Master stylist Geoff Simpson answer our hairy queries…

WB: What brought you to Manila and what has been keeping you busy lately?

GS: I came to Manila as a Salon Development Manager for Rodger Craig Intl. in 1993… kind of stayed on. I have a lot going on with my position as L’Oreal Proffessionelle Creative Director… I do classes all over the place and I have been in and out of Taiwan judging the Color Trophy and doing a TV special. I live between Manila and Australia now, so I travel a lot and play hard to get. 

WB: Why does every bride in the Philippines have the same ballerina up-do? What alternatives are there to this look?

GS: Honestly I don’t know why they all end up looking the same. Lack of care or creativity could be the culprit but I think a lot of hairdressers are not privy to the latest looks and so they rehash the same thing year in year out. There are as many different looks as there are different brides, so it is about knowing your stuff.

WB: So much emphasis is placed on the wedding makeup artist but very little time put into getting the right hair. What tips can you recommend to a bride about hiring the right hair and makeup person/s?

GS: Maybe brides are resigned to the fact that they will always look the same as their sisters, mothers or friends did on their wedding day, as we already established, the ballet top knot seems to reign supreme with local stylists so why pay mega bucks to end up looking like your mom did your hair. I think it comes down to confidence in your stylist. I do a lot of wedding work and my brides pay big bucks to look individual and dare I say it… beautiful.

WB: What do you think of having hair down for the wedding?

GS: I really prefer the classic up do — the chignon for wedding hair. You wear your hair down every day with every day clothes. A wedding dress happens once… if you are lucky and the hair should be a reflection of that special look.

“You wear your hair down everyday with everyday clothes. A wedding dress happens once”

WB: How can we make sure, years from now, that we do not look dated leafing through our wedding photos?

GS: With wedding hair, go with a classic, ageless chignon… Only the dress will look dated years from now.

WB: What do you think of the general style of men and women’s hair in the Philippines as compared to the other countries you work in? How could the industry improve?

GS: Hair in the Philippines is generally fairly well taken cared of, the standard of coloring has improved dramatically over the last few years, and cutting too.  I put it down to an availability of education as well as an availability of products.

WB: What could you do for a bride with short hair?

GS: I would give it body and probably accessorize to make it look like I put her hair up.

WB: How about accessories like veils, tiaras, vintage clips — does any of this appeal to you?

GS: They all have their place. I use a lot of miniature roses and tiny white flowers.  A tiara? Sure if it’s the real thing. Otherwise leave it on the shelf.

WB: What would it entail to get Geoff Simpson to do one’s hair? How far ahead do we have to book, etc? How much is a cut, color, wedding hair styling?

GS: My cut is anywhere from P3,000-P4,000; color ranges from P4,000 to P10,000 and a bridal package can go from P15,000 for the bride alone (including make up artist) through to around P30,000 for the bride plus 2 entourage members.

Make an appointment as soon as you know you are getting married, allocate a budget, get an idea of whether you will be wearing a veil or not. I love wedding hair so you can be assured that I work well on it… and you will definitely love it.

As I am half and half in Oz and the Philippines. It is a matter of seeing how our schedules can blend. And for nice people I am super flexible.

GEOFF SIMPSON

Salon Privè

4th Floor, Makati Shangri-La Hotel,

Ayala Ave. cor. Makati Avenue, Makati City

Telephone: 813-5002 / 813-8888 loc. 7089 and 7090