For those of you who've always stuck to the same old routine with your hair, trying something new can feel like a leap into the unknown. Getting your hair dyed and opting for a dry haircut—two things I had never done before—sounded exciting yet daunting. Here’s how my first experience with both transformed not just my look but my perspective on hair care and styling as well.
The Decision
I was at the office, finishing up my daily tasks, when Metro Beauty Editor Kate Paras-Santiago asked me if I wanted to color my hair and get a dry haircut. Mind you, this isn’t the first time Kate offered a hair project to me, but this time it felt right! I knew I was in good hands when the project involved hair dye from famed South Korean brand Jennyhouse and a haircut from the celebrity favorite Studio Suyen, known for their dry haircuts and arguably the first to introduce this technique in the Philippines.
As someone who has never colored her hair, I wanted to pick something close to my natural color. To achieve that soft, dark brunette look without bleaching my hair, I picked Jennyhouse’s Premium Hair Color in Natural Brown.
For the haircut, I let Studio Stylist Jen do her magic. My hair was about 22” long—the longest I’ve ever grown my hair since about five years ago. My only request is to have soft-framing layers around my face to fix the overgrown full-length bangs I had.
The Process
When I got to the studio, everything was already prepared. The hair tools and hair dye were organized just by the mirror. The process began with the dry haircut. Jen asked for my desired length and how I wanted my hair to fall from the back. I asked for a clean, slightly U-shaped haircut so that it falls nicely even when it's unstyled. I’m not the type to sit for 30 minutes and style my hair every time I go out, so I asked for a low-maintenance cut. Jen worked on my natural hair like butter! She absolutely delivered by giving me that natural voluminous cut with face-framing layers.
Dry haircut at Studio Suyen | Photo by Carla Buyo
At that point, I was good to go, but I was there for, dare I say, bolder transformation. I kissed my virgin hair goodbye and went straight to coloring.
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Jennyhouse hair dye | Photo by Carla Buyo
The Jennyhouse DIY kit already comes with the color cream and developer. For my new hair length, we had to use two boxes for the full effect. As expected, the hair dye applied smoothly, and it didn’t have a strong smell! I had to wait for 30 minutes for the dye to take effect. My mistake was that I didn’t bring a book or order coffee beforehand, so I just daydreamed (literally!)
Jennyhouse hair products | Photo by Carla BuyoThe wash felt really nice. The stylist used Jennyhouse hair products for the rinse. Here’s a list of everything we used: Damage Care Shampoo, Intensive Protein Ampoule, and Damage Care Treatment. Before drying, the stylist used the Silk Care Essence Mist to protect my hair from heat.
READ: We Visited Jenny House Salon in Seoul—Here's What We Loved!
The Result
From jet black to soft dark brown, my hair felt and looked lighter right after the transformation. The subtle hint of color brought lightness to my face. I was so happy with how everything turned out! I mean, let the transformation speak for itself. I would 10/10 do this again!
Hair color by Jennyhouse, dry haircut by Studio Suyen | Photo by Carla BuyoChanging up your hair can be a huge step. For me, a fresh color and the unique dry haircut method turned out to be exactly what I needed. Whether you’re looking for a change or just want to try something new, this experience has shown me that stepping out of my comfort zone was worth it—if you’ve been thinking about dyeing your hair or trying a dry haircut, go for it!
Interested in getting your own Jennyhouse x Studio Suyen experience? Click here to find out how you can win!