Pearl Lam: I would love to introduce Mister Kim Robinson, the most celebrated hairdresser. Not just hair hairdresser, he’s an artist as well, and he’s entrepreneur. And Kim, for all the audience who don’t know you, please give a brief about yourself.

Kim Robinson: Well, Pearl, thank you very much for having me and for that wonderful introduction. Thank you. I first stepped on asian soil over 50 years ago.

Pearl Lam: You still look really young, darling.

Kim Robinson: I paid for it, darling. I paid for it, trust me. No. I embarked on a most amazing adventure, a love affair with asian beauty. And over the years, I had my hands on some of Asia’s and the world’s most beautiful women and who have shared with me their insights to do with beauty, proportion, style. And it rubbed off on me. And I’ve been incredibly successful. Thank you for being in Hong Kong, perhaps, and also being with women such as the list goes on. I don’t want to name drop, but anyway.

Pearl Lam: But you’re from Australia, right?

Kim Robinson: Correct.

Pearl Lam: So why did you choose Hong Kong?

Kim Robinson: Well, actually, farmlands from Western Australia to Hong Kong. Yeah. You were a farm boy, big jump. Yes, I was a colorist in my early days, and I was brought to Hong Kong to work for a salon here. But when I first arrived here, the only woman that colored the hair were club girls. And if you were asian at the time and you wore lipstick or colored your hair, you were considered as a.

Pearl Lam: Prostitute, something high class prostitute. High class. Who can afford to go to.

Kim Robinson: Absolutely.

Pearl Lam: A foreigner hairdresser.

Kim Robinson: There you go. There. You’re right. So things changed a lot over the years, but in the beginning, that’s why I first came here and I haven’t looked back.

Pearl Lam: But why Hong Kong? It’s just by coincidence.

Kim Robinson: Just coincidence. I was actually on the way to London because my guru at the time was Vidal sassoon, whom I was fortunate enough to work with a year after coming to Hong Kong. So I didn’t last long here when I first came. I just stayed a year. And then on the next flight, British Airways to London, to work with Vidal. And, you know, that was an experience, I must say, because he put hairdressing not so much as an art form, but more into, I would say, technique or technical. It was much more sort of like structuring a building. Architectural, I think more than that is.

Pearl Lam: He’s a real entrepreneur. He understands how to brand his name and made into a big industry that is more than, you know, a hairdresser or creative person. You may be a creative person, but you cannot be entrepreneur. You will always limit yourself.

Kim Robinson: Absolutely.

Pearl Lam: He’s really a legend of.

Kim Robinson: Yes.

Pearl Lam: Then you’re back to Hong Kong, and then you start working. And when did you start speaking Cantonese? You’re Cantonese? My God, you’re so fluent in Cantonese.

Kim Robinson: Your gongawa is enough to get into trouble, pearl, but not enough to get out, unfortunately.

Pearl Lam: But I’m so impressed with your Cantonese.

Kim Robinson: Don’t listen to Pearl. I’m paying her a lot of money for this plug, by the way, you.

Pearl Lam: Know, but what amazes me is, is Kim, you saw, the whole society evolved. I mean, when it comes today, it was really different from when you first arrived Hong Kong.

Kim Robinson: Well, I think that’s life, Pearl.

Pearl Lam: Hong Kong was very conventional, very traditional.

Kim Robinson: And today we were a british colony, Pearl, as you can remember, you know, and it was very elitist and very snobbish in a way. Coming from Australia, I didn’t understand the. The DNA of Hong Kong at all and found it quite intimidating. You know, if you were having lunch with the Chinese, it was your Persona non grata. It wasn’t a cool thing to do. While things have changed.

Pearl Lam: Completely changed.

Kim Robinson: I know. I mean, my best friends are chinese. I mean, I love Asia. As I said to you 20 minutes ago, that, you know, first stepping foot on asian soil, I just embarked on the most amazing adventure of love, of asian beauty, you know, but not just that.

Pearl Lam: Kim, you become a hairdresser. Not just a hairdresser, but the hairdresser of asian. All these asian ladies all flew into Hong Kong asking, just waiting there, asking for a haircut and the most expensive hairdresser on earth.

