Heat-Busting Hairdos

A stylish Q&A with Kendall Ong, co-owner of the famed Mane Attraction Salon in Phoenix

As the co-owner of Mane Attraction Salon in Phoenix, Kendall Ong is always en vogue. Just ask the editors of InStyle or People, who’ve consistently ranked this iconic local salon as one of the nation’s best. Recently Ong, who co-owns the salon with his wife/partner, Beate Assmuth-Ong, put down his scissors just long enough to pass on some razor-sharp tips on the summer’s hottest looks. (Pictured is a recent Mane Attraction makeover.)

So what are the latest trends when it comes to tresses?
Summer in Phoenix is all about simple, casual cuts that are easy to style and don’t require a lot of effort or time with the hairdryer. That’s cruel and unusual punishment. Think shorter cuts and shapes that are cleaner, more structured versus the spikier cuts a few seasons back. Katie Holmes, although starting to grow her out out, remains a trendsetter for this short, layered bob. People still come in holding her picture.

Who are some other celebs driving this trend?
Agyness Deyn is a very fashion-forward model from England. Her signature hairstyle is short, but with longer layers that are razor cut. It’s all about a cleaner outline, but with lots of texture. Structured, but with movement and rounder shapes.

Help us out, are bangs in or out?
Still in, but also taking on a rounder, more side-swept shape. Everybody can look great with bangs; your stylist just has to adjust them to fit your individual features. The angles, the weight, or the distribution all combine to emphasize certain features and de-emphasize others.

And what about men?
Men’s fashions are usually 2 – 3 years behind women’s. So right now men are embracing lot’s of texture and less of a close-cropped clean-cut look. We’re also seeing longer lengths layered over shorter hair. That way you have the option to dress it up, or flop it around and really go wild.

Established in 1977, Kendall Ong and Beate Assmuth-Ong purchased Mane Attraction in 1998. Recently recognized by InStyle Magazine as one of the country’s top 25 salons, their work can been seen in national and international media and trade publications such as Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Arizona Republic, Glamour, Celebrity Shortcuts, Allure and Cosmopolitan.