YOU have to shake things up around here," says Charles Dujic.

The Hollywood celebrity hairstylist makes this comment after observing the slew of pin-straight-locked Filipinas on his recent Manila visit.

Thermal- and chemical-straightened hairstyle is "so five years ago," he adds with a grimace. "If this hair trend comes back in 10 years, that’s fine. But right now, it’s over."

Dujic, whose A-list Hollywood clients include Cate Blanchett, George Clooney, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Vanessa Carlton, to name just a few, is a 15-year veteran in the hairstyling business. His impressive résumé includes editorials for Cosmopolitan, Vanity Fair, Esquire, Sports Illustrated, Details, Glamour; countless ads and commercials; music videos, and the red-carpet looks of several Hollywood stars.

Often quoted in InStyle magazine for its best-buys section, Dujic is the spokesperson of Sunsilk Strength and Shine Shampoo. His Manila jaunt was his first trip to Asia.

The American stylist is well aware of how quickly hair trends jump from the pages of magazines or the red carpet onto the streets that, often, people tend to overlook the basic foundation of a good hairstyle.

The key to achieving a great hair, according to him, is healthy, split-ends-free hair. And getting just that is not exactly rocket science.

Modern hairstyling techniques, while they help us get our coveted looks, aggravate already environment-ravaged hair. Dujic says it is vital to practice preventive measures to strengthen hair from harsh styling.

It is the new Sunsilk’s claim that regular use can prevent split ends by as much as 96 percent. It boasts of lemon and kiwi vita-complex as added ingredients to nourish and condition hair to avoid breakage.

It is imperative to get the help of a pro to rid you of existing split ends, says Dujic. That way, he adds, you are assured that no unsightly frayed end is missed. When cutting hair, Dujic himself uses the point-cutting technique as alternative to the razor to avoid split ends.

When drying, Dujic reminds that rubbing the hair with a towel is a no-no. He is amused to know that most Filipinos dry their hair with the electric fan ("We only use fans for photo shoots!"), but he concedes this may be less harmful to the hair.

As alternative, he suggests using tourmaline ionic hairdryer, which is typically more expensive but is not as harmful as regular hairdryers. It dries the hair twice as fast with half the heat.

Dujic asserts that hot-oil treatments are too old-fashioned, and suggests protein packs as substitutes. As for coconut oil for the hair, "If it works, why not?"

Hair show

Also part of Dujic’s two-week visit was a hair trend show at the Hotel Inter-Continental Manila, which had him collaborating with seven top local stylists.

He styled three young movie stars inspired by the "BE (Beautiful Ends)" theme. He says he always tries to create a style that looks "lived in, and not too styled."

"Instead of gossiping," he says, "hairstylists should spend time educating their clients and giving them tips so they know how to style their own hair." From his own experience with celebrities, he says, "If they find a connection with you, they ask you back."

Dujic says an expensive haircut doesn’t always mean a good haircut, and calls Orlando Pita’s rate "ridiculous." Pita, stylist to Madonna, recently caused a stir when he opened his New York salon that charges $600 for a haircut, possibly the most expensive all over the world.

More important than the cost of the haircut and a stylist’s celebrity status, according to Dujic, is finding a stylist that you can communicate with.

Instead of going for a "rebond," he advises women to "get a perm." Soft curls will flatter the frame of a round face. As Asians usually have round- and heart-shaped faces, asymmetric cuts are the way to go.

"Color is also a great way to get a new look," he continues.

Dujic says Filipinas who have straight hair are being doubly foolish when they iron their locks to achieve that already dated pin-straight style. He calls it a major hair faux pas.

Women with wavy locks, he adds, should "embrace what they have" and pick hairstyles that enhance their best features while camouflaging their flaws.

In other words, just "BE."