Kim Robinson: Well, I don’t know why you’d have to ask them why they pay. But the reason is if you have a passion for something, whether it’s architecture, fashion, design, art, if you have a passion for something, you probably will be successful. I think that really it’s to do with what’s inside of you. I think you’re born to do certain things, whether you’re an entrepreneur or whether you’re just a simple artist. You know, everything has its own timing and different for different people.

Pearl Lam: Let me explain to the audience that maybe you didn’t. You won’t know about Kim’s brand. Whenever people wants to show that they are in the elite and they are the billionaires, they will come out and say, oh, my hair is done by Kim Robinson. This is quite something. I mean, for a foreigner who comes to Hong Kong and who made really a career and, you know, all the who’s, who’s in Hong Kong and who’s, who’s in Asia. And they all flew in and asked for Kim Robinson.

Kim Robinson: Well, you know, I was lucky. I think, that I was born with a talent, at the same time having a vision. Because when I look at a woman or look at a room when I’m doing interiors or a canvas, when I’m painting, you have to have some kind of an idea or a vision, how you see the proportion, how you see it as a result. Otherwise, you’re just running around in circles trying out things. So a lot of hairdressers, an example, I find, because I train them, don’t have a vision on the outside, so to speak. They tend to ask you what you want and then try a bit, try a bit, try a bit. And hopefully it’ll turn out. But I’m different, perhaps because of my character. I see a vision on how every woman can look beautiful. And that’s what my clients tell me, that they get stopped on the street all over the world by strangers, and people go up to them and ask them, who did your hair? Your hair’s beautiful. Where did you have it cut? And to them, it’s priceless. And this is something that I’ve been hearing for years already. And I realize I’m doing something right, because when I see my clients come back after a couple of months for their next haircut or whatever they choose to do, they still look great.

Pearl Lam: But how did a Hong Kong hairdresser, a white Hong Kong hairdresser, ended up in Paris fashion show, couture show doing these important fashion models hairdos?

Kim Robinson: Well, I was lucky. I was introduced to a famous hairstylist who was the reigning king of hair in Paris, named Alexandre Alexander Parry. He was doing hair for all the shows, all the top fashion houses. And I was his personal assistant for 20 years.

Pearl Lam: For 20 years.

Kim Robinson: I know I was, like, very lucky that I was able to work, you know, under his direction. And I learned a lot about the french aesthetic to beauty. You see, the French have this wonderful way of elongating the neck, of framing the face. They use Leonardo da Vinci’s golden ratio as one of the bases on how do you frame the face? Because most women I see don’t have the correct hairstyle for their face or features and don’t look as beautiful as they could be. And, you know, you’ve been to a hairdresser, I’m sure many of you listening have been to the hairstylist, and they finished your hair, and you feel weird or you feel something’s wrong or you don’t like it, probably because it doesn’t suit your face. Now, hairdressers aren’t trained to really frame the face. They don’t trained to, exactly. They’re trained to do a technique which. The same technique on the next person, so to speak. But I was lucky being in Paris under Alexandre, we were trained to how to do the facial matrix, which. Where the proportion is. How do you elongate the neck? Because the neck is one of the most beautiful, sensuous things on a woman. And a lot of people walk around like this, you know, because it does make a difference, of course, because also, it’s like ballerina, and also you want a slim face. If your neck stops here, it doesn’t. It will look wider and bigger. If the neck runs into the face, it will elongate the whole thing. So you end up looking more refined and more elegant. Elegant is a good word. Yes. So I learned this in Paris. I was lucky. And through those times, I had my hands on Audrey Hepburn, Catherine Deneuve. I mean, I can go on and on and on. Elizabeth Taylor, all the greats that Alexander did the hair of, I was fortunate enough to be. And these women imparted their idea of beauty, their sense of beauty, and being around people as you are, Tupel. I’m sure other artists, you know, they have their own DNA. They have their own way of creating art. That’s theirs, and that’s why they’re so successful. And you, I’m sure being in this industry, can see because you’re born with an eye who has got potential, who is successful, and perhaps who maybe needs some extra work on. Which is why I’m here today, hoping pearl will give me some tips on my art. I’m going to drag it out of you, girl. I’m going to drag it out of you.

