Audrey Hepburn, Catherine Deneuve, Princess Grace of Monaco, Princess Diana… These are but some of the fabled names who have been tended to by legendary hair stylist Kim Robinson. From Europe’s biggest runway shows to the pages of Vogue France, there’s seemingly little that Robinson has not achieved over the course of his storied, decades-long career.
Originally hailing from the small town of Margaret River in Western Australia, the self-professed ‘country boy’ first honed his skills against the backdrop of Europe’s high-octane fashion and celebrity worlds, before moving to Hong Kong over 30 years ago. He’s resided in Asia and maintained a KimRobinson salon in Singapore since then.
Now, his salon at Ngee Ann City has been newly revamped, and will serve as the KimRobinson brand’s flagship in Asia. The day before its opening party, Vogue Singapore sat down with the man himself to discuss all things hair care, trends and more. In an industry that often appears all gloss, his sharp humour and perspectives were startling within their candour. Yet deliciously refreshing—and, as couldn’t be more obvious in our lively conversation, all too deserved at this new peak of his career.
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On the DNA of KimRobinson
“I’m very fortunate. I’ve got some of the best educated stylists. You can train people for five minutes and they think they know everything, but mine have been with me, and have known how particular I am, for 30 years. And our clients that come here demand that type of expertise.”
“We don’t do pink, blue, green, grey hair. We attract clients through recommendation because our DNA is more classic; we do more believable beauty. We’ve evolved, but we’re still known for femininity, [like the] French. We’re not London edgy; we’re very Parisian. Feminine, sexy hair—that’s what we’re known for.”
On the trust that sets KimRobinson apart
“We spend more time on our consultations. We need to find out your lifestyle, what you use on your hair, we need to ask more questions—we don’t just guess.”
This practicality translates into prioritising a style that not only looks great, but can also be maintained after leaving the salon. “[So many times], hairdressers have ‘done this, done that’. They’re suddenly bringing the rollers out, then they’re going to curl it, do all these things… And you’re like, ‘That’s great, but how am I going to do that at home tomorrow?'”
“If you can’t maintain your hair because there’s not enough style in the cut, you’ve really put your money into a blow dry. It’s temporary!” For this reason, Robinson places utmost importance on open dialogue and the personal connection between stylist and client.
Invest in yourself
“I’m a big advocate for change. I don’t like it when I have a client coming to me who then goes out looking the same, [hair] just a bit shorter. I want to make people notice that she’s different and I want her to feel empowered. I like something that looks a little more personal. Separate yourself from the masses!”
Clients will often tell him that they’ve been stopped on the street to receive compliments for their new hair. “You feel special; it’s priceless.”
Robinson notes that many women feel guilty about investing in themselves, or on beauty treatments, despite being run ragged from tending to careers, relationships and families. “It goes back to investing in a great cut that you can manage with ease, because who has the time? Having a great cut that lasts long after leaving the salon will give you confidence.”
On his Hair Rejuvenation Formula products
“So many products are great but they are not designed for the specific needs of those living in Asia,” Robinson says. His decades of experience working in Singapore and Hong Kong, observing differences in hair due to factors like diet and weather, led to the development of his two-step Hair Rejuvenation Formula (HRF) line.
It consists of the Scalp Cleansing Bio-Treatment, that gently cleanses the scalp and hair, and the Vitamin Plus Conditioning Treatment for thin strands. “It was very successful with our clients,” he recalls of first testing the formulas in his salons. “They wanted to buy it and use it at home, so that’s why we launched the products. Otherwise, why would we do it?”
“For me, I’m looking to develop products that don’t already exist. That’s my passion.” The Cleansing Clay is also “one of our hottest-selling products”, while future formulas are in the testing stages. They include a line-up specifically geared towards long hair, and a styling product free of the usual cloying stickiness.
On trends and experimentation
It’s clear that the KimRobinson salon is more informed by a classic ethos, rather than following trends. However, Robinson is still a keen observer. “Younger people now don’t care so much [about ‘rules’],” he affirms. “Years ago it wasn’t cool to be so experimental. We’ve evolved, and it’s not so rigid. What I see now is hair that’s not overly styled. Having something that you can go from day to night in, with ease. Undone buns, pieces falling out—not so tight…”
Interestingly, one of his most requested cuts this year has been Anne Hathaway’s hair in The Idea of You, featuring a shaggy fringe and long hair. “I’ve had so many requests for that!” he laughs.
Ultimately, Robinson reemphasises that hair is all about the individual. “It’s all very good to say these things about trends, but just like in fashion, it’s really about how you make a look your own. With so many options, it’s a matter of working with someone that can help you achieve a look to empower you. That’s a trend.”
KimRobinson’s flagship Asian salon is located at 391 Orchard Road #02-12, Ngee Ann City
