Living on the mainland shouldn’t mean losing your style. If the thought of venturing into an unknown salon conjures up nightmares of blue hair or uneven bobs, it’s probably because you haven’t found a trustworthy stylist that speaks your mother tongue.
“A good hairdresser should know what you want better than you do,” says Wong Kin Fung, co-founder of SO’O LK, a Sino-French salon company established in 2004 in Guangzhou.
The key, Fung says, is having an eye for timeless, natural beauty. To help them discover what's 'trending' abroad, Fung invites all SO’O LK stylists to Paris once a year, where they meet with the Luis Kraemer team, view live demonstrations and tour traditional European architecture. Last year, the group stayed in an old castle in Reims, which felt like “a fairy tale” to those who had never left the mainland.
“Aesthetic standards in China are much different than in the West,” Fung continues. “We want our stylists to travel abroad to see classic art and landmarks, which are hard to find in China nowadays."
A fusion between SO’O and Luis Kraemer, SO’O LK is a new brand in China with 35 branches in Guangzhou and a team of more than 300 experienced stylists.
The salons boast a classic interior with edgy light fixtures thrown in to jazz things up. Top-of-the-line hair products and colors are available and English-speaking stylists will help you select the best option for your hair.
“About 80 percent of my clients are foreigners,” says Michael Tang, a stylist born in Canada who's now based at the World Trade Center location in Yuexiu District.
“Right now, I think we’re the only salon in Guangzhou offering the Brazilian blowout and keratin treatment. Foreigners absolutely love it.”
A smoothing treatment used to straighten hair without causing damage to the follicles, Brazilian blowouts and keratin treatments let you kill frizz while also improving the overall health of your locks. It’s a win-win strategy for taming wild tresses before the summer.
Whether you're in the market for a moisturizing boost or a few natural highlights, SO’O LK has the right products – and people – for the job.
For more information, please visit www.groupekraemer.com or www.so-olk.com. To make an appointment via WeChat, contact fung5093 or so-olk2013.
Recommended locations for expats:
World Trade Center (ask for Michael)
See listing here.
La Perle Shopping Plaza (ask for Gary/Andy/Jackson)
See listing here.
Tianhe Bei Voka Street (ask for Ryan)
See listing here.
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