Dubbed the Blonde Doctor due to her innovative hair colouring techniques, the energetic and bubbly Cerése Bouwer is a trendsetter who touches more hearts than hair.
Cerése’s ten-year career in the hairdressing industry is largely due to her late step-father who pointed out that she had a natural talent for hairdressing. With his support and backing, she trained with Terence Jansen Van Vuren of Terenzo Hairdressing International and completed her apprenticeship at a salon in Johannesburg under Martin Pheiffer, the owner of Espavo Hair Design.
The Blonde Doctor is now the owner of her own salon, Cerése Hair Design Hillcrest, which she proudly tells us, she opened under her own steam without any financial backing. She says opening her salon has been her biggest challenge, but she made her dream come true through hard work and by saving every penny. Now, she says, it is her biggest reward and she readily admits that since opening last October, her salon has been very busy with clients having to wait up to three weeks for appointments.
Cerése’s love for hairdressing goes beyond styling hair. For her it’s about the interaction with people. She says…
‘Getting to know your clients on a personal level is important.’
‘Every person’s hair is like a canvas and once you know their style preferences you can personalise their hair with different colours and texturise it to suit their lifestyle.’
The blonde hairdresser has a passion for fair-hair as she says the colour challenges her to bring out her best creations. She adds that there are 42 shades of blonde and each tone is different and beautiful.
Her fully equipped Goldwell salon ensures clients are treated and attended to with high-end hair care products. Cerése has been working with Goldwell for the past three years and believes you can never go wrong with German products.
‘The Germans know what they are doing. Goldwell is not your regular hair dye technology. It is unique in the sense that every shade has got its own vibrancy and warmth to it.’
‘Each Goldwell product allows you to play and mix different colours together, something you can’t achieve with any brand.’
With hairdressing becoming one of the fastest growing industries in the world, and plenty of competition on the horizon, Cerése says her biggest fear is becoming a ‘Sweaty Betty hairdresser’. ‘I don’t want to be average,’ she exclaims, ‘I consider Terence to be my greatest role model as he is always one step ahead of the game and taught me that hairdressing is about more than just hair.’
By attending ongoing Goldwell training courses and keeping up-to-date with the latest international styles and techniques, Cerése sets herself apart from her competitors. She was part of the Espavo Hair Design team who styled the Mrs South Africa 2020 finalists last year at Emperors Palace, and has had the opportunity to work with and style the hair of Mrs SA 2019, Matapa Maila Rikhotso.
When it comes to caring for your hair after colouring and styling, Cerése explains that hair colour can last up to four to six weeks, depending on how you take care of your hair afterwards. ‘I use professional Goldwell products at the basin area that help maintain a healthy condition and vibrancy on each of my client’s hair and this is also why my blondes are different.’
She says you can’t expect your colour to last if you don’t use professional products. ‘My colour lasts because my clients are very disciplined and are educated about using my Goldwell home care range.’
When the peppy stylist is not talking and creating beautiful hair, you may bump into her in the surf as she relaxes by going surfing at either Addington beach or at uShaka pier.
Trends for 2020
Straight and curly hair
For straight hair this year, it’s the Bob. Cerése says it’s all about keeping it simple and for curly hair, it’s all about embracing your natural curls.
Colour trends
Copper tones and warmer blondes are coming back instead of platinum, silver and greys, and balayage is killing it in the hair market.
Advice for dry, oily and over treated hair
Cerese advises Mycro Keratin treatments for any colour hair and textured hair that is damaged. It is a smoothing treatment that penetrates into the hair shaft to repair the natural keratin bonds of the hair.
Book an appointment
Contact Cerese on 071 370 9942
The Yard Office, 71 Old Main Road, Hillcrest
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