You know what they say about finding a good hairsylist – never let her go, which is why I always make ToliV Boutique Salon one of my first stops whenever I am back in Singapore.  

Traveling to Tibet in the peak of winter definitely took a toll on my hair. It was dry, limp and no matter how I styled my hair to will it to curl, the curls just wouldn’t hold. 

A perm was in order, but a round of hair treatment was necessary to first revive my hair. Now, that’s the beauty of having my stylist Michelle and her team at ToliV work on your hair. Your hair and scalp health are always their utmost priority.

To ensure that your hair and scalp are well taken care of, only Aveda and Keraganic products are used at ToliV Salon. Aveda probably needs little or no introduction as they are widely known for using natural ingredients that are beneficial to your hair, scalp and overall well-being. I am a huge fan of their shampoo and conditioner.

Kerarganic, on the other hand, is an interesting brand that uses keratin protein and the highly coveted Argan oil, coupled with vitamins to restore and beautify the most resistant hair. I just began using their intensive treatment hair mask and I love how it immediately softens my hair, making it shiny and silky smooth.

. With Michelle and the team at Toliv, you know they will never ever take chances with your hair, because once your hair condition is ruined, it takes more than a while to nurse it back to the pink of health. Only after ascertaining that my hair was ready to take on more chemical treatments did Michelle give the go ahead for my ceramic perm.

I had a quick colour touch-up after the perm and before long, I was all ready to face the world with my freshly permed and coloured voluminous hair.  You may be wondering at this point, how is it possible to perm and colour at the same time? Wouldn’t that completely dry out my hair? 

Well, the truth is, when you have a hairstylist who knows exactly what she’s doing and uses only products that care for your hair, you can safely cast all your worries aside. If anything, my hair only felt healthier, bouncier and smoother.

A low-maintenance wash-and-blow hairstyle like this is exactly what I need for my current lifestyle. Here’s what my hair looks like after blow-drying it, without any hair products except for a dollop of leave-in conditioner.

On days when I feel a little dressier, I sleep with sponge rollers on and wake up to defined curls the next morning. Given how strong the winds in Nanjing are, it is amazing how my curls hold up so well after a day of battling the forces of nature.

If you have been on the lookout for a salon that genuinely cares for your hair, ToliV Boutique Salon is the place that you are looking for. Many of my friends get their hair done here too, and they too agree that ToliV Salon doesn’t ever disappoint.

*****

ToliV Boutique Salon

Address:

5 Purvis St, #01-01

Singapore

Tel:

6333 9223

Website:

www.toliv.com.sg

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/tolivboutique

Black, grey and neutral shades form the foundation for a minimalist wardrobe. I used to think neutral colours such as beige were boring, but I couldn’t be more wrong. 

Just as how grey comes in 50 shades (or more), beige too doesn’t disappoint where the colour wheel is concerned. I came across this simplified colour chart from fellow blogger Glam and City, and gosh, just look at how many neutral shades there are!

  It is amazing just how many looks you can pull off when you have a wardrobe filled with pieces in these colours. You’ll never look like a clown again, even if you decide to pick out an outfit with your eyes closed. 

Take this outfit that I put together over the weekend as an example. I paired my tan culottes with a nude top that came with choker-like details and an asymmetrical hem, not forgetting my trusty New Balance sneakers in beige. 

Not too shabby an ensemble isn’t it? The tonal contrast added dimension to the nude-on-nude outfit while the little details and tailored silhouettes amped up the style factor.

It is no secret now that I am a minimalist convert, and if you need more reasons to convince yourself to make the switch, perhaps you may wish to read my previous article on minimalism here:

Why I Adopted the Minimalist Style 

*****

 In other fashion news, one of Singapore’s largest fashion festival, Samsung Fashion Steps Out @ Orchard 2016 begins today! 

It is unfortunate that I can’t participate in this event as I am currently overseas, but if you are in Singapore right now, be sure to catch this six-week extravangaza that lasts till 8 May 2016.

Here’s what you can expect this year:

Star-studded Orchard Fashion Runway (26 March 2016)

Happening tomorrow, the biggest outdoor fashion show curated by Singapore’s fashion doyen Daniel Boey will be kicking off the fashion festival in style. As with previous years,  the stretch between Scotts Road and Bideford Road will be closed to traffic and transformed into Singapore’s longest fashion runway.

This is also the first time that an entourage of more than a dozen personalities, influencers and artistes from Singapore and around the region will join the Orchard Fashion Runway. They include JJ Lin [Singapore]; VJ Daniel [Indonesia];  Min Chen [Malaysia]; Laureen Uy [Philippines]; Aisyah Aziz [Singapore], Sheila Sim [Singapore], Hayley Woo [Singapore] and more!

