MANILA, Philippines—Women with short hairstyles have been asking me to find reasonably priced skilled stylists for them.

Short hair, especially the boy-cut variety, is more of a hassle to maintain compared to long flowing styles. Women need to go for trims more often to keep the shape.

At times, when they go cheap on a haircut, it ends up growing outwards in all directions, puffing up at the sides while going flat on top.

Thanks to relatives of mine who volunteered for this road test, I recommend two great choices for women with short hairstyles: Philosophy Salon’s Rainier and Jomar, who charge P350 for men and P400 for women.

They do not give the same haircut to every person as they take into account the hair’s natural texture and the shape of the face.

With the two’s haircut, one can go as long as three weeks up to a month without a cut; the hair will remain tame, styled and well-shaped.
Call 8921574 for inquiries.

Off limits to women

Finasteride, according to Dr. Adolfo “Jun” Bormate, the hair-loss fighting tablet, has been declared off limits for all women, especially for those in child bearing age as it may cause feminizing of a male fetus.

The good news is there are more hair-loss preventive products that work more successfully on women than on men with male pattern baldness. Some are also more affordable and all are easier to obtain without prescription.

Tried and tested ones include Kerastase Aminexil ampoules (about P3,600), Tricomin scalp spray, Revlon Professionnel anti-hairloss patch (P4,300 for a box of 30); and Cellex C Hair Recovery Complex (for hairloss due to hormonal changes after pregnancy; Cellex C hotline: 8997868).

New foundation, mascara

Max Factor’s lipsticks have not dazzled me lately. But its new foundation and mascara have.

The Liquid Illusion Foundation (P895) looks like solid cake on the pan, but melts to a liquid on the sponge or fingers and feels cool on the skin when applied. It is easy to apply and, overall, looks like one has great skin even without make-up due to the medium coverage it offers. It also feels weightless and seamlessly sheer.

Chanel had a foundation like this a long time ago but was discontinued. Liquid Illusion is very portable, with a sturdy screw on lid and a compartment underneath for a great quality sponge. A little also goes a long way so it is economical as well. I just wish it came with a mirror.

Max Factor Masterpiece Beyond Length Mascara (P695) maintains the rave-worthy lengthening and clump-free defining of each lash of the original Masterpiece formula, but it now adds color on the other side of the tube.

The four combinations are: Blazing Black, which is black on one side and pink on the other end; Tanned Black, black and bronze; Moonlit Black, black and silver; and Burnished Brown, brown and bronze (the most discreet and allows one to look okay during the daytime).

Masterpiece is perfect for those who are resting their eyes from eyelash extensions and weave but do not want the attention taken away from their lashes. I picked Blazing Black and limit the pink to the tips as it is a good contrast to dark coffee-brown eyes and hair.

Aminexil is available at any Kerastase salon while Revlon is available at Cielo salon (9013606) and Razzle Dazzle (8402880)

You may e-mail the author at kinnysalas@yahoo.com