19 Dec 2014

My V/O Victor Ortega Salon Premier Experience

It's the Christmas season so I decided to give myself a present in the form of the L'Oreal Keratin Steam Bond Rebond from V/O Victor Ortega Salon Premier (Ortigas branch)! A couple of disclaimers before I begin with my post: I am not a beauty blogger, but I figured that since there are only a few reviews for this salon, I decided to give them one because I am truly happy with what they have done to my hair!

A Quick Back Story on My Hair
I never got a rebond in my life, but in the past I did get my hair straghtened (I was around 6th grade) and relaxed twice (second year high school, and 1st year college). Other than these, I also used to dye my hair a lot - and when I say a lot, I do mean A LOT. So you can imagine that my hair has been chemically treated (with dye) so much that I actually fried it. When I was in 5th year college - don't ask - I bleached my hair to achieve an ombre effect. I'm guessing by now you already know what I achieved instead. After a while I dyed it back to dark brown, and had my hair cut into a bob to get rid of the ends. Having short hair seemed okay for a while, but not until I managed to ruin it again by blow-drying it so much! Lol. Oops. My shoulder-length hair is thick, frizzy, and absolutely unmanageable.

Hellew! Don't be deceived by this photo. My hair was unruly IRL.

After years of having wavy hair, I finally decided to get a treatment. I had three options: hair relaxing, Brazilian blow-out, or volume rebond. Initially, having my hair rebonded was the last thing that I wanted to do because of the number of women that I come across who have rebonded hair. After a while, when it grows out, the roots become wavy and it scared the hell out of me! Then I heard about the L'Oreal Keratin Steam Bond Rebond and how beautiful and healthy (in some level, I guess) that it can make your hair. However, I still didn't want to do it because it was too expensive for my meager budget which was around PhP 3,000. I tried looking for vouchers on some known sites like Metrodeal, Ensogo, et cetera but was still apprehensive of getting anything at that low of a price because I was scared of how the salon might treat me and my hair. Then I stumbled upon V/O Victor Ortega Salon Premier's post on Facebook.

'BUHAGHAG', FRIZZY, 'PATAY', SUPERDRY, 'CHAKA' (and God knows what else) are NOT the adjectives that you want to hear from other people about your hair at this time of the year! Get it done the right way today only with the world's best rebond system - the L'oreal Keratin Steam Bond Rebond. Still at a generous discount of 45% OFF at V/O Salon Premier - ORTIGAS.
PM us for more info or call/text 401-1625 and 0908-3595125.

Super enticing, right? I sent them a message right away, inquiring about their rates.

  • Conversation started 10 December
  • Anne Vitug
    Anne Vitug


    Hi! Can you give me a quote for your hair relaxing, volume rebonding, and Brazilian blow dry services for thick, shoulder-length hair? Thanks!
  • 10 December
  • V/O Victor Ortega Salon Premier - Ortigas
    V/O Victor Ortega Salon Premier - Ortigas


    Hi Ms. Anne! So sorry but we don't do Hair Relax. The Creative Team doesn't believe in it because it damages hair.

