With the welcome wintry chill, colourful lights and a myriad of festivities all around, there is no doubting that the holidays are upon us. Indeed, Christmas is but a week away, so we invited the fabulous ladies of the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel to join us Under The Dryer this week as we spread some Christmas cheer and learn a bit, too, about haircare. Enjoy!

(Photos: Naphtali Junior)

Alladeen Knight – Assistant Executive Housekeeper

Alladeen has worked at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel for two-and-a-half years, and in this time her hair has been through quite a lot. She had locks at first, then cut it all off after yearning for a change. She wore it natural for a while before relaxing it shortly after, to get a new look for her wedding, and now regrets making that decision as she has recently been losing a lot of her hair after having a baby. She also tells our team that whenever she relaxes her hair, it has a tendency to break or fall out. Luckily, she has found a friend in her expert stylist Simone of Images Beauty Salon, Liguanea Post Mall.

Under The Dryer shares her haircare story.

About Her Stylist:

“Simone is really a good stylist, and she understands exactly what I’m going through as she had a similar hair-loss problem, at one point. I like the fact that she suggests remedies for whatever problems I’m having with my hair and we have a really good relationship. She’s also a very good hairdresser. I visit her every two weeks to shampoo and treat, though I sometimes shampoo at home. I also have my hair relaxed every six weeks and I wear it in a ponytail everyday, and for special occasions Simone gives me a good style… usually sleek.”

Her Haircare Must-haves and Beauty Secrets:

“I love the Pantene Relaxed and Natural moisturiser because it really softens my hair and it smells good; it’s not greasy or heavy and it leaves no residue. For skincare I use the Proactiv Solution line, and their make-up line is excellent.”

Locks of Style

Rosemarie Preddie-Brown – Personal Assistant to the Engineering Director

After 10 years of working at the Pegasus, and sporting natural hair for an even longer period, Rosemarie made a decision — she would have her hair locked for 2010. So in January, she got her dream look and is now thrilled with the results. Her stylist Yessie at Jus’ Natural, Portmore Town Centre, maintains her locks and keeps her trendy with a variety of intricate styles which she keeps for two weeks at a time, much like the elegant updo she now wears.

The Routine:

“I tie my hair at nights with a cotton scarf to keep the style intact, and in the mornings I can just pull it off and go. And I get it shampooed, styled and dyed to cover my grays bi-weekly, so there is no extra hassle when a special occasion comes up.”

Her Christmas ‘Do:

“I’m gonna bleach the ends, that should nice and fresh for the season.”

Her Haircare Must-haves and Beauty Secrets:

“I really like the Doo Gro line, I use the shampoo, conditioner and moisturiser when I wash at home. Besides that, I rarely drink juices, I avoid sweet foods and drink lots of water.”

Anything’s Possible ‘Hair’

Janelle deFreitas – Banqueting Sales Executive

With Janelle deFreitas, we believe it is safe to say that anything’s possible ‘hair’. Trust us, by the look of things, if you know someone who likes to experiment with new ‘dos, they probably do not enjoy it neither will they do it as often as Janelle. In fact, she has even lost count of the number of hairstyles she has had this year, and tells our team that these changes are usually a result of impromptu decisions rather than preconceived notions. “I have worn it long and curly, long and straight, crew cut, bob and I recently had it relaxed, bleached, highlighted and cut again because I was bored, I guess. I don’t even know what I will do next,” she says. She also explained that her two stylists — Sheree Gunther of Unique Innovation (who is good with lengthy tresses) and Sharon Samuels (who is good with shorter looks) on Constant Spring Road — are quite accustomed to her whimsical demands.

The Routine:

“With this look I wrap my hair at nights and tie it with a silk scarf. In the morning I work some Garnier Fructis leave-in conditioner and oil mist through it and flat-iron, so I can wear it sleek. I only have to treat it two or three times per year, as my hair is very strong and I find that leave-in conditioners work very well for me. Special occasions depend on my mood… as does everything else.”

Her Haircare Must-haves and Beauty Secrets:

“I try not to use a lot of products in my hair, as I like when it feels light and looks good so just my leave-in conditioner and oil mist. For my skin, I like Lancôme anti-aging wrinkle-free cream with SPF and I also use an SPF 50 sunblock on my hair to prevent it from sun damage and drying out. My friend taught me that trick and it really works!”

Short-Hair Diva

Sanchia Evans – Front Office Receptionist

“I’m the short-hair diva of the Pegasus,” she declares within seconds of our introduction. “I love short looks and I’ve been wearing variations in length and volume for years… but for the most part it’s always been short. I’ve had crew cuts, pixie cuts, really short bobs, you name it I’ve worn it.” Sanchia

likes cropped ‘dos not only because they are versatile and trendy, but they also suit her features, too. And she admits that she changes her ‘do “probably every two months, depending on the mood” and also says she has been rotating about six looks for this year, courtesy of her capable stylist Althea in White Hall whom she has seen once per week religiously for the last four years.