Pearl Lam: Now, I think we have to move to his artworks, his painting, I mean, from an australian farm boy to become a celebrated hairdresser. And now he’s an artist. He’s been painting for the last ten years, and he was shown. I mean, I remember a story. We bump into each other in New York, walking down the fifth Avenue. No, Madison. And then he was just saying that, oh, you have to open my show. You know, someone. Someone bought and bought, bought my painting and didn’t even know it was from me. You know, it’s painted by me.

Kim Robinson: Oh, my goodness. This girl’s got memory of an elephant.

Pearl Lam: You start painting.

Kim Robinson: I started painting because I was doing some interior projects for clients who wanted help. And when I looked at their, I would call it airport art or their art that they were proposing to use. Everything was talking, and nothing could anchor the look. And I said to them, look, maybe we need to look for some more.

Pearl Lam: So are you telling me you were doing interior as well?

Kim Robinson: Darling, it’s all related to arthem. A vision, okay? Doing interior or whether you’re a fashion designer. Of course I’m not a fashion designer, but it’s about a style, a point of view, you know, and some people like it and some people don’t. But I am a strong character, and I think that every room can look beautiful, depending the size, the light, what type of building it’s in, and what the client wants to say, you know, what are they? What sort of story do they want to tell? And I like stories. I like things that are working with one, not necessarily themes or colors, but I like to have a story. When you walk into a room, what it’s saying to me about the person living there or what they want to present. Anyway, I started doing these projects, and most of the people didn’t have nice art. And for me to go out and buy huge, important pieces of art with people’s budget, sometimes it was a little limited. So I started painting up panels myself, and then I started getting commissions. I worked with some of the casinos in Macau, private clients, because people like my textures, my work. And I kind of, like, enjoyed doing it. And that’s how it started. I’ve never had any formal training, unfortunately. I dined to go and learn, but everyone says I shouldn’t. So, you know, you have to give me some tips. I’m pushing for you for the advice, Pearl. But I started that way, and I’ve. Now I’m finding it. One of my most wonderful pleasures is to get a raw canvas and paint. I love it. I love, love, love doing it.

Pearl Lam: So you paint because it’s an expression of yourself or you paint because you want to just put on a wall?

Kim Robinson: No, it’s an expression of myself. I know every art has its purpose, but a lot of the times it’s in the wrong position to me. So I paint for myself because of what I like. And I’ve done some commissions, but this is not something I like to do because I’ve done that my whole life, working around a face. I’m limited to what I can do with certain faces when it comes to hair beauty. But coming down to arthem, I don’t have a limit. I can paint whatever I want.

Pearl Lam: So do you read a book? Do you do something to be inspired to paint? No, you just paint from the gut.

Kim Robinson: I paint from the gut. Now, I have done things like, I get ideas from other people’s art, but I never can do it. And no one, it’s only a me too copy, and it never looks the same. And what’s the point? It’s already existing, the most beautiful piece. But I like doing things that are really like an old pair of jeans. I love things that look distressed, lived in. I like raw canvas showing. Sometimes I like the imperfection. Sometimes, like wabasabi. You know, in Japan, I love to see things that have been scraped off and damaged and then repaint it over again. I like to see the previous art coming through. I like to see textures. I use clay. I use wood. I use oil. I use crayon. I use a lot of different textures to create. I’m just working now with some resin, which is something I’m doing for the first time. And what it’s doing to me is showing me, you know, that, how light reflects and how you can actually create.

Pearl Lam: So materials inspired you?

Kim Robinson: Yes. I find that a lot of things inspire me. I, you know, come coming to your gallery this morning, I looked at the colors and the contrasts, and I said to myself, wow, that looks. That’s so empowerful. Because I saying to you earlier, Pearl, that, you know, either people love you or they don’t like you. If you mediocre, sit in between indifferences, indifferent, I mean, you might as well be transparent. You might as well not be existing. So I play to win. You know, I love to be a successful artist, but actually, seriously, I don’t care about pleasing people. I care that I like it. And if I don’t like it, I burn it. I burn more art than I keep.

Pearl Lam: So, Kim, you know that, you know, in the art world, you would. It would take you a long time, long, long time, before they would celebrate you, because you are successful as a hairdresser. To come into this artwork, you will be judged.

