Kr+ by Kim Robinson: A Modern Hair Salon on Queen’s Road West

Not a *hair* care in the world…

I’ve got a confession to make. Since moving to Hong Kong more than 6 months ago, I haven’t had my hair cut. We all know the pain of a bad hair ‘do, we’ve all had terrible haircuts that have scarred our teenage years – yes, that bob I got when I was 14 was a big mistake. And the extreme humidity, air-con, smog and the stress of city-living had turned my hair into a split-end ridden, frazzled mess.

I’ve had my fair share of hairstyles; I’ve been golden blonde, deep brunette, rebellious redhead, long, short, layered, all with varying degrees of success. I’ve tried everything from high-end designer salons that cost a month’s rent, down to local start-up hairdressers that come to your flat. So I know all too well that fear of trying a new salon for the first time. When I say trim, will they give me a buzz cut? If I say subtle highlights, will they dye the whole thing platinum blonde? This partly explains why I’ve put off going to the hairdresser for so long, and I have to admit that I was pretty nervous to experience my first Hong Kong hair cut.

When I was invited to try out Kr+ hair salon, I decided to bite the bullet and do it. Launched in November 2015, Kr+ is the creation of Kim Robinson, one of Asia’s leading hair stylists. Loved by celebrities, Kim Robinson is a bit of a legend in the hair industry.

All the stylists at Kr+ are personally trained by Kim and can offer everything from cuts and colours to blow-outs. Located right next to exit A1 for the Sai Ying Pun MTR station, on the corner of 189 Queen’s Road West, Kr+ is easy to get to but away from the chaos of Central. A great little spot to unwind. The interior is ultra-cool, modern and chic; it’s all open-plan with a relaxing, chilled-out vibe made all the more welcoming by the friendly staff. They made sure I was as comfortable as possible before introducing me to my ‘Artistic Team’, Stylist Johnny Chien and Technical Consultant Isaac Wat.

Understanding my fear of going too short or highlights that would make me look like a zebra, Johnny and Isaac talked me through my consultation using Kr+’s exclusive communications tools: the KR Face Matrix and Kr+ Lookbook. The KR Face Matrix analyses a client’s face proportions to determine which style would best suit the shape of their face, and the Kr+ Lookbook contains thousands of KR styled hairdos. Instead of picking the hairstyle of a popular celeb or model in a hair magazine, you can use these unique tools to pick a cut and colour that suits you perfectly, creating a completely personalised, tailor-made look.

I wanted a look that was more professional but low maintenance, and easy to style in different ways. Although I love having long locks, Johnny was honest and told me that I needed two/three inches off to make my hair healthy again. Johnny used KR’s signature dry cut, a method that allows the stylist to see the natural flow and movement of the hair. He made sure to rid my hair of dead-ends and added some delicate layering to create volume and frame my face.

Blonde highlights that look natural are notoriously difficult to achieve and are a complete hassle to maintain – nobody looks good with roots! Isaac used the KR multi-shading approach to create a multidimensional ombre, applying several blonde tones that started by my ears and a few subtle strands around my face for an effortless and manageable colour.

After the most relaxing shampoo and rinse I’ve ever had and a little blow-dry, my new hair was ready. I couldn’t be happier with my new style! My hair feels lighter and fresh but still has volume and lift, the highlights look incredibly natural and enhance my entire look. A hair cut at Kim Robinson doesn’t come cheap, but the attentive stylists, beautiful surroundings and high-quality of the cut and colour make it worth it if you want a fail-safe option. My first Hong Kong haircut was a total success and I would highly recommend Kr+ Soho 189 as a completely worry-free choice for your next hair transformation.

Kr+ by Kim Robinson, Soho 189, 189 Queen’s Road West, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong, 2121 0188, [email protected], www.krplus.com

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