Fashion labels to look out for at the runway show:

Fans of Asian pop icon Jay Chou will have something to look out for this year. PHANTACi, Jay Chou’s label, will be making its debut at the Orchard Fashion Runway. 

Raffles Privato, Thomas Wee and UNIQLO Lifewear are also participating for the very first time.

Fringe Activities (now till 8 May)

     

Adeline Khoo, Knit in the City [15 Apr – 8 May] at Wisma Atria, Atrium B1

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that Tibet would end up as one of my favourite travel destinations of all time. Besides the spectacular National Geographic-worthy scenery, I thought I would share some reasons why you should visit Tibet at least once in your life:

Tibet is every photography enthusiast’s paradise

Tibet is very photogenic. When it comes to natural scenery, no other country comes close, except probably New Zealand and Switzerland, but there is a wilder and deeper side to Tibet that makes it breathtakingly beautiful.

Think dramatic white clouds, beautiful turquoise lakes, vast frozen glaciers and rocky, towering mountains that are largely uninhabited. You don’t even have to visit the 3 holy lakes to be treated to spectacular views like these.

 

 

Panoramic view of Lhasa

Also, have you ever visited a destination where every walkway, building and passerby looked this photogenic? Keep your eyes peeled and cameras handy, because pleasant surprises await at every turn.

 

Tibetan Pilgrim

 

There are more Tibetan pilgrims in winter compared to any other time of the year.

 

;;;

Masquerading as a Tibetan pilgrim (Told you there are surprises at every turn!)

 

You’ll be intrigued by their cultural heritage and religious traditions

Did you know that the bold, intricate designs of the traditional costumes worn by local Tibetans are not just beautiful works of art? They tell a story too. From the costumes alone, you can ascertain which part of Tibet a person is from and whether he/she is a farmer or nomad.

 

Tibetan pilgrims and sporty-looking tourist (aka me)

Tibet’s culture and identity are inextricably linked to Tibetan Buddhism. Visits to places of worship and UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Potala Palace, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery and Jokhang Temple are eye-opening experiences as Tibetan Buddhism is unlike any other religion.

Sera Monastery

The Monks Debate at Sera Monastery aims to deepen the monks’ understanding of the holy scriptures. Monks who are seated are questioned by those who are standing. Depending on the quality of the answers, the standing monk will either clap his hands with both palms facing each other (this means the answer is good) or with both palms facing up (meaning the answer isn’t satisfactory and requires further justifications)

 

Potala Palace, the main residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959

Tibetan Knot  – Blue symbolizes the sky, white symbolizes the air and wind, red symbolizes fire, green symbolizes water and yellow symbolizes earth.

Rituals are a vital part of the culture and their meticulous attention to detail can be seen from the way these places of worship are constructed, to the Tibetan prayer bells, wheels, flags and even the way pilgrims pray by sliding on the ground continuously in full prostration.

Tibetan pilgrim holding a prayer wheel at Bakhor Street

Prostrating Tibetans (Gotta love those stylish braids too)

 

Tibetan cuisine is delicious, if you avoid tourist traps

We had a very good Tibetan guide (his name is Chimple) who brought us only to restaurants frequented by the locals. After hearing horror stories about how tough and tasteless yak meat is, I was pleasantly surprised that the yak meat we had at every meal was succulent and tasty. It is compulsory to hire a guide in Tibet, so go on, ask your guide to take you to his favourite local joints!

Butter tea is a common beverage in Tibet and Chimple brought some of his home-made butter tea to sample. Did you know that authentic butter tea is made using milk from the female yak (also known as nak) but most butter teas found in shops today use ordinary butter? It was a privilege to have had the opportunity to savour this delicacy.

Tibetans are a welcoming bunch (and they can speak Mandarin too)

Everywhere we went, Tibetans would smile warmly at us. It is useful to have a decent command of the Chinese language because Tibetans can speak Mandarin too.

Exploring a Tibetan village

We had the chance to visit a Tibetan village and some of the local houses, which gave us a deeper understanding of their living environment and how Tibetan Buddhism is a way of life for everyone.

Typical Tibetan house

 

Tibetan living room

Even when the rest of the house looks like it needs a makeover, their dedicated prayer room is always spick and span. As most Tibetans are still devoted to the Dalai Lama, who is currently in exile in India, religious activities are closely monitored by the Chinese government.

Altar in the prayer room

 

Flour cakes made with flour and butter for prayer rituals

 

 

Butter lamps for praying

Words and photographs alone cannot adequately express how enchanted I am with Tibet, and I would urge you to visit this beautiful destination at least once in your lifetime. You’ll only truly understand what I mean when you’ve personally experienced the wonders of Tibet.