Kim Robinson: Care, good attitude, don’t care, because you.

Pearl Lam: Know what you do for you yourself.

Kim Robinson: If you leave everything everyone says about you, you will never be happy as long as you live, whether you’re an artist, a fashion designer, an interior designer, an architect. Honestly, you have to please somebody. And if you don’t please yourself first, then who are you? You’re never going to be happy. So I paint for me, I mean, I’m now experimenting with wild flowers and doing incredible textures with very aggressive strokes. And I’m loving what’s happening. I’m loving the effect of it. And people say to me, oh, you should have this. You should. Why are you doing more colorful art? Why aren’t you adding more this? Why aren’t you doing that? And I’m saying, yeah, I might get around to it, but at the moment, I’m really into neutrals. I’m into beige en beige en beige on a beige canvas. And I think it’s great. I’m loving the mood of it, the texture of it, because it’s very minimal. And I’m in that stage and that mood. And, you know, when you’re an artist, it has to come from within. You can’t say, oh, suddenly turn the light switch on, uh oh, color, and come up with if it doesn’t mean anything to me, it has to come from. Otherwise it’s not a Kim Robinson piece of art.

Pearl Lam: This is completely different from doing hairdressing. Hairdressing. You have to please your client, and now you’re doing something for yourself.

Kim Robinson: Absolutely. Paul, a new express. And like I said to you earlier, I don’t care if they like it. Great attitude, and if they don’t like it, it’s the same. And I think if you go through life like, wearing a loose shirt is a great way to be happy because you have to go with the flow. Sometimes things work out in your favor, and some things they don’t. But if you get so caught up in when you’re successful and so depressed when you’re not successful, you’re going to be like a seesaw your whole life, you know, you’re never going to be happy.

Pearl Lam: Great philosopher.

Kim Robinson: Well, I’m not sure about that.

Pearl Lam: Yeah. I mean, great because. Yeah. But I think the most essential things in life, to be happy and to be satisfied with what you are.

Kim Robinson: And are you happy and are you happy, Pearl?

Pearl Lam: I’m always happy. Yeah.

Kim Robinson: So now, second question. Advice on my heart. You have to promise me.

Pearl Lam: No, I have to see your new. Your. I mean, this is. This is something new. I didn’t see it.

Kim Robinson: No.

Pearl Lam: So invite me to your place.

Kim Robinson: All right. You’re right. Invite me.

Pearl Lam: And then I come. And then I will be your great, greatest critics.

Kim Robinson: You, millions of people watching out there, you’re all witnesses to the fact that Pearl Lamb is coming to my place to give me critique on my art. Okay. I’m holding you to it.

Pearl Lam: How do you see in your next 1020 years on your development of your art? Not your business. Not as a hairdresser, as an artist?

Kim Robinson: I don’t think like that at all, Pearl. I just. Going with the flow and saying I’m enjoying it now, and maybe tomorrow I may change my mind. I don’t see it happening, but I might change my mind and do something else. But everything I’ve done in my life is to do with art. I mean, I love doing interiors. I’ve worked on a project for five years. It’s something that’s been very dear to me. And I love the mix, the juxtaposition of things that are in contrast sometimes that don’t actually match you, match you. I can’t stand that. And that’s something that is so terribly modern today. And I’ve been doing it for years. If I look back at the haircuts that I did 30, 40 years ago, I’ve got a couple of books that I produced, and I look back and thinking, the hair looks modern today. That’s how women look, because it looks natural, it looks believable. And if you look like a lot of people do flower arrangements or hair or fashion, and it looks so matchy matchy perfect, perfect. It dates. And I think that things that can stand the test of time is something that is something that is like. Like interiors. I like some of the old buildings and some of the modern ones that look great for five minutes. And after ten minutes, it’s over. The looks finished, it’s done. People have moved on where some of the old classics don’t date, they just look great.

Pearl Lam: Still, what do you see as a perfect beauty?