About Her Stylist:

Althea is an artist; I just tell her what I want and she gets it immediately. Sometimes I don’t even have to say anything but ‘give me a new style’ and she just whips up something fabulous. She’s good with hair at varying lengths, too, and excellent at haircare.”

Her Haircare Regimen:

“I sometimes wrap my hair at nights and tie it with a silk scarf. I get it curled once per week at Althea’s and, luckily, my hair keeps curls for days and when it needs to be relaxed it hardly shows. I also get a shampoo and style job every two weeks and relax, rinse with a black colour and treat every four or five weeks.”

Her Haircare Must-haves and Beauty Secrets:

“I have no must-haves, no products or appliances in my house. Everything regarding my hair is left up to Althea, she knows exactly what to do and she understands my hair. If anyone else touches my hair I swear I will get an anxiety attack. I do wear make-up regularly though, so cleansing is very important to me, especially at nights.”

Constantly Curly

Pauline Grant – Catering Sales Manager

For on-the-go women like Pauline, it is important to have a day-to-evening look that not only works well for corporate environments, but is also low-maintenance. This is exactly why she has kept her lovely curls for years, she tells our team, and has no intention of changing the look. Her knowledgeable stylist Stephanie Albert of Miracle’s Beauty Care keeps her hair healthy and beautiful, and she finds the style very comfortable and convenient. Here’s how she maintains her gorgeous tresses.

The Routine:

“I don my satin cap at nights to keep the style in place and sleep quite comfortably, knowing that the curls won’t droop. In the mornings I mist with my Olive Oil sheen spray and tease with the fingers, shake and go. Sometimes I wear it sleek in the first week or two after relaxing when it has that freshly done look, but this is for keeps. It lasts two or three weeks, after which I go back to Stephanie to have it shampooed and treated with Redken, spiral set and dry. I also relax and get a brown rinse every three months.”

Her Haircare Must-haves and Beauty Secrets:

“I drink a gallon of water per day, eat fruits and vegetables, take my multivitamins and Omega 3 daily and I also avoid sweet things and sodas. My oil sheen is my only must-have for my hair.”

Her Take:

“My curls are lovely, my hair is lovely and there is not much hassle, no additional care besides what the stylist does, so it works for me.”

Anti-aging Hair

Jasmine Williams – Housekeeping Supervisor

Jasmine has strong, black, beautiful hair and she just adores it. “I love how it retains the body and colour and I don’t have any breaking problems. I don’t need to have it dyed or rinsed, either… and at my age that is exceptionally good,” she tells Under The Dryer. She has three capable stylists to help her maintain her tresses — two of whom are her daughters, she says. They deal with the in-between maintenance following her visit to her stylist Shelley of Shelley’s Beauty Salon in Portmore, and “take care of the necessary once-monthly treatments and styling for special occasions”, she says. She is currently sporting a braided bun with sideswept bangs which she loves, as the look is both corporate enough for work, yet chic enough for a function. (After 28 years with the Pegasus, she has learnt to be always prepared for one, just in case.)

The Routine:

“I visit Shelley for a relax every six to eight weeks and after that, my two daughters do everything. They give me the necessary once-monthly treatments and styling for special occasions, and they also give me a shampoo-and-style every two weeks. I usually wrap my hair at nights with a silk scarf and wear it in a ponytail or a bun when I’m going to work. And for Christmas I think I will just keep doing that.”

Her Must-haves and Favourites:

“The Optimum line of products, definitely.”

Her Haircare Secrets:

“I sometimes use aloe vera or castor oil to steam my hair which I believe really helps to keep it strong. I also take my One-a-day Women’s, and I eat healthy, drink a lot of water, exercise often, and ensure that I get adequate rest.”

Shape Of The Future

Kemecia Fogo – Banquet Manager

There are some women who are quite adept at styling and haircare, and so can actually take care of their hair at home. Kemecia is one such individual, but while she is quite capable of handling her haircare on her own, she does prefer to visit a good stylist, and for her, Igamar ‘ Keisha’ Davis of Daishanel Beauty & Nail Concepts does the trick.

In fact, Kemecia has her to thank for the new look she now sports — an asymmetric bob that really accentuates her cheekbones.

Her Haircare Regimen:

“I usually relax my hair every six weeks, and deep-treat once per week, but sometimes I get it done at the salon. For more complex things like cutting and styling, however, Keisha does that. I wrap my hair with a silk scarf at nights then I curl or flat-iron twice-weekly. For special occasions, I prefer the salon, but it’s not a must as I can do it myself.”

