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“The trendiest highlights are subtle, now-you-see-it-now-you-don’t ones that complement your base hair colour (usually a shade of brown). They suggest movement and volume as light catches the lighter-coloured areas. My trick to perfecting highlights on fine Asian hair is to alternate colours between thick and thin locks.” – Tan Kai Wen, 22, two years of experience.

Look for Kai Wen at Prep Luxe.

“To get that feathery, airy look, you have to cut the hair with your eyes. There’s no specific technique – every customer’s layers are different. The key is to thin out the layers evenly while keeping them at a flattering length, so even the finest, flattest hair can look voluminous.” – Erina Nakajima, 31, five years of experience.

Look for Erina at 1tto+Lim.

“IG-worthy perms are no longer big princess waves or tight, crimped curls. The trend now: loose and tousled waves, almost like you have naturally wavy hair. I tend to pay more attention to the face-framing locks for an effect that makes your face look sharper.” – Ayako Hirata, 32, five years of experience.

Look for Ayako at Toki+Lim. 

“It’s all about finding a balance between the breezy Japanese style and ‘lazy’ Singapore habits. I layer each customer’s hair according to their hair thickness, so that they don’t have to use much product (or any at all) to get this intentionally messy look.” – Deon Liow, 27, three years of experience.

Look for Deon at Shunji Matsuo Hair Salon. 

“This sleek and tidy style doesn’t require much care. It also works well in our humid weather as you don’t have to keep the bangs looking airy; they just sit flat on your forehead. The look does require trimming every two to three weeks, so it’s best to stick to a trusted hairstylist who can keep the look consistent.” – Junz Loke, 29, five years of experience.

Look for Junz at Evolve Salon (by appointment only).