Sean Chin-Sue knew he had found his calling when he did his sister’s hair for her wedding. “I realized that I enjoyed it so much I wanted to make a career out of it,” says the hairstylist who grew up in Jamaica West Indies.
So Sean, who is of Jamaican, Indian, Chinese and Scottish descent, did his training at Pipino Buccheri (the artistic directors for Vidal Sassoon), before joining Stephen Knoll, Peter Coppola, and now at Pierre Michel in Manhattan.
With style icons ranging from Brad Pitt to Lenny Kravitz, from Jennifer Lopez to Lady GaGa, Sean says he loves working on women’s hair “because they are always interesting and always evolving with the way they look and feel.”
His favorite look on women right now? “Layered looks that are feathery and light with a non-serious look to them,” he says. “Just a free, easy to style look.”
Here, Sean answers some reader questions.
Q. My hair is very fine and straight and sometimes when I try to curl my hair, the curls fall out after an hour. What products or techniques should I use to maintain the bounce? — Michelle
Sean Chin-Sue answers: Use Phyto Volume Actif and a styling agent such as Phyto Look. Style as usual, but apply hot air from dryer a little longer to the places you need volume. Use a curling iron or hot rollers to add even more volume and then give a cold shot of air from a blowdryer after you remove rollers.
Hyoni Kang in Osman, Spring 2010.
Q. What’s an easy holiday hairdo I can do at home but that will also make me look young and fresh (no stuffy updo’s please)? — C.P.
Sean Chin-Sue answers: Take a small section of the front of hair (e.g., the bangs or where bangs would be), and leave that section loose. Then take the rest of your hair and make a really high ponytail close to the crown — almost high enough so it looks as though the ponytail is popping out of the top of your head. After the ponytail is secured, take that front section of hair and brush it back to side (whichever side you like, or try to go for the side that your natural part falls on). Bring that section up and around the ponytail base, securing it with a bobby pin. A simple and stylish hairstyle in seconds!
Sean’s last bit of advice for Asian American girls:
“Challenge yourself to try a style that you would not think would be possible for you.”
To make an appointment with Sean, call 212-755-9500 or go to www.PierreMichelSalon.com.