Her Take:

“I think it’s a good look, I had to try something new because I usually experiment a lot with colours, but for the past eight years since I’ve been here, I have had to keep the look corporate for my job so this works, as it’s trendy too. And I will be keeping the style for Christmas. I just love the cut, the shape, the way it suits my face… it’s really a nice look.”

Her Must-haves and Favourites:

“IC hair polisher, Pantene Pro-V Anti-Breakage System for women of colour, Motions Hair & Scalp Daily Moisturiser for my scalp, as I don’t use oils, and Cetaphil products for my sensitive skin. I also wear Neutrogena night-time moisturiser before bed, to give my face that nice morning glow.”

Quality and Strength

Marion Wright – Housekeeping Department

She loves the quality and strength of her hair, she says. It does not break or shed; there are no special products that she needs to maintain it and it still looks great, despite the fact that she has been wearing it in a ponytail nearly every day for years — this is most convenient for her job as room attendant, a position which she has held for the past 14 years.

Her haircare regime is basically a breeze, she tells Under The Dryer, and here are a few of her secrets.

The Routine:

“I am mainly my own hairdresser, but I have now found someone in Harbour View, her name is Suzette, and she is also pretty good. In terms of a haircare routine I wear my hair in a ponytail everyday. I relax bi-monthly, shampoo bi-weekly and treat every once in a while. I also wrap it every night and comb it down in the mornings.”

Her Christmas ‘Do:

“I will definitely be getting a new look for Christmas, but I’m not sure what it is yet. I will choose a style as time goes by.”

Her Haircare Must-haves and Beauty Secrets:

“I’m not partial to any special product for my hair at all, as it’s very strong and whatever I try will not cause any damages. The most I will do is use regular hair oil or an oil sheen spray for extra shine and I really don’t have much beauty secrets, either. My skin is already flawless, so I try not to use too many products.”

My Favourite ‘Do

Shanique Pessoa – Corporate Sales Executive

Shanique sports a crew cut — a look which most women are considered brave for wearing. She does it “every couple of years to get a break”, and when she started at the Pegasus in January of this year, it seemed like just the time to try it again, she tells our team. Shanique absolutely loves her low-maintenance look. She likes to alternate between relaxed and natural ‘dos, so she recently got her go-to haircut and is now enjoying the ease of styling.

The Routine:

“This look is so easy! All I have to do is just go to bed at nights and in the mornings I just rub in my products and go. I shampoo once-weekly and that’s it. All I need is my brush and comb.”

Her Take:

“Every couple of years I yearn for a new look, so I will cut off my hair, as I’m always alternating between relaxed and natural looks. This one is my favourite hairstyle, though, because it’s the easiest and I’m always told it suits me so well. It’s very convenient, especially with my high-performance job, which is great.”

Her Haircare & Beauty Secrets:

“I’ve always been an advocate of ‘glow foods’ — fresh fruits and vegetables — and I drink a lot of water. Besides that, I strongly believe that you should seek and experiment until you find what works best for you in terms of products… don’t think about the price.”

Festive Crimson Hair

Charmaine Blackwood-Murphy – Front Office Manager

We could not help noticing the bounce, sheen and festive crimson/cranberry colour of Charmaine’s hair as she strutted into the room, declaring that it is indeed her Christmas ‘do, and she adores it because “it’s very festive”. Her capable stylist Jody Riley, who is also on property at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, helps to keep her look fresh and fabulous, and she loves the fact that she can just “run downstairs” to get a quick fix. She has worked with the hotel for 28 years, and says all her co-workers know she enjoys trying new and different hairdos.

The Routine:

“I visit Jody once-weekly to shampoo, treat and trim the ends of my hair so my A-line bob stays sharp. It’s just a few weeks old and I love it, especially the colour. I get my hair relaxed every six to eight weeks and I set it at nights before bed. If the curls don’t fall properly in the morning or if I have a function Jody will fix me up, so it’s very convenient to have an affordable and capable stylist right here.”

Her Take:

“I love this look, the colour is very festive, the cut is very versatile and I can still do a ponytail if I need to because it’s not too short.”

Her Must-haves:

“My barrel-heated curling iron, rollers and silk wrap. My hair is very light, so I can’t really use much products in it.”

Her Beauty Secrets:

“Omega 3 does the trick; you can clearly see the effect on my hair, nails and skin. I also avoid sweet things, drink ten glasses of water daily and I love my green tea sweetened with honey and lime every day, too.”

