If Paris Hilton (along with a significant portion of Kuala Lumpur’s elites) trusts his touch with her golden tresses, then logic dictates that so should you. Ckay Liow is, in his own words, not just a hair stylist. The man is a total maestro when it comes to his job. Whether he is sculpting locks into shape for an editorial shoot or slicking away a stray before a bride walks down the aisle, the seasoned hair designer is always operating at 100. Bridal clients, however, get the ultimate royalty treatment.
What does that look like? “I never rush through a bridal appointment. In fact, I tend to take a lot more time with them,” he adamantly says, and this is in spite of his jam-packed calendar and consecutive appointments to get to on any given day. That, along with his humble approach at work, has earned him the reverence of his audience.
The term “finicky bride” simply does not exist in his books, because Liow deeply understands just how monumental the occasion can be for her. This could very well be the quality that makes the difference: his bedside manners. Far be it for him to be encroaching on a client’s comfort zone, so for clients who either has trouble saying no, or has the very real fear of being labelled a “bridezilla”, Liow could be the perfect member of your glam team. “What she wants, goes,” the veteran says. Within reason, obviously. “We do get into discussions on what she has envisioned for herself and specific concerns that I can strategise to address, but to me, the most important thing is that she herself is comfortable with the outcome.”
For those who are already considering booking Liow for their own shindig, be prepared—you have to act quickly and snap up a slot with him a year ahead. That’s just how in-demand his services are. As of our conversation, the hairstylist confirms that he already has his appointments filled up to May 2026. You could get lucky, though. Miracles have happened. “The shortest lead time I had was about two to three weeks before the event, and I just happened to be available for it,” he laughs.
Quite recently, former GRAZIA Malaysia cover star Eyka Farhana appointed Liow to do the bridal hairdos for both her solemnisation ceremony and the reception, and suffice it to say, he knocked it out of the park. Elevating Eyka’s soft beauty, her solemnisation hairdo took a page out of the coquette girl playbook: a bow made out of the actress’s own hair. As for her reception, the hairstylist worked his magic and went for a half-up, half-down style that lent the bride this regal air on that day. Beyond that, there are thousands upon thousands of his works up on Instagram, all of which share one constant: his immaculate approach to the vocation.
Liow is living proof that the tool you’re equipped with can only go so far; for it’s indeed his technique that sends any hairstyle to the next level. Armed with his trusty ghd curling tongs and the classic Schwarzkopf Professional OSiS+ Hold Hair Spray (“it’s the ultimate finishing touch,” he claims), the hair wizard can create an endless stream of looks that you can dream of. But, of course, that’s not all that he comes with to any appointment. He will always roll in with luggage in tow, filled with pins, clips, stylers, and everything in between, so he can ace the assignment. After all, when all eyes and lenses are on the bride (along with her dress, hair, nails, and everything else), there can be no expense spared, and there is no such thing as being over-prepared.
If you can’t manage to score an appointment with him, there are some pearls of wisdom from Liow as you inch closer to the day. Been rocking a blunt haircut? You need to seriously consider introducing some layers into the mix. Otherwise, it will be hard to add any dimension to the look. For those who colour their tresses, make sure you include a touch-up appointment into the calendar for the best outcome. But skip (and he means it) any hair treatments two to three weeks prior. “Dry hair, for me, is easier to style, and the curls will last for way longer. Don’t worry about the shine, because that can be achieved with the products and the tools,” he says.
It is no understatement when women say their hair is their crown. When it comes time for them to become queen for the day, best believe that only the best of the best will make it onto the bridal squad. And with close to two decades in the hair game, Ckay Liow’s name is synonymous with quality and care. Equipped with a touch that can put even the toughest critic at ease, the hair stylist is just the person anybody would want on, what for many people is, the most important day of their lives.
Photography: Ng Joe Ee
Creative Direction: Joseph Cheng
Producer: Lorraine Chai
Hair: Zac Lee
Makeup: Eranthe Loo
Photography Assistant: David Ong
Styling Assistant: Sarah Chong
Styling Intern: Adrianna Haris
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