Plus, where else can you enjoy such a gorgeous view during a massive traffic jam?

*****

For more information on my trip to Tibet, click on the links below to read my previous posts:

Tibet: Altitude Sickness & Acclimatisation Tips

Taking the Qinghai-Tibet Railway to Lhasa

You may also be interested in this article on preventing altitude sickness in Tibet written by YoWangdu Tibetan Culture business and website:

Altitude Sickness Prevention in a Nutshell

 

 

Being able to truly experience the four seasons is one of the simple pleasures of life that I have come to appreciate in China, although I have to admit that I do miss the blazing sun on chilly days. I remember running towards the sea of red maple leaves at Hangzhou’s West Lake, catching a glimpse of the very last cherry blossom in Suzhou’s classical gardens before it withered, jumping out of bed at 7am in Nanjing just to catch the first snowfall, and now that Spring is upon us, I have been photographing flowers in bloom from every angle imaginable. The fleeting beauty of each natural phenomenon makes every moment more precious than it already is, and I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to be able to reconnect with Mother Nature.Just a few days before I returned to Nanjing from Singapore, I read in the news that the plum blossoms in Nanjing have bloomed prematurely. Overwhelmed with excitement, we told our driver to take us to Plum Blossom Mountain for the annual plum blossom festival the day after we arrived.

An ocean of marshmallow pink and white greeted us along with throngs of visitors on an early weekday afternoon. The plum blossoms, also known as Nanjing’s national flowers, were in full bloom in end February, a rarity since they usually bloom in mid-March. Not unlike Japan’s cherry blossom season, we found visitors settling into their favourite spots, picnic baskets brimming with food in tow and just enjoying a leisurely afternoon with their loved ones. The plum blossoms danced to the rhythm of the wind, and when the sun cast its rays upon them, that was when their beauty came to life.

The beauty of photography lies in its ability to capture magical moments that bring back beautiful memories and today, I hope these moments captured in time will put a smile on your face as we take on another week ahead.

Eyebrow embroidery gives you perfectly groomed brows that frame your features beautifully, but eyeliner embroidery is the secret behind expressive, magnetic eyes that sparkle. Aren’t we glad that gone are the days when eyeliner embroidery results in a thick line drawn on your eyelids? Today, perfecting the no make-up yet polished look calls for eyeliner embroidery to be done on your waterline to fill up the gaps between your lashes, as this not only enlarges your eyes but also gives the illusion of thicker lashes. 

That is exactly what I did at Arch Angel Brow recently after my wonderful experience with their eyebrow embroidery service last year (click here to read more). Now, all I need is sunblock and off I go to face the world!

Can you tell the difference before and after eyeliner embroidery? I
look more wide awake than before, and I am in love with the subtle
definition that it gives to my peepers without any eye make-up, something that I could never do without in the past. Now, I can literally wake up like this every morning. It simplifies my beauty routine and I am able to get more shuteye.  

We all need a little more beauty sleep, don’t we?

When I told some of my close friends that I had plans to get eyeliner embroidery done, many of them were very excited because it is a beauty service that has been on their minds for eons, yet they just couldn’t take the plunge as many questions (usually related to pain) flooded their mind. I will address some of these questions in my post today, and I hope that this would give you peace of mind to finally do the deed. 

Why did I choose Arch Angel Brow?

First and foremost, as with eyebrow embroidery, I cannot place enough emphasis on how important it is to engage an experienced professional for eyeliner embroidery. As eyeliner embroidery is done extremely close to your eyeballs, I would only entrust my eyes to a professional who has done this umpteen times, has a good aesthetic eye and most importantly, has at least 10 years of experience. 

The founders of Arch Angel Brow, Kelly and Eileen, have combined experience of 18 years in the beauty industry. Only plant-based ingredients are used and all the techniques and technology utilized are imported from Korea. All of the above gave me the assurance I needed, and having seen their works (plus my past experience with them), I knew I was in good hands. 

 What is the process like? How long does it take?

It is recommended that you head down without any eye make-up, but even if you do have make-up on, your eye area will be thoroughly cleansed before the procedure. 

Numbing cream is then applied for about 15-20 minutes, before a wand-like instrument is used to embroider the eyeliner pigment on your waterline. Your eyelids will be gently pulled up during the process and the most important thing to note here is to keep your eyes closed throughout. At the end of the procedure, your eyes will also be rinsed with saline for hygiene purposes.The entire process takes about an hour.

Application of numbing cream

 

Eyeliner embroidery work-in-progress

 

Rinsing my eyes with saline after the procedure

How long can it last?

I was told that eyeliner embroidery can last about 2-3 years on average. 
 

Does it hurt?

