the inside out.

This week's Beauty Roundup is a testament to the vibrant and constantly evolving landscape of the Filipino beauty scene. As we explore a variety of new launches, each designed to celebrate and enhance our unique expressions of beauty, we delve into products that touch all aspects - from the eyes and lips to face and hair.

When you’re born with naturally coily, curly or wavy hair like me, then you know the struggles of styling it. It really is one of the hardest things to master when you start learning how to take care of textured hair, am I right? Especially if you’re just starting out, it can get complicated and overwhelmingly messy.

And so it was such a thrill when I was finally able to book a haircut with Cutz and Curlz by Jazz’s hair salon! They offer quality haircuts and styling sessions for beginners taking care of curly hair, as well as long time CGM (Curly Girl Method) practitioners alike.

My hair has always been one of the physical attributes I pay most attention to but only last year did I really learn how to care for it properly. I have also become more confident in exploring different styles and colors so my hair has been through a lot - to say the least.

I am fresh from my fifth dye job of the year so I decided to put the Saborino Shampoo Moist (P995 / 440ml) and the Saborino Treatment (Conditioner) Moist (P995 / 440ml) to the test!

Selsun Blue hasn’t left my bathroom since I first discovered it over a year ago. I know, I was so late to the game, but I’m just happy that dandruff is no longer a problem for me! I make sure to keep backups so that I never run out in the middle of a shower. I only need to use it twice a week (it’s a treatment shampoo) and that’s enough to keep the flakes and itchiness away.

That was why I was so excited to try these Kracie products. This is my first time to try Japanese hair care! For a bit of context, I have wavy hair and have been doing the Curly Girl Method on and off for a year as I now have the freedom (thanks, mom!) to explore my newfound interest in dyeing my hair to match all those tumblr girl pictures I had saved in my phone from circa 2010.

Kérastase is a haircare brand that I’ve had great experience with so far. It addressed my post-partum hair fall a couple of years back with the Kérastase Genesis Anti-Hair fall line while I’ve used up a couple of bottles of the Kérastase Discipline Oléo-Relax Hair Oil. It is one of their best-sellers after all!

Shampoo bars have been in the market for years. Lush released their first shampoo bar in 1988 and has produced a wide range of varieties to cater to different hair needs since then. Local brands like Zenutrients, Human Heart Nature, and SMEs like Beach Born, Ecobar, and Rinse & Repeat have their own versions too. But more than the availability in the market, the human drive towards becoming more environmentally conscious has brought these hair cleansing soaps on to a different level. Now, shampoo bars are no longer confined to a small niche as more and more people are ditching traditional shampoo bottles and sachets for it.

Women today are faced with difficult decisions. The world we live in imposes gender norms that we are expected to conform to. We fear being judged which makes us constantly doubt ourselves. It’s even more difficult for those who are mothers who are expected by some to stay at home and care for their children. These are the issues that Youtuber Kris Lumagui addresses in her new vlog.

There are plenty of good things associated with plants. Some are recommended by NASA to help purify the air around us. Others are acknowledged to have medicinal properties through the years. When it comes to beauty, certain plants are used to power up our routine. Here are a few ways I’ve been incorporating them in mine!

I care about how my hair looks more than I care to admit. I agonize over bad hair cuts more than bad skin or makeup #FOTDs! But because I don’t have the time to bother with hair tools and styling products, I prefer to get wash-and-wear hair styles that require very little maintenance. My straight hair is usually in a lob (long bob) with slight layers at the end, and I just use a normal shampoo and conditioner. 

Hair loss is a sensitive topic for many women. We often feel that it’s a condition reserved for men, or women beyond a certain age, if at all. But hair fall can actually begin any time after puberty, and is more common than you think!

Female-pattern baldness is also more difficult to spot, since it occurs around the part of your hair, rather than a receding hairline or thinning crown that men experience. Some hair fall is also normal as hair naturally renews itself, with figures varying from the loss of 50 to 300 strands daily.

Throughout history, hair has been considered our “crowning glory” - status symbol, fashion accessory, and beauty standard all rolled in (or up) into one glorious ‘do. But, let’s be honest: there’s only so much our natural follicles can do, so many have turned to the power of the hairpiece to make their desired statement.

I've since took note of how different shampoos affect my scalp and hair, and was shocked to discover that certain variants would actually cause breakouts near my hairline. I knew that certain skincare ingredients should be avoided, and a quick look at the ingredients list of shampoos I used revealed they all had one thing in common: sulfates.