Kim Robinson: I think perfect beauty is not just a look pearl. I think it radiates from the woman. If you’re talking about a woman who has incredible confidence, laughter, and you can see that she’s in touch with herself, discovered her own. Her. Her own beauty. Some women never discover it. Some women are still searching for it, especially when you’re young. You tend to experiment. You get to a certain age that you find your style, you find what works for you, and you kind of stick with it. But unfortunately, I see a lot of women on the street all over the world, not only here, in Hong Kong, in London, in Paris. Well, not so much Paris. Paris is a little different in London, especially girls with straight, long hair like this, they’ve ironed it to death. They look the same. And I don’t. None of them pop out. And I think a lot of women need not to cut their hair off. You can keep your hair long, but you need a look that’s your own. You need to go to find a stylist. If you don’t know how to do it, find someone who can look at your shape, face, and suggest you what you can do. Keep the length. I’m not saying short hair, but do something that really is special for you, that you can have a look that’s yours.

Pearl Lam: But don’t you think that as a hairdresser or many fashion designers, they don’t make things for the client, they make things because, like hairdresser, you know, you used to have one look and you, Fila was assumed was the same. Was cutting everybody the same low?

Kim Robinson: Yes, correct. I think that that’s fine. You have to go and interview the hairdresser. Go in for a blow dry first. Don’t go in and book a haircut with a stranger that you don’t know and interview them. Ask them to show you pictures, visual pictures of what they think you would look good at, and think about it before you take the plunge. But I just think there’s so many women out there that really could be stunning if they just cut their hair. And it’s the frame, the volume, the no volume. I’ve got girls with short hair that come into me that I want to stick extensions in because I think their hair is too short. They think they should wear it longer. Because a certain age in your time, in your life, you need to have something that works for you at that time, you know, because some girls keep the same style for too long. They need to evolve, and they haven’t evolved. So, you know, I think that so many women make the mistake of, you know, really, you know, they think it looks younger because it’s longer, and sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes you need to clear the shoulder, sometimes you need to have more movement. I think that it’s something aesthetic.

Pearl Lam: So now I have to talk to you about you being an entrepreneur, because we just told that you are launching products. I mean, Kim never limited you being anything. I mean, hairdresser, interior designer, artist, and now entrepreneur, launching products.

Kim Robinson: Well, I mean, I have a frustration, pearl, being in Asia and doing predominantly asian women. All these years, we’ve been using products that were developed in the west. All the big brands have developed products for a global audience. Comes into Asia, they put an asian model, they put some asian writing on the bottle, and the formula was never developed for us in the first place. And asian hair is very different from western hair. We have a different diet, we have a different weather, we have different needs. And you can’t paint Asia with a brush because the more north you go, the hair texture changes, the more south you go, the scalp changes, the skin changes. So you’ve got different asian markets that’s never been catered for properly in the first place. So I’ve been trying to achieve incredible results with products that we never would have meant for us. So finally, I’ve been working with some research chemists and biologists in Italy and developing formulas, testing here in Asia, and I’ve come up with a couple of really good ones that really are different. They’re not me, too. With just putting my brand and name on it. Why do I want to do that? There’s plenty of me, too out there. Plenty of same, same, you know, and these new products actually make a difference. And I can, and the clients tell me, and people are saying, you know, look, I’m trying to put my expertise, what I’ve been doing with aesthetic senses, with asian beauty, asian women, and now putting it into a product that I can actually benefit more women. And it’s not just the money. I mean, of course everybody likes money, but if I really want to do money, I would do fast moving consumer goods, cheap stuff, and make a fortune.

Pearl Lam: Did you do a very fast hairdresser?

Kim Robinson: I did. I did. I closed it after five minutes. No, that was a mistake. I was talked into it. Cheaper haircut, cookie cut haircuts. It was with a spree. It was, yeah.

Pearl Lam: That was how many years ago? 2020 years ago. He developed.

Kim Robinson: I’m nearly 80, for God’s sake. I mean, you know, you look at myself like, at least I’ve had hair at 80. It’s not bad.

Pearl Lam: And he developed concept that everybody can come in and do a haircut, a fast haircut.

Kim Robinson: Yes. It was a great challenge. I loved doing it. I learned a lot, but it wasn’t me. And I, you know, when you’re out of your depth, when you do something that you have no control, and that’s what I lost control, and I had to. I stopped it. It was a great experience. I don’t regret doing it. In fact, I don’t regret anything I did in life. I regret what I don’t do. That’s why at the time I have left, I really want to do art. I’m just loving it. And I’m thinking to myself, you know, if you love what you do, I might be successful and I might not.

