Traveler in a Suitcase!

Bali’s “rainy season” is cosplaying permanent summer. Snapchat said 33°C; my pores said sauna mode. With no AC at home (two fans doing interpretive dance), I took four showers and then did something radical: went outside for ice cream.

Destination: 

Dairy Queen, Mall Bali Galeria. Because if the weather won’t cool, I will.

What we ordered (prices I paid)

• Blizzard Green Tea Chunk IDR 36.000 (before 10% tax)

• Blizzard Oreo Ovomaltine *(reg size; forgot exact price)

The upside-down test was a pass. They flipped it; it didn’t move. Sorcery? Chemistry? I don’t care. It stayed in the cup, which is more than I can say for my willpower in summer.

Flavor notes (speed run)

• Green Tea Chunk: Sweet with a gentle matcha vibe; mix-ins give it chew so you don’t finish in three bites.

• Oreo Ovomaltine: Crunchy chocolate chaos; leans sweeter. The teen inside me approved.

Hair status: from Tekken to tolerable

• Then: dry, wiry, “Eddy Gordo” physics.

• Now: smoother, silkier, still thick (lion core), but manageable.

• I still straighten lightly for neatness, but I buffer with care so it doesn’t roast.

What fixed it (slowly, boringly, effectively)

1) Shampoo & Conditioner (Tsubaki: mini review)

Picked up Tsubaki in Japan. Smells great; performance = nice, not miracle. Comparable to a good mainstream shampoo (I used Pantene before). Would switch if pricing/availability in Indo weren’t 💸 via online shop.

Curious about keratin? Same. In-salon keratin here ± IDR ~2,000k = my wallet said “nope.” Kerastase is great but also “beauty tax” levels of spend.

2) Hair Mask (Matrix Biolage)

I rotate masks, but Matrix Biolage has been steady. I mask 2×/week. It won’t rewrite genetics, but it softens, de-frizzes, and makes heat-styling less tragic.

3) Vitamin/Serum (must-have)

Rudy Hadisuwarno Hair Serum = my MVP. It tames thickness, smooths ends, and keeps the finish neat without greasy clumps. Of everything I’ve tried, this works best on my hair type.

My routine (for thick, heat-styled hair in hot weather)

• Wash 2–3×/week; scalp cleanse matters more than over-washing lengths.

• Mask 2×/week (mid-length to ends, 5–10 min).

• Serum on damp hair (ears-down), then air-dry 70% before any heat.

• Heat on low–medium, slow passes; comb-through between passes.

• Micro-trims every 8–10 weeks to stop splits from laddering up.

• Bali mode: loose buns/claws, avoid tight elastics, UV/heat protectant if outside.

Verdict

It took two years of masks, vitamins, trims, and kinder habits to move from “rebonding regret” to “I can wear it down in Bali”. 

My hair’s not perfect, but it’s alive, shiny-ish, and mine. 

Long next? Maybe. Short again? Possibly. 

Rule #1: keep it healthy, the rest is cosplay.

Man, can’t believe I blabbed this much.
Ikkeru