Kim Robinson's beauty secrets

Kim Robinson, 57

The 38-year veteran Australian hairstylist is currently based in his high-end eponymous salon in Hong Kong. A celebrity favourite (he is good friends with pop diva Sandy Lam), he charges at least HKD$10,000 (S$1,600) per hairstyling session. He flies to Singapore once every three weeks to train the staff at his salon at Takashimaya Shopping Centre and was recently in town to present a hair show at the salon.

Mr Robinson is currently working on relaunching the masstige hair salon KR+ in the coming year. KR+, which used to be located at Millenia Walk, closed three years ago when its lease was up. Also in the pipeline: a make-up line and a beauty book.

What is the one product you would not step out of the house without?

Aesop Protective Lip Balm SPF30. It is not greasy and does not dry up.

I also love texturising hair products which are not sticky, like sea salt spray. I don't like hair products that are sticky and don't allow the hair to move because that's not modern.

What is the one grooming service you cannot do without?

Whatever is anti-ageing and anti-sagging, I have it. I'm currently using the products from Dr Harold Lancer, who is based in Los Angeles. As you age, you get lumpy in the wrong places and it's awful. So I also go to the gym for an hour every day.

Which is your favourite perfume?

Molecule 02 by Escentric Molecule, which is pleasant and subtle. Others can smell it only when I'm feeling warm or when they are close to me.

What, in your opinion, is the best beauty invention?

Clarisonic (right). I've been using it for years and nothing cleanses my skin like it.

Safe, formaldehyde-free Keratin treatment is another good beauty invention. I'm bringing such a treatment to my salon soon.

What is the most ridiculous thing you have done in the name of beauty?

When I was 18, I dyed my hair black because I thought it would make me look younger. To complete the look, I also dyed my brows and the hair on my arm. I looked horrible, to say the least.

Share a beauty tip with us.

Get a proper haircut that works for your face shape and makes you look good. To ensure that you get the right stylist, interview him while getting a blow-dry with him first. See if he is willing to spend time with you to find out what your hair needs and show him pictures of what you like. And pay attention to the haircuts he has done in the salon, to see if you like his aesthetic.

And stop making the mistake of getting your dark hair dyed in a shade that I call "borange". When this brown-orange shade grows out, it makes your hair look like the colour of a cockroach.

This article was first published on August 1, 2014.
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