Pearl Lam: Don’t you think that because you’ve been through a live and deaf situation with my health? Yes, with your health. And that’s why your whole idea and everything, you have to wake up. Your whole aim in life changes.

Kim Robinson: Yes. Because, you know, we sail through life like we’re going to live forever, and one day unfortunately for me, I had a health issue and really bad health issues. Three major surgeries later and I’m still here. I’m figuring, well, you better do what you’ve, you know, you’ve got limited time. You might as well be happy. I mean, being a hairdresser, fully booked every day, famous hairdresser. The stars were big deal. I’ve been doing it for years. It wasn’t exciting for me anymore. And I hate to say without being so blase about it, but, you know, when you wear the dress ten times, it’s not special anymore, you know, I mean, you’ve worn it, okay, you’ve worn the jacket, you’re famous. What’s next? You know, you want something else that you haven’t done. I mean, when was the last time you did something for the first time? And that’s what I’m doing now is experimenting with my creativity and seeing where it can take me. I also being creative when it comes down to product, okay. There’s so many women out there that have issues with their hair, and, you know, they’ve tried so many brands, and you try it once, you try it twice, and after the third time, you give up. You put it in the box with the other things you don’t use. So I’m trying to do something that actually delivers the promise. If it doesn’t work, then it’s not. I’m not putting my name on it. And we’ll dump the idea. So this is the idea. I’ve got some great investors who believe in the thing. The chemists in Italy, the biologists are really full onto it because they said nobody wants to spend the money on the product. And I said, you know, people aren’t always looking for the cheapest. They’re looking for something that can deliver.

Pearl Lam: Can deliver.

Kim Robinson: Yes. That says what it’s going to do, you know, I mean, how many creams have I used? Anti wrinkle, please. I’ve got anti bagging, anti sagging, anti everything. Trust me, I’ve got them all. And I live in hope, you know, but because I’m in the industry, you know, I kind of know some of the secrets.

Pearl Lam: So don’t you think that vanity is your signature?

Kim Robinson: Well, you know, we’re all, we’re all kind of like, looking for more time. And I think sometimes when you feel good about yourself, it’s a form of confidence.

Pearl Lam: Absolutely.

Kim Robinson: Okay. And confidence is empowerment. And you feel like you can own the room, what you own the street.

Pearl Lam: You gave a lot of empowerment to a lot of women. A lot of ladies.

Kim Robinson: I pain you, Pearl. This is costing me a fortune. I don’t know how much it’s going to cost me this Pearl. I am, I tell you.

Pearl Lam: But it’s true. I saw many of my friends. We sit around the table. They were all so proud that they’ve been to Kim Robinson.

Kim Robinson: Well, I have to say, honestly say, I have loved to have my hands on Pearl’s hair. Although I love your trademark look. But you’re telling me that you might be giving us a new look.

Pearl Lam: Yeah, I’m really interested. This is Kim. You must be confident of many ladies in the world or in Asia.

Kim Robinson: Wow.

Pearl Lam: Tell us more. I want hidden secrets.

Kim Robinson: Being in the business of. You have the allowed to touch. Okay. Not many people have that. When you spend time with people and you make them feel good about themselves, they get more relaxed in your company. So obviously people will talk to you about their issues, some of their problems, perhaps, but you know what people say, all the gossips, the hairdressers. Only the hairdresser knows for sure. I mean, I don’t know that every woman will do that, actually, Pearl. But, you know, over the years, I mean, you know, I’ve heard some. Some dreadful gossips and some very, very private things. But, you know, the doctor would hear that as well. And maybe the dentist would, well know. You’ve got your mouth full of. Or the hands, perhaps not the dentist, but, you know, you tend to. When you spend time with people, you do. You know, I mean, I, you know, I was very fortunate when I was in Paris to have my hands on some of the leading ladies on the french cinema, you know, and supermodels backstage when they were all costing about their expertise last night, you know.

Pearl Lam: But you became. You are good friends of many ladies.