It generally feels a little ticklish and I felt a tingling sensation at one point, after which Kelly promptly reapplied an additional layer of numbing cream. I would say I experienced more discomfort during eyeliner embroidery as compared to eyebrow embroidery due to the skin around the eyes being more delicate and sensitive, but the entire process is very tolerable with numbing cream. Since it lasts a good 2-3 years, going through a little discomfort is certainly worth the convenience of looking great without make-up!

Is any aftercare required?

 Avoid getting your eyes in contact with water on the same day that your eyeliner embroidery is done. Personally, I used wet wipes instead of facial foam to clean my face that evening. 

 You can also ice your eye area with an ice pack if you experience swelling, which is rather common after this procedure. My eyes swelled immediately after as my skin is generally more sensitive and I had very thick double eyelids. After icing it with an ice pack, the swelling subsided the next day.

As with eyebrow embroidery, there is some scabbing involved in eyeliner embroidery too. Scabbing takes place over a few days and all you have to do is to use some eye drops regularly throughout the day to moisten the skin. Do not scratch or peel the scabs off prematurely as this will lighten the pigment of your eyeliner.  

Follow all these steps religiously and you’ll end up with beautiful eyes after the scabbing period passes.

More defined eyes after eyeliner embroidery

Here’s a big thank you to Arch Angel Brow once again for beautifying me and ensuring that I always look my best!

***** 

*Exclusive discount for readers*

 Arch Angel Brow has also kindly extended a 10% discount off (Usual Price: S$580) to all my readers (limited to first 20 customers only). 

All you have to do is quote my name “Regina”.

If you have any other questions, feel free to drop me an e-mail at regina.chow@gmail.com. 
  

Sat-Sun: 10.30 am – 8.00 pm

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/archangel.brow

Instagram:
@archangelbrow

My sense of style has evolved dramatically over the years, and as I gradually approach my mid 30s, it is not uncommon to see me ditching cute lacy dresses in favour of a minimalist aesthetic that is not just age appropriate in comparison but also ranks higher in terms of versatility.

 

Why go minimalist?

The minimalist style is all about monochromatic shades of black, white, grey and neutrals, coupled with tailored cuts and modern silhouettes. More importantly, mixing and matching is a breeze and there are endless recipes for creating fresh new looks without having to constantly expand your wardrobe.

The minimalist style goes hand in hand with a minimalist wardrobe. So yes, there isn’t a need for a huge wardrobe to look presentable. Besides having more wardrobe space, I find that I am less restricted by fashion trends as this style is timeless. When you focus on quality instead of quantity, you will also get more mileage out of your wardrobe. Packing for trips, which used to be a time-consuming affair, now requires less time as my wardrobe is less cluttered and more organized.

How do I maintain a minimalist wardrobe?

In keeping with the minimalist style, whenever I come across something that I fancy these days, I’ll always ask myself these three questions:

“Will I still wear this 6 months or 1 year down the road?”

“Can I match this with at least 3-4 items in my wardrobe?”

“Can I rewear this a few times in a fortnight with different tops/bottoms/accessories without giving others the impression that I have no clothes to wear?”

These questions help me to stay focused when I shop and the likelihood of making an impulse buy is greatly diminished, much to the delight of my husband who is of the opinion that I already have more clothes than I would ever need in my lifetime.

Isn’t minimalism boring?

To be honest, this was exactly what I thought of minimalism when it first made headway in the world of fashion. How is it possible for anyone to look effortlessly chic by just putting together a few simple, basic wardrobe essentials? As cliche as this may sound, the beauty of minimalism lies in its simplicity. Simple does not equate to boring, and based on my personal experience, here are a few examples of how you can go about jazzing up the minimalist style.

1) Play with proportion

Think cropped tops paired with long skirts or culottes. You can choose to reveal just a sliver of skin to elongate your silhouette, or if you are feeling self-conscious after feasting during the festive season,  matching your cropped tops with high waist bottoms would do the trick just as well.

 It
is still possible to make a statement (without compromising on the
minimalist aesthetic) by adding a simple choker, a pair of reflective
sunglasses or edgy footwear to your outfit.

Not
a fan of accessorizing? Interesting silhouettes like an asymmetrical
hemline or off-shoulder/toga neckline will up your style quotient
instantly. I have worn this grey asymmetrical dress as a top paired with ripped jeans previously too. To amp up the glam factor, throw in a choker and put on some heels.

If
you follow me on instagram (@reginachow_sg), you might have found these
pictures familiar as these were the outfits that I packed for my recent
trip to Bangkok.For the record, I took about 20 minutes to pack everything that I needed for the 6-day trip! I guess it is not hard to see why I am such a fan of the minimalist style. What about you? Do you like this style too?