Choosing the right hair bleach powder for the condition of the hair is essential for achieving professional hair color results. In this exclusive interview, FIOLE Thailand speaks with Mannon from U Cut, a professional hair colorist specializing in highlight techniques.
He shares his approach to hair analysis, gray hair blending, and selecting the right hair bleach powder for salon services, based on his hands-on experience in professional hair coloring. Discover practical insights and techniques that hairdressers can apply to their own color services to achieve beautiful, consistent, and satisfying results for their clients.
Senior Hair Stylish from U Cut
“Hello, I’m Manon from U Cut. I started working in this industry when I was 12 years old, and I’m 30 now. So, I’ve been in the industry for quite some time.”
When asked how he first began his career as a hairstylist, Manon explained, “I studied chemistry after finishing school, but I didn’t want to pursue a career in that field. So, my family encouraged me to study hairdressing instead—and I’ve stayed in this profession ever since.” (Laughs)
When it comes to the type of hair coloring he specializes in most, Manon says, “I really enjoy highlight work, especially Shimmer and AirTouch techniques, because I like detailed work and creating fine, delicate strands rather than thicker, more defined sections.”
So, what exactly is the AirTouch highlighting technique?
AirTouch is a professional highlighting technique that uses air from a blow dryer to separate shorter and finer strands of hair before applying color. This creates a soft, seamless blend with a natural-looking transition between tones. It is ideal for clients who want delicate highlights without harsh or clearly defined lines. Shimmer highlights, meanwhile, focus on creating a beautifully blended interplay of light and color throughout the hair.
A colorist’s preference for fine, detailed work often reflects their overall approach to hair coloring. For Manon, attention to detail takes priority over speed. This philosophy is also reflected in the way he approaches every color service, beginning with a careful hair analysis before selecting the appropriate technique and applying color.
For clients visiting U Cut, the most requested hair color at the moment is ash brown. Many clients who come to see Manon are primarily looking for a hair color that provides effective gray hair coverage. Some even bring reference photos featuring white, gray, or black tones.
However, as Manon explains, the actual coloring process always requires a closer assessment. A professional hair colorist needs to consider the client’s percentage of gray hair, areas that need correction, previous hair color, and the necessary color correction process before applying a new shade.
Throughout our conversation with Manon, one statement particularly stood out:
“In the end, it might not be exactly the same as the reference they wanted, but it will be as close as possible to what they want—and it will be suitable for them.”
This perfectly captures one of the fundamental principles of being a professional hair colorist. A great hair color is not simply about recreating a reference photo as accurately as possible. It is about translating the client’s desired look to suit their actual hair condition.
Most clients who visit a salon already have a specific hair color in mind. Some may pull out their phones, show their hairstylist a beautiful hair color photo they found online, and say, “I want exactly this.”
But in reality, every client’s hair is different. The amount of gray hair varies from person to person, as does their hair history, previous color treatments, and existing pigmentation.
This is where a professional hair colorist’s expertise plays a crucial role. Hair coloring is not simply about bleaching the hair to achieve a lighter level. It starts with carefully reading and analyzing the condition of each client’s hair, then selecting the right techniques to achieve a result that comes as close as possible to their desired color—while keeping the hair healthy and manageable for long-term care.
This philosophy is at the heart of what Manon from U Cut, a professional hair colorist with extensive experience in highlight techniques and gray hair correction, emphasizes throughout our conversation.
For clients visiting U Cut, the most requested hair color at the moment is ash brown. Many clients who come to see Manon are primarily looking for a hair color that provides effective gray hair coverage. Some even bring reference photos featuring white, gray, or black tones.
However, as Manon explains, the actual coloring process always requires a closer assessment. A professional hair colorist needs to consider the client’s percentage of gray hair, areas that need correction, previous hair color, and the necessary color correction process before applying a new shade.
Throughout our conversation with Manon, one statement particularly stood out:
“In the end, it might not be exactly the same as the reference they wanted, but it will be as close as possible to what they want—and it will be suitable for them.”
This perfectly captures one of the fundamental principles of being a professional hair colorist. A great hair color is not simply about recreating a reference photo as accurately as possible. It is about translating the client’s desired look to suit their actual hair condition.
When asked what U Cut and Manon consider to be among the most important priorities when providing hair color services, the answer comes down to two things that must go hand in hand: the condition of the hair after coloring and achieving the desired color result.
Manon explains, “If the hair condition is still in good shape to a certain extent, but the color hasn’t achieved the desired result, then we need to focus on further color correction. However, everything needs to be considered within the same overall framework: addressing the client’s concerns and finding the right approach for gray hair coverage, maintaining the condition of the hair, and achieving the desired hair color.
In most cases, I prioritize achieving the client’s desired result first.”
This approach highlights how a professional hair colorist does not view hair color as an isolated result. Instead, it is a balance that requires careful consideration of both the desired aesthetic and the overall health of the hair.
