Whether you want to do natural-looking blonde highlights or go all out to achieve a platinum blonde look, there are plenty of hair salons in Singapore that specialise in popular trends including Balayage and ombre hair colouring. As we all know, the right tone is the really important part – we don’t want to look washed out. Read on for our reviews on some of the top hair salons that specialise in blonde highlights.
Where to go for blonde highlights in Singapore
Chez Vous: Hideaway
“Chez Vous: Hideaway is a welcome respite from bustling Orchard Road. Tucked away in the office building of Ngee Ann City, I can see why they’ve called this special outlet the ‘Hideaway’. Stepping inside feels more like walking into a luxurious member’s club than a salon!
Before my appointment, I’m taken into their lounge area and given ten special minutes to unwind in one of their massage chairs; a glorious way to relax and get yourself into the mood for some serious hair pampering. It’s my first time in a while getting blonde highlights and like many, I’ve had my fair share of horror stories, but knowing Chez Vous’ reputation I came open minded and deferred to the expertise of Caucasian hair colourist, Shawn, to make his recommendations. I liked that he, despite being unprompted, asked specific questions about my hair condition, like how I usually wear my hair, and previous colours I’ve had in the past. We settled on a trim to add shape and body, and for colour a blend of multiple shades of lighter blonde and ashy cooler tones.
After an initial hair wash and head massage, cut and dry, all in, it took Shawn and a wonderful assistant an hour and a half to meticulously foil all of my hair because they reallywent strand by strand with the placement. After washing out the foils, they also applied a deep conditioning mask to hydrate and strengthen my dry, curly locks. The final result after drying and styling my hair really blew my mind. This is the first time I’ve had blonde highlights that seamlessly blend into my own hair. It looks so natural yet striking with incredible dimension — like my hair had been dipped in gold. The cost for this service may be on the higher side, but for the finish, level of care and expertise the colourists have for handling different hair types, I can firmly say it’s 100 percent worth it.” – Susannah Jaffer, reader
Chez Vous Hideaway
Ngee Ann City Tower , #14-04
391B Orchard Road
6219 3558 | chezvoushair.com/hideaway
Hera
“I keep thinking that I will let my grey hair win and age gracefully, but the grey and dark blonde strands at the top and back of my head look very dull, unlike the white and light hair at the front, which I quite like. So I gave in, again, and went to Hera at Tanglin to see if they could match the shade of the hair around my face.
My stylist Jen Lee has done the best job! The highlights are really skinny so the result is subtle. The highlights are blended in well and I love the final look. It was lovely and shiny afterwards! Hera uses Kevin Murphy and Olaplex, both of which I know work very well on my hair. The colour is the right shade, with neither grey nor yellow coming through. I found that Jen had listened to me and let the product stay on long enough to make sure the colour was lifted properly, too. It’s important that hairdressers understand that you know your hair – especially when you’re as old as me.
Jen also gave me a trim and did a great “block cut”, which my curly hair needs. I’m very happy all round!” – Rebecca Bisset
Hera Hair Beauty
#03-08A Tanglin Mall
163 Tanglin Road
6732 1206 | herabeauty.sg
Kelture
“Kelture Aveda Lifestyle Spa Salon has been my Singapore salon for the last 14 years. I always recommend my family and friends (even when they are visiting from overseas!) to my favourite colourist, William. He’s always there to welcome me with a big smile, and he’s always full of excitement to work his magic on my hair!
William has a great understanding of my personal style, both in the office and in the kitchen. He is always able to express that creatively in his colouring techniques. Over the years we have dabbled with some different styles and brighter looks.
Recently, William sensed that I needed something fresh and darker. After all these years, he has earned my trust so I left it in his hands and told him to go for whatever he wanted. The latest treatment, colour and cut where William used the Aveda Invati line gave me a bouncy, voluminous and full look – better than ever before! The colour is perfect. The mix of lowlights and highlights adds dimension to my hair, making it look thick, fun and sophisticated at the same time! The cut feels lightweight so I can enjoy wearing it down on those hot days, too. The quality of the Aveda products used by the experienced and professional William guarantees a happy face and confident spirit every time I walk out of Kelture.” – Laura Ryan, reader
Kelture
290 Orchard Road #05-07 Paragon
6735 6468 | kelture.com.sg
Leekaja
“For me, a trip to the hairdresser means much more than a haircut and a freshening up of my faux blonde locks. I look for a salon that offers good vibes and chill time – after all, I want to feel as good as my new blonde hair makes me look after four hours in a salon. If you’re after the full salon experience, with a hairdresser you can trust to get your blonde right, give Leekaja a call. The zen started from the moment I walked into Leekaja, which is very easily accessible through the Mandarin Orchard.
I couldn’t miss the salon – it’s a botanical sanctuary; the definition of an “urban jungle” with rows of vibrant green plants in place to greet me on arrival, along with a friendly receptionist. She guided me through the Instagrammable city jungle, lined with exposed concrete and wood, to meet my hairdresser, Jun. I’m certainly no hair expert, so I found his consultative and open approach very helpful in drawing out exactly what I wanted to achieve. We decided on a half head of highlights and a toner to create a brighter, fresher and easy-to-maintain blonde.
