Being born with thick and frizzy hair is definitely more of a curse rather than a blessing. That’s if you include frizzy in the equation.

 I have lost count on the number of times I straightened my hair since my early teen years to keep the frizz at bay. I could recall the shock on people’s faces when they saw my hair in its natural, unruly state. Hair washing and blow drying became the most arduous and time-consuming task in my daily routine.

Thankfully with the advancement of modern technologies, there are so many hair products and tools created to tame my tresses. Here are 4 ridiculously expensive hair products/tools that I invested in that worth the money!

1. Dyson Supersonic

Price: RM1799

Dyson Supersonic hairdryer is truly the best investment for my hair type although we got off the wrong foot in the beginning. Long story short, Dyson sent me a faulty unit of the supersonic when I purchased it on their official website. After a month of exchanging emails with their customer service, they finally agreed to replace the faulty unit with a fully functioning one. That was surely not a good first impression from Dyson.

Aside from its functionality, I like how Dyson ‘s product design is so ergonomic. This lightweight hairdryer makes it easy to style my hair as its motor is located in the handle instead of the head like in the standard hairdryers. Unlike in conventional hairdryers, Dyson has magnetic attachments, making it easy to set up your styling mode. I still remember I fumbled a lot with my old hairdryer when changing the diffuser to the concentrator.

Known as the Tesla of hairdryer and being the most expensive hairdryer, it certainly blew me away with its state-of-the-art technology. It’s a great purchase that made my life easier and now, I can never go back to using my old hairdryer. 

2. Olaplex

Price: RM 140 for 100ML

The next product needs no introduction. Those who frequently permed or bleached their hair would have heard it at some point. This holy grail of hair treatment that every hair professional swears by in keeping hair strands healthy, is now become part of my hair care essentials.

There are 9 series in the Olaplex range where No 1 & 2 are exclusive for professional use only. I am only using No. 3 Hair Perfector & No. 6 Bond Smoother which is sufficient for me. Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector is the home treatment that repairs damaged hair. Do not mistaken it as a conditioner, for it does not have moisturizing properties, as its function is to rebuild hair protein structure, thus you may only use it 1-3 times a week. I pair it with N0.6 which is the leave-in treatment after a hair wash, giving my ends nourishment. It reduces frizz and flyaways too, as Olaplex claimed! 

3. Tangle Teezer

Retails at RM116.00 for compact styler, but may get a cheaper price during promotion period.

Tangle Teezer is not your regular hair brush. Your regular hair brush will probably get your poor hair strands entangled and knotted at each combing attempt. Tangle Teezer just magically glide through my hair, detangling knots without pain or tugging pressure on the scalp.

Tangle Teezer has their teeth patented, known as the “two-tier regular flex technology”. The long, flexible teeth detangle, removing knots and reducing breakage, while the short teeth smooth, for glossy, frizz-free hair. I bought the compact styler which fits comfortably on my palm when brushing. Also, because the compact styler design is convenient to bring it anywhere with me. With this patented technology, you may even brush on your wet hair without damaging it.

Personally, Tangle Teezer has been a life-changing tool and has made my hair routine so much effortless. TBH, it was really tiring and depressing having to go through the ordeal of detangling each time I come out of the shower despite slathering a good amount of conditioner. 

The frizzy nature of my hair forms tangles much easily. Tangle Teezer is truly my hair saviour. It carries a slightly hefty price tag when compared to a regular comb, but with the function it offers, it’s definitely worth the money. Now, I don’t need to worry about yanking my hair to free from knots anymore. 

4.  Aquis Rapid Dry Waffle Hair Turban

Price: RM181 at Sephora Malaysia

We already heard about how the revolutionary microfiber cloth has changed the cleaning industry. Microfiber towels work its magic on hair too. They have a higher capacity of absorbing water than cotton towels, thus drying hair at a faster rate. Aquis Hair Turban claims to reduce drying rate to 50% because of their proprietary fabric called Aquitex.

As we know hair is at their weakest state when they are wet making them more vulnerable to frizz and breakage, hence it’s important to remove water from hair as soon as we step out of the shower. Aquis towel also reduces frizz unlike traditional towels which contains harsh fibers that produces friction on your hair, causing it to be frizzy and damaged.

Like I said before, hair drying is my least favourite step in my hair care routine. In fact, I hated it a lot. It took an hour for my hair to be completely dry. Apart from my hair being naturally thick and wavy, I also have bleached ends which takes a longer time to dry due to its higher porosity that retains more water. 

There are many types of Aquis hair towels or turbans to choose from, depending on your hair types. I chose the Aquis Rapid Dry Waffle Hair Turban as it’s suitable for long and thick hair. The texture of this fast-drying cloth is different where you can see there’s a raised pattern, giving more room for water absorption and cutting drying time in half.

Aquis Rapid Dry Waffle Hair Turban is so convenient to use. I put it on immediately after shower and let it remain on my head until I am done with my skincare routine. My hair became damp, instead of wet. It is definitely ready for blow-drying and styling. When Aquis Hair Turban is used together with Dyson Supersonic, it is the best hair drying combo you can get. My hair took less than 20 minutes to be completely dry and styled.

