NICOLE Kidman, Hugh Grant, Ewan McGregor and Katherine Heigl. Singaporean Jonal Chong, 47, has worked on them all. Chong, a hairstylist who was based in London for seven years, was Kidman’s personal hairstylist from 2000 to 2007, styling her hair for awards ceremonies and even for her famous Chanel No. 5 ad campaign.

“My glamorous life started when a hairstylist fell ill during the 2000 Brit Awards,” said Chong, who opened a Savoir Fair (SF) salon in London in 1998. He was called in at the last minute to style the manes of British pop group Five.

That turned out to be his lucky break. Scottish actor McGregor, 38, got in touch with him and employed him for the London premiere of Moulin Rouge. There, Kidman, 42, who also starred in the 2001 film, hired him on the spot.

“Nicole loves big curls in her hair,” said Chong. “That’s a style I followed for five of her Moulin Rouge premieres, and also a few red-carpet ceremonies like the Academy Awards.”

He added: “Nic’s very friendly and she’d tell me nicely if she didn’t like a hairstyle I suggested. When she’s working, she’s serious. But when she’s not, she was so much fun.”

His contract with Kidman ended in 2007, the year he returned to Singapore; he had opened an SF salon at The Centrepoint in 2005.

He will launch his second Singapore salon, SF at Orchard Central, next month. That outlet will offer services at “heartland prices”.

However, it’s not Chong himself, but his trained apprentices who will be working at that outlet. Cuts are priced from $13, while a hair treatment with colour and cut starts at $38. The prices depend on the length of the client’s hair.

Clients wanting Chong to work on their manes would have to visit his Centrepoint outlet, which has been renamed Jonal Chong Hair Couture.

He charges $250 and up.

“What’s important is to find your own style and personality,” he said of the secret to good hair. “You will then look beautiful. And I’m here to help you do just that.”

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