    So sorry but we don't carry the Brazilian Blowout or the Keratin Blowout at our branch. The team is not such a big fan of the BB for the reasons that it's expensive and the results do not last as long as the L'oreal Keratin Steam Bond Rebond which is now hailed as the best rebond system in the world by European Hairdressers. Do come and try the L'oreal Keratin Steam Bond Rebond ma'am. There is no dryness and frizziness and that's a promise! We can also do the Volume Rebond style via the L'oreal Keratin Steam Bond Rebond.
    Here is the promo info:
    5 REASONS why you should consider a STEAM BOND REBOND over any other rebond systems in the world:
    1) It's the world's first Steam Smoothing System that delivers a continuous and high-pressure steam to permanently straighten and smooth, treat and style hair. THE DIFFERENCE WITH OTHERS IS REMARKABLE!
    2) Steam gently opens up the hair cuticles and gradually heats the hair PREVENTING HEAT SHOCK thus avoiding hair breakage and dry and frizzy ends common to other rebond systems. STEAM BOND REBOND IS ONE OF THE SAFEST REBOND SYSTEMS FOR DRY & DAMAGED HAIR.
    3) We use L'oreal Xtenso with Pro-Keratin and Incell to reconstruct hair giving it nutrition and locking in hydration. PRODUCTS ARE FORMALDEHYDE - FREE!
    4) The results? Manageable tresses with long-lasting and incomparable smoothness and mirror-like shine after your service. TRY IT TO BELIEVE IT!
    5) Can be purchased at V/O Salon Premier - ORTIGAS at an unbeatable discount of 45% OFF! Net price is P4,999 and includes a Keratin Steam Care Treatment with the Steam Pod. If with colour, promo package price is P7,549.00. OUR PRICE REMAINS UNBEATABLE AND GENUINE L'OREAL XTENSO MOISTURIST PRODUCTS ARE USED.
    Go ahead and experience the FRIZZ-FREE GLAM PERFECT LOOK instantly today! Also available with the same promo packages at our sister branch Sparkle Hair Rebond / Treatment Center, Salon & Spa in Merville, Paranaque (#'s 846-1301 / 0949-1660298).
    PM us for more info on the Steam Bond Promo packages or call/text 401-1625 / 0908-3595125. Stay beautiful always! 

After this, we sent a few more messages back and forth until I scheduled my appointment to December 20, at 1PM. But a day after I scheduled this, I realized that I wasn't doing anything for the weekend so re-scheduled my appointment to 1PM December 13. Unfortunately, they were fully-booked so I just said we'll do the whole thing the next day at the same time.

Come Sunday (14 December 2014), I woke up at 12:30PM and started panicking because I knew that I was going to be SUPER late for my 1PM appointment. Seeing that I live in Antipolo, it would take me forever to get to the salon. So I immediately texted them, notifying them that I will be rescheduling my appointment to 2PM. Which was no use, by the way. Ended up getting there at 3PM because of the traffic that Mega Mall causes + it's the holiday.

I walked from Mega to the salon which was actually quite easy to find. When I entered the salon, all seats were occupied (NOOOO!!!) but still proceeded to telling the receptionist who I was and about my appointment. She saw that I was booked for the 1PM slot, which I was 2 hours late for but they still accommodated me. Good thing one of the girls who had her hair done was finished so I was seated right away. The salon was small, they only had six seats all in all so it would always be best to book an appointment and not be late for it like me. Hehe.

To be sure of the promo price, I asked the people in the salon who were in charge of my rebond about it. Apparently, PhP 4,995 is already the discounted price. The entire time I thought that PhP 4,995 was the base price and 45% will still be taken off. Hah, apparently not. I still pushed through with it though.

Sometimes when my hair dries, it's super wavy. Pero ang-art ba? Chos.

The entire process lasted for about 5 hours for me - considering that my hair was really thick despite the length. We started at around 3:30PM where they washed my hair then applied the straightening product. After an hour and a half (5PM), they rinsed it off and blow-dried my hair. Next in line was the ironing process, which actually took the longest because they really iron thin sections of hair at a time to ensure that every strand is straight. For me, they curved the iron a bit while they went through my mane because I didn't want my hair to look pin-straight.

Hair already sectioned and good to go for ironing! Also had McDo for lunch c/o the boyfriend. Hehe.

The two other people in this photo are the ones responsible for the ironing. Almost done!

They weren't lying about the ironing part being the longest because I was already getting tired of sitting down! They used the L'Oreal x Rowenta steam iron and we finished at around 7:30PM. After which they applied the neutralizer, rinse, hair treatment, rinse. And by 8:30PM (actually almost 9PM) I was paid, and already walking to Shangri-La Mall with silky straight hair.

Right after my day at the salon, I met up with Karla and David.

The next day, Monday (15 December 2014) at Greenbelt with Karla. I wasn't allowed to wash it yet!

First time to wash my hair since having it rebonded.

