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Growing up in a Chinese Malaysian family, Sam was the eldest daughter in the household. From a young age, she had to learn to be independent as life didn’t give her much of a say in the matter.
Her mother ran a small neighbourhood salon, but contrary to what most assumed, Sam never actually learned hairdressing from her.
I started helping out when I was 9, but only as the shampoo girl. I washed towels, cleaned floors, but wasn’t taught how to cut or style (hair).”
Before she could pick up any of those hairdressing skills, her mother fell seriously ill and eventually passed away when Sam turned 14.
“While I didn’t get to learn the craft, I inherited my mother’s spirit, as she loved what she did and built a salon with so little. That really stayed with me.”
After losing her mother, Sam took on the role of being the family’s breadwinner. With barely any experience on hand, she started working at a salon, again as the shampoo girl, just to make ends meet.
But it was there that she began learning little by little by watching others and grabbing every chance she could to improve.
I wasn’t fast-tracked by anyone. I had to earn my way up, one blow dry and trim at a time.”
From local favourite to salon owner at 21
At the age of 21, Sam used the money she had earned over the years to open her first salon.
But she knew that being a great hairstylist meant more than just creating beautiful haircuts. It meant understanding hair—its texture, health, and how to care for it properly.
I started attending seminars, management classes, and any course I could find about hair care and salon business,” she said.
Clients soon began to notice the difference. Their hair looked and felt healthier, and they kept coming back.
Determined to understand the science behind beauty, Sam started taking professional courses. In 2001, she flew to London to complete a colour, cut, and salon management programme with L’Oréal Professional and trained with The Saks Academies.
Back home, she joined numerous technical seminars with Toni & Guy and Kerastase. These certifications weren’t just framed on a wall—they shaped her approach to hairstyling: detailed, technical, and deeply personalised.
She was later recognised as one of Malaysia’s Top 100 L’Oréal Colour Experts for four consecutive years and was awarded Kerastase’s Professional Hair and Scalp Consultant in 2006.
Her salon, World Hair Studio, became a certified Kerastase Consultant Salon, well-known for its quality, care, and high-end service. When 2004 rolled around, she opened a second outlet and won the L’Oréal Colour Trophy champion.
“Those years were intense but rewarding. I wasn’t just cutting hair but also offering clients a transformation they could trust,” she recounted.
Sam also made it a point to travel to Japan, Korea, Australia, and Europe to learn from global experts and stay ahead of the curve.
“Those travels opened my eyes. I realised I had a good grasp on global trends, and I wanted more.”
However, even with two successful salons, international certifications, and industry recognition, Sam began to feel empty on the inside.
I loved what I built, but something inside me kept asking: ‘Is this really it?’”
A life-changing decision to leave it all behind
Over the years, Sam felt that the pace of the Malaysian hair industry no longer matched her vision. But it wasn’t until after making several trips to Beijing that she felt an unexpected pull.
“Beijing was so full of energy and creativity. I just knew I had to be part of it, leading me to make the bold decision of selling my shares in World Hair Studio and moving to Beijing.
“Many saloons decided to take me in within a very short period of time just by seeing my certificates and my ability to speak in many languages and dialects,” she said.
During her time there, Sam worked in two high-end salons and witnessed the city’s transformation in the lead-up to the 2008 Olympics.
But unfortunately, health issues forced her to return to Malaysia, unceremoniously cutting short her ventures in Beijing.
A new chapter in Hong Kong
While recovering, Sam joined A Cut Above, one of Malaysia’s top salons. Not long after making a full recovery, she met the love of her life and moved to Hong Kong with him in 2008.
Upon arriving in Hong Kong, Sam became a full-time housewife and enjoyed a rather comfortable life. Despite that, something just didn’t sit right with her.
I just couldn’t accept a life where I wasn’t growing. It felt like my days had no purpose.”
Thus, Sam decided to return to her roots and restart her hairdressing career in a city where the competition was fierce. But it wasn’t easy at all.
Hong Kong’s job market was unforgiving, especially for those without local connections or who were seen as too ‘old’ to start afresh.
Still, Sam didn’t let that stop her. She swallowed her pride and took on the most junior position, such as a shampoo girl. In the background, she began offering suggestions to senior stylists, carefully helping out where she could.
Eventually, her talent was noticed, and she was given the chance to step up. From there, things changed.
They realised I had an eye for detail and a feel for hair. That’s how I slowly worked my way back up. From there, I earned an A-Level hairdresser status and began charging HKD 3,000–4,000 (approx. RM1,800–2,400) per client.
“At my peak, I was bringing in HKD 90,000 a month (approx. RM 50,000–60,000) in revenue monthly. After splitting with the salon owner, her own earnings were around HKD 40,000+ (approx. MYR 20,000).”
“Most of my clients were expats. They stuck with me over the years, and that loyalty meant everything,” she said.
For the next 17 years, Sam built a strong clientele and solid reputation in one of the most competitive beauty markets in the world.
Needless to say, Hong Kong quickly became her second home in the process, and she had the opportunity to serve customers who came from different parts of the world.
But when the pandemic hit in 2020, everything came to a complete standstill.
“Things changed drastically around me in Hong Kong. Most of my friends left, and the society became unstable and highly stressful.
That’s when I started missing home, and I could strongly feel the positive vibes every time I came home,” she explained.
Returning to her roots
What began as visits soon turned into a dual-city lifestyle between Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur. Eventually, the pull of home became too strong for Sam to ignore.
She later bought a home in KL and rented a small space located just downstairs. After renovating the space, she opened her own private studio and named it LisaSam — a tribute to her late mother.
I never got to learn hairdressing from her firsthand, but I feel like she’s with me every day now. Naming the studio after her felt like I was coming home to her, and to myself.”
Today, Sam continues to work her magic by styling, advising, and transforming hair for clients in the very city that raised her.
And if there’s one thing she hopes to pass on to the next generation of stylists, it’s this:
“Be patient. Be detailed. Do a little more. Clients can feel it when you’re a little more thoughtful than others. And most importantly, have the confidence to guide your clients. Don’t let them lead you blindly. You’re the expert. Trust that.”
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