I believe in investing in products that makes life easier and increases work productivity. My hair has been a lot easier to manage, thanks to these amazing life-changing inventions. Not to mention how much healthier and shinier my locks have become after proper hair care and nourishment. Do you have a favourite hair product that you can never live without it? Do share and let me know in the comment section below!

Undoubtedly, zero-waste awareness through recycling efforts is relatively low among Malaysians. Relatively new, even. Especially in suburban or rural areas.

In Kota Kinabalu, supermarkets and grocery stores generously offer plastic bags freely, unlike in urban cities like KL where paper bags are charged at most places.

 I just realized it has been more than half a year since I wrote in my blog! Sure enough, a lot has happened in the past six months and I cannot wait to update it in this space. 

Work has kept me busy as usual and the Covid situation isn’t getting any better in Malaysia. Authorities running in circles over the ever-changing SOPs and lockdowns are being imposed on and off. I have not even gone back to my hometown for more than a year now!

This is probably a bad time to write about travelling in view of the current unfavorable circumstances.  You may not even be in the right mood for travel stories. But since I finally have the time to sit down and blog about this, I may suggest you to bookmark it for future references 😉 Or you may allow yourself to be on virtual tour to Dinawan Island.

 Located at the coast of Kinarut, Dinawan Island is just a 30-minute drive from Kota Kinabalu. It is a private island which consists of two parts- Dinawan Kecil and Besar which are connected by a lagoon. There are two resorts on Dinawan Kecil which are Sunborneo Resort and Marudu Dinawan Island. Ara Dinawan Resort, the one I stayed, is on Dinawan Besar. 

Ara Dinawan Resort is a great place for a retreat if you ever need a personal and quiet space which is close to nature and nature lovin’. This eco-friendly resort which provides an island glamping experience, is powered by solar energy throughout the day! This resort is also involved in many conservational efforts such as coral replanting, turtle hatchery, and many more.

Imagine waking up to this view

How to get there?

From Kota Kinabalu, you may take a drive to Beringgis Seafood Restaurant and park your car there. The car park is safe and locks at night. The island is accessible from Beringgis Seafood Restaurant jetty via boat transfer. Once you have booked with Ara Dinawan, the staffs will assist you with the journey from the jetty.

How to Plan Your Trip?

Ara Dinawan offers both day trip packages and overnight stay packages. You may find more details of the respective packages on their website.

Day trips may be a little rushing for me and overnight stay is perfect since it was a long weekend (Good Friday is a public holiday in Sabah). Both day trips and overnight stays only available during Friday, Weekends, and Public holidays. If I’m not mistaken, they have a limit of number of guests a day, as well as minimum number of guests in order to operate.

Hence, I suggest you contact them directly prior to planning.

 

 

What to do in Dinawan Island?

As we disembarked from the boat, we were greeted with friendly staffs who were handing fruit cordial to us. I was impressed by this warm welcome gesture which is pretty rare to witness in Malaysian hospitality. We were then served with hot donuts and tea too.

We were then briefed about the itinerary which is pretty much free and easy, where you can choose to partake the activities or just chill in your tent.

There’s plenty to do on this island such as water activities- snorkeling, kayaking, paddle board, banana boat, or fly fish. Their in-house facilities also include board games. And I think I saw a foosball table too.

This is definitely #nofilter

As the golden hour was approaching, we were brought to watch the sunset at the other side of the island. The journey to this sunset point was no easy feat as I remember climbing over rocks and walking through the bushes along the path. But the view is definitely very rewarding.

At night, there was even a bonfire planned for us. However, I retired early to my tent.

 

How about Food & Accommodation?

The glamping tent is so well- equipped with many essential facilities- charging ports, clothes pole, racks, tea station with kettle, security box, a mini fridge, and a portable air-conditioner. And the best part is, they have an attached bathroom! Unlike Cabana Retreat in Kota Belud, you do not need to walk out from your tent just to do your business.  

The package also includes full board meals during your stay. We were very well-fed during our stay from welcoming tea time till the heavy lunch before our departure the next day. The meals are delicious and diligently prepared for every group of guests.

How much was the cost?

Depending on which trip (day or overnight) as well as the room packages you pick, the costs varies according to your selection.

I paid RM500/room for the Exclusive Beach Front Tented Villa which includes full board meals, activities, and boat transfer. You may refer to the prices of the packages from their website.

 

This hidden gem truly gave me the amazing retreat experience with warm hospitality. The price may be a little hefty compared to other resorts but you can’t put a price on peace and quiet. Tranquility from the absence of crowds of loud tourists and rejuvenating yourself on a cleaner beach are the perks of this private island. But now, the secret is out.

 

Stay safe,

 

No, it’s not a Pokémon.

In the recent years, we have seen the growing trend of poké bowls among health-conscious eaters and fitness junkies. The number of food establishments mainly serving the nutrient-packed bowls has rapidly increasing in the capital of our country. Yet, the poké craze has not die down.