Christmas Hair

Latoya Wright-Gabbidon – Executive Housekeeper

We’re assuming that haircare is a breeze for Latoya, as she has not one, not two, not even three… but four adept hairstylists. Dawn at Twin Gates Plaza who does her braids, Lesma at the Pulse complex, Charmaine at Chelsea Hotel and Jody Riley at the Pegasus, all of whom she visits from time to time depending on convenience. She has been with the Jamaica Pegasus for four years, and tells our team that she is getting a new haircut this Christmas, whic she has done every year for the past four years. Her hair is naturally thin, and it grows back thicker and healthier after a haircut, she explains. For the past six months she has been wearing a blunt bob, which she loves, as she can do “various cute styles” with it.

The Routine:

“At nights I just go to sleep, then I flat-iron in the mornings to wear it out (if it’s freshly done) or in a ponytail, or I curl it up for that cute look. I relax every six to eight weeks, treat every three weeks and shampoo weekly. For special occasions, I get it styled.”

Her must-haves and beauty secrets:

“Olive Oil moisturiser and hair oil which I apply to my scalp every two days because of my scalp condition. I also use aloe vera and hair mayonnaise to steam my hair when needed and I always use Castile soap for my face. I’m also eating a lot of fruits and vegetables and drinking more water these days.”

Beautifully Black

Alece Hansel – Personal Assistant to the Sales & Marketing Director

Alece loves her beautiful black hair… it is healthy, strong and simply looks great. She also likes the fact that it does not take much maintenance and she has a great hairstylist in Odette Josephs of Odette’s Beauty Salon, Spanish Town, who is on hand to assist her with maintenance and styling when needed. Alece has been the personal assistant to the sales and marketing director at the hotel for the past two years, so she often has functions to attend and must have a good ‘do for the occasion, she tells our team.

The Routine:

“I visit Odette’s every two weeks to shampoo, relax every two months, and treat when it’s needed. I wrap every night to retain the moisture and shine, and depending on how it falls into place the next morning, I may curl it. I also go to her for special occasions, and for the holiday season, if I have a function to attend, I will visit her so she can give me something nice and chic.”

Her Must-haves and Beauty Secrets:

” Olive Oil relaxer and Optimum daily moisturiser for my hair, and I use Dove soaps to wash my face. I also use my Neutrogena moisturiser with SPF30 every day and take good care of my hair.”

Fit For a Princess

Renae Mills – Sales & Marketing Executive

Renae is the ‘newbie’ of the group, having worked at the Jamaica Pegasus for only three months, but in terms of haircare, she is quite knowledgeable on the subject. She has her expert stylist, Princess Findlay of Total Princess Beauty Salon, to thank for that, she tells Under The Dryer. “Princess has been my stylist all my life, she is like my second mom,” she tells our team.

Her Haircare Regimen:

“I visit the salon every two weeks to shampoo, every six weeks to relax and every two to three months to treat. I also wrap at nights and get regular haircuts — this helps me to get a new look as well as to maintain the health and body of my hair. I’m even thinking of getting a new cut for the Christmas season. I always take good care of my hair but in terms of styling I’m totally clueless so Princess does all that.”

Her Must-haves:

“I really love the new Creme of Nature line of products as they are made with natural ingredients and is really effective.”

Her Beauty Secrets:

“No juices… and I take Vitamin E and drink a lot of water daily. I eat lots of fruits and vegetables and I also recently went on a rigid diet where I cut out starches and sugars.”

Naturally Carefree

Kerrie-Ann Tucker – Sales Manager

“I have been a free woman since September 17,” Kerrie declares to our team within seconds of our discussion. And hers is a rather interesting story — she is one of those women who have tried everything when it comes to hair… every colour, every cut, every possible look and product, and she grew bored. On September 17 of this year, she decided to cut it all off and keep it natural and now she is enjoying the freedom and ease of maintenance.

Her Take:

“I love it! I feel so carefree! It’s very easy to just wash and go without any major haircare needed or spending a whole day at the salon. I’m really happy about that. I’m planning to keep it natural for as long as I can and see how far it grows, although I’m a bit worried that I will get bored or frustrated halfway through and go back to relaxing.”

Her must-haves and beauty secrets:

” I love Keracare essential oils, the Garnier Fructis and TRESemmé curl care lines and L’Oréal finishing spray. I also use cholesterol to deep-treat and have found that placenta-based products work wonders for my hair. But my advice is: Let your hair be, allow it to breathe and it will be good to you. For skincare I don’t like sunblock, because it clogs my pores but I love moisturiser and I only use moisture-rich or hydrating body lotions. I don’t think a lot of people realise the importance of proper moisturising.”

Her Christmas ‘Do:

“This is a very business-formal environment and I have a sort of wild streak, so for the two-and-a-half months since I’ve been here I’ve been behaving myself and keeping ‘dos corporate. But I’m planning on getting some highlights for the festive season.”

Hair: Jody Riley of Salon Supreme, Jamaica Pegasus Hotel,

Tel: 926-1911.

Make-up: Tahnida Nunes, Tel: 381-5879