When it comes to professional hair coloring, it is impossible to overlook one of the most important steps: hair bleaching. Achieving a lighter hair level allows professional hair colorists to work more effectively and create beautiful results that meet the client’s expectations.
While the condition of the hair must be properly assessed and prepared beforehand, another equally important factor is choosing a high-quality hair bleach powder. Manon shared his personal experience and explained that a good hair bleach powder should help protect the hair during the bleaching process, expand slowly enough to give the colorist better control over the application and processing time, and lift the underlying pigment evenly without causing unnecessary damage to the hair structure.
However, all of these factors must always be considered alongside the client’s actual hair condition. The goal is not simply to recreate a reference photo, but to determine the most suitable bleaching approach for each individual client.
Manon first discovered FIOLE through an advertisement featuring Toey from Do Hair. He jokingly recalled thinking at the time, “If even Toey uses this brand...”
Around the same period, U Cut was also looking for a new product to replace the bleach powder they had been using, as the previous product was relatively harsh on the hair.
“The previous product we used was a little too aggressive on the hair.”
This experience became the starting point for U Cut to introduce FIOLE products and put them to the test in actual salon work.
One of the key products used at U Cut and personally chosen by Manon is FIOLE High Bleach. Based on his experience, Manon has been using the bleach powder since its original formula, starting with the gold packaging, and has continued using it through the brand’s latest formula update.
What Manon particularly appreciates about FIOLE is the brand’s commitment to listening to customer feedback. The original formula had some limitations regarding color reflection, and the brand took feedback from professional users and used it to further improve the formulation. The result was a new formula that Manon feels better meets the needs of his professional work.
“What I like about this brand is that they listen to their customers. They take the feedback they receive and use it to improve and develop the formula, until they come up with a new version that works really well.”
Because of his positive experience with FIOLE High Bleach, Manon has also recommended the product to fellow professional hairdressers and encouraged them to try it for their own salon work.
When asked about the differences between FIOLE High Bleach and other hair bleach powders, Manon answered from his direct experience as a professional user. He explained that some other bleach products can be quite aggressive on the hair. If the colorist cannot work within the right timing, the hair may become severely compromised or even break.
When Manon first tested FIOLE High Bleach, he tried it on hair that had previously undergone highlighting. He found that the product performed well even on previously highlighted hair that had not been lifted to a very high level.
Based on his experience, the bleach powder was easy to work with and expanded more slowly than other products he had used before. Since he frequently encounters clients with dark-colored hair in the salon, this is particularly important. Manon found that the product was able to lift and remove underlying pigment effectively, compared with the previous bleach powder he had used, which tended to expose warmer yellow tones during the lifting process and could require additional color correction.
From Manon’s perspective, the new formula maintains the key strength of the previous version—high lifting performance—while providing even greater lift with better consideration for the condition of the hair.
The speed at which bleach expands is a factor that colorists may sometimes overlook. The faster a bleach expands, the less time a colorist has to control the process and accurately manage the final result. A slower-expanding formula can therefore provide a wider working window, giving the colorist greater control throughout the bleaching process.
Manon shared that the feedback from clients who have used the product has generally been positive. Based on his experience, clients’ hair showed less signs of stress after bleaching compared with what he had experienced with other bleach products. He also noted that clients had never complained about the smell during the coloring process.
Manon considers this an important advantage for U Cut’s clientele, as many of the salon’s clients are more sensitive to strong odors and potential irritation. In his experience, FIOLE High Bleach causes less irritation during the bleaching process.
As someone who is personally sensitive and regularly colors his own hair, Manon also shared that when he used the bleach powder on his own hair, he experienced significantly less stinging compared with other products he had previously used.
“I color my own hair as well. When I used this product to bleach my own hair, I felt much less stinging compared with the other products I’ve used.”
Toward the end of the interview, Manon shared a message for fellow hairdressers about FIOLE High Bleach. He made it clear that his recommendation comes from his own experience using the product, not from a sponsored endorsement. He regularly orders the product in significant quantities for use at his salon each month.
From Manon’s perspective, the product delivers excellent value in both quality and price, which is why he encourages other professional hairdressers to keep an open mind and give it a try.
“I genuinely use this product—no sponsorship. I order a lot of it every month for the salon. It’s a really good product, and I’d encourage other hairdressers to open their minds and give it a try.”
Throughout the conversation, what stands out most about Manon is not simply the brand or products he chooses to use, but his approach to professional hair coloring.
For Manon, beautiful hair color is not measured solely by how closely the final result matches the client’s reference photo. It is about creating a color that is suitable for the client’s actual hair condition. The products he chooses are simply tools that help him achieve that goal more effectively—without compromising the health of the client’s hair.
For anyone looking for a professional hair colorist, or for hairdressers seeking to develop their skills, the story of Manon from U Cut highlights an important principle: analyzing the hair before starting the color service is just as important as the technical skill of applying the color itself.