Okay, so I was expecting something with more volume, but ended up still having almost pin-straight hair after shampooing. To achieve the "volume" part, I still Iron the ends of my hair inwards so it wouldn't look too... rebonded.

All in all, I'm very happy with my hair. It's very manageable! Except for the part where it gets really windy and my hair gets on my face. Every strand is shiny and it looks very natural. So I highly recommend V/O Victor Ortega Salon Premier!


P.S.
Published this post tapos na-realize ko na wala pala'ng filter yung photos ko. So pinalitan ko lahat (except for the mirror shots) ng may filter.

P.P.S.
Sorry if all of the photos include my face. Ganon talaga minsan, guys especially kapag personal experience. Ano daw???

20 Jul 2014

My Top 5 Go-To Restaurants in Manila

Okay, so I'll have you know that every time my boyfriend and I decide to eat out, we take forever to choose a restaurant unless either of us already has a specific cuisine in mind. On most times, it takes us more or less thirty minutes of arguing and rationalizing until we come to an agreement. But thank god for go-to restaurants! The boyfriend and I only have a few places we like to come back to every now and again that also gives us a bang for our buck, and here they are (in reverse chronological order). All the restaurants I chose have branches near the office (Makati) but have outlets in other cities as well. ;)


5. Burger Bar
There are times that I just crave for a burger that isn't from a fast food chain. Burger Bar serves yummy food at an affordable price! I usually order their Cheeseburgers (P195) and a side of fries of course. Another great thing about Burger Bar is that you can customize a burger however you want it to be. Although it costs a little over what I would spend for bread and a patty, it's alright. 8Cuts in Megamall is basically Burger Bar with a different name.


4. Tender Bob's
To be honest, I always come back for one entree, and that has got to be their pork chops. For only P260, you get two chops, vegetables, and the side of your choice (Garlic rice for me, please). The branch that we frequent is the one in Greenbelt 2 wherein we've already made ourselves familiar with the staff (Hi, Joel and Zeny!). They're all very welcoming and nice. The lack of a photo just proves that when I go to Tender Bob's, I'm too hungry to even take a photo. I'll add one next time. ;)


3. Tokyo Bubble Tea
Over there is my boyfriend, staring down at the food that he ordered. Anyway, Japanese has got to be one of my favorite cuisines. Before, when I'm in the mood for some raw fish and chicken teriyaki, I usually head over to a different Japanese resto franchise. But now, enter Tokyo Bubble Tea whose rolls are bigger and (not to mention) cheaper, has become my go-to Japanese resto (that isn't too expensive)!


2. Yabu
They claim to serve the best katsu in town, and I can't help but agree. I've known about Yabu for a few years now but it was only in December 2013 when my friends bugged me and the boyfriend to eat it with them. I remember them telling me that "You'll thank us for bringing you to Yabu." and indeed, we did! We usually order their Rosu Katsu (90g) that costs P340. Their katsu is very soft and juicy even if it's already gone cold. Aaaah!


1. Mary Grace
I don't know how it happened or why, but maybe it's my affinity for pastas and classy interiors and ambiance. Mary Grace happens to fall under this category. From what started out as a pastry stall in Shangri-La Plaza (To be honest, I don't know where their first branch is located) whose Lemon Squares I absolutely love, Mary Grace is now a full-blown restaurant. My dad would bring me here for coffee breaks usually in their Serendra branch, and then I started appearing for dinner. Whenever I go to a restaurant that serves pasta, I always go for their carbonara since it's always a safe choice. And that is exactly what I ordered in Mary Grace - their Classic Carbonara (P229)! The noodles are Al dente and it's really creamy and flavorful. After a few more times of ordering this dish, I decided to try out their other offerings. Mary Grace have really good sandwiches and cakes of course that are definitely worth the visit. They're all good, I tell you!

And there you have it, our top 5 go-to restos in Manila. I need to re-explore the metro for more noms. If you have any suggestions of cafes or restaurants that we can explore, then please let me know and comment. Tee-hee. :)

Disclaimer: I'm no food blogger or critic - just a food enthusiast.