The health of my hair also needed some attention, so Jun used a curated set of Korean and Japanese hair masques with restorative agents. The products would help to repair and rebuild my hair after my highlights and toner are washed clean with a fragrant lemongrass shampoo and scalp massage. By masque three, I was in pure zen; reclined on a leather chair listening to modern jazz in front of a flashing neon sign reading “Believe me, if I looked this good, it wouldn’t be an accident.”Awoken by the hums of a Sinatra cover, I headed back to my chair for the cut. We decided on a long bob, with light layering around the front. The styling was quick and easy, but it was the best styling I’ve had in a Singapore salon. I loved the look.I’ve been an expat in the Middle East and Asia for almost 10 years and I’ve had my fair share of “hairmares” trying to get the perfect blonde. To find Leekaja – a trendy salon that has good vibes, does blonde well and styles just right – is a win.” – Katie, reader
Leekaja Beauty Salon
#03-13 Mandarin Gallery, 333A Orchard Road
8133 0818 | booking@leekaja.sg
leekaja.sg
Trimmings
“The Dempsey Hill area is always a delight to visit – especially if it includes stop at Trimmings Salon & Spa. Founded in 2008, this army barrack turned pamper retreat has gained a loyal following with expats and locals alike – and it’s no wonder. Simply put, they deliver the results!
My consultation started well before I walked through the door, with my stylist Ray asking for some pictures of my current hair and my desired outcome. After five months of lockdown negligence, my hair was in a sorry state. I was keen for a fresh look to break the monotony and start afresh. We agreed on highlights and a gentle balayage effect to channel happy summer vibes.
With a refreshing ginger tea in hand, Ray sets to work on turning my holiday hair dream into reality. Using the foilyage technique of combining traditional foils and the balayage painting technique, Ray leaves the colour develop, checking it meticulously throughout. My hair is then washed and left to rest in the basin with the first phase of Olaplex 2 treatment. From there, a toner is used to counter any brassy undertones, followed by a sensational back massage whilst the second phase of Olaplex 6 treatment sets in. Finally, a quick dry and some dinner-ready curls and I’m a new me – I love the final result!” – Leanda Rathmell
Trimmings
75B Loewen Road
6471 1922
123 Tanglin Rd
9710 6415
Chez Vous
“It’s not often I can walk out of a hair salon completely satisfied with the results, but Chez Vous scored a perfect 10. I was met by Serene, a very calm and practiced stylist. She started by asking me about my complete hair history, including questions on how I usually style my hair and how often I use heat-styling devices (I use a hair straightener two to three times a week).
My last salon visit was more than six months ago. I wanted to remove the yellow tones and lighten up my hair all over, while keeping the look natural and low maintenance. Serene suggested we start with hand-painted highlights to emulate a natural sun-kissed look, gradually getting denser at the end to build up colour. A toner was needed to remove the old yellow tones, followed by a protein treatment to protect my hair from long-term heat damage, and a cut to neaten up the ends.
Serene spent almost an hour applying the colour all over. She also explained that she added a protein treatment into the colour itself to strengthen my hair as I frequently style with heat and bleach can be too damaging. This was in addition to the toner and treatment mask for my hair during the washing phase. A lot of care was put into the colour application as there was not a single obvious line or streak to be seen. When I parted my hair in different ways or held it up or down, the colour was the same all over – light strands invisibly woven into my natural colour. The treatment also worked wonders as my hair felt super soft and smooth.
Another highlight was the care taken during the wash, shampoo and treatment. Often a scalp massage at most salons is only two to three minutes (we all know that’s never long enough) but the Chez Vous team took at least 10 minutes, which I appreciated. The ambience in the salon was very inviting and the staff were all very kind and polite, offering me drinks and snacks multiple times. I’d definitely recommend Chez Vous to my friends for a relaxing salon experience with guaranteed results. Thank you again to Serene for revitalising my hair with these lovely blonde highlights!” – Linda Taylor, reader
Chez Vous (main outlet)
#05-05 Ngee Ann City Podium
391 Orchard Road
6732 9388 | chezvoushair.com
Art-Noise
All the way from Tokyo, popular Japanese hair salon Art-Noise launched its first overseas offshoot in Holland Village in 2014. The cosy salon features a team of experienced hairstylists, as well as an extensive hair treatment and head spa menu. Most of the products used at the salon are formulated in Japan with a non-damaging blend of ingredients.
For colouring services like Balayage and blonde highlights, the salon uses Japanese brands Shiseido or Arimino. The hairstylists are experienced in various colouring techniques such as ombre, highlighting, lowlighting, root stretching, hand painting, double application and tinting. This means that results are completely tailored to your request. Also, as an international salon group, many of the hairstylists have working experience in Singapore, Japan and Melbourne.
Art-Noise
38A Lorong Mambong (Holland Village)
6463 3651 | art-noise.sg
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