Kim Robinson: Yes. Well, you know, I mean, I spent 20 years with Anita Moy, one of our pop artists, pop icon. She was the queen of pop, our Madonna. Okay. She’s really an, you know, and I spent years with her, traveling all over the world, you know, with her shows. So I got to know a lot of women in my time. Like I said to you earlier, that, you know, I’ve been very fortunate that these women have actually shared with me their insights to do with beauty, their particular DNA, their feelings about it. And, you know, it rubs off. And, you know, you learn from being with people. The same with you, I’m sure, doing this.

Pearl Lam: But you really, you know, you became good friends of them as well.

Kim Robinson: I’m very fortunate to have. Yes, but, you know, I mean, it’s I think it’s the same with a lot of people. But, you know, you have to be discreet, Pearl. I mean, as much as anyone says, you know, what are the secrets to the stars? I mean, people ask me all the time, any secrets backstage? What happens, you know, of course, you know, while I’m trying to tap my head, thinking, any secrets? Because to me, it’s, sometimes I see one ear out the other most of the time. And, you know, but, you know, one of the biggest things that I know for sure being in the hairdressing industry, which actually now I’m pretty much moving away from, I’ve closed the Hong Kong salon after 50 years.

Pearl Lam: That’s another big thing that we should talk about, because your old salon must be the most expensive rental. You must be at the highest rental of all. Hairdresser salon in the world. In the world. And it was, it was in the most prominent shopping center on the ground floor. And we were constantly amazed because all the ladies go in, goes out. And you only have you and another hairdresser, right?

Kim Robinson: Only two, yes.

Pearl Lam: And this is the most expensive rental.

Kim Robinson: Well, you know, I. And then it wasn’t the most expensive when I first moved in. We were there 22 years, and fortunately we had, we were asked to move because Sotheby’s, I know, taking over the whole building and then kicked us out. But you know what? One door opens, another one closes, so to speak, or whatever.

Pearl Lam: So Kim Robinson movie out of the chatter house has been the news of Hong Kong. So we have to say that how, how important and how, how much of a celebrity status you have, it is. It is in a newspaper.

Kim Robinson: Well, you know, they made a bigger deal out of it than actually for me because, you know, we all get to a stage in life, Pearl, and hopefully one day you too. You know, when we live long enough, things change, opportunities change. And the way we feel about doing certain things change. Maybe the same husband changed, you know. You know, we need to change. Sometimes boyfriends, girlfriends sell on locations. And I’ve decided that maybe it’s time for me to do something else because, you know, it’s fully walked every day, busy running around like a chicken with no head on all the time became a bit bluff.

Pearl Lam: But for your temporary hairs, a lot, you are in a warehouse area with all these ladies wearing all the labels, top haute couture, running, queuing up and going into yourself.

Kim Robinson: You know, they, they won’t let me go for the time being, unfortunately. But I’m helping some of them out through a studio. I’ve got in a warehouse, just a few of them. Not, you know, it’s not like before, but, you know, um, but going back to the question, you know, about being a confidant, you know, I mean, I think in that bygone era today, with the Internet and with the whole new generation, I don’t think it’s quite the same thing. I think that that is a thing that was from the past era, from perhaps your mum’s era, your grandmother’s era. I think the modern woman today has little time on the salon, less time at home. She’s got a full time job if she’s married or if she has kids. I mean, she has no time for herself and she’s putting herself on sale, basically. She’s scrambling to put it all together. And I don’t think that the hairdresser is such an important position as it may have been from a bygone era where ladies at leisure went to the salon to hang out. I think that’s different now. I think things are changing.

Pearl Lam: What do you think? Does social media influence the way of how you create a hairdo?

Kim Robinson: Not for me, because I’m always, I’m not doing it as an art piece on the head and copying, you know, we can get influenced by, oh, I like that look of this style. The client might show me a picture from social media, but most of my clients want a look that works for them and they want my advice. That’s why they’re paying. They want me to develop a look that works for their features. That’s why they’re paying me for, and that’s what I do very well, I believe. But there are people out there that maybe don’t have the experience I have and need pictures or need other things to help them. But, you know, most of my clients and women who came, come to, if you went to, let me say, you know, Saint Laurent or whoever brand you want, you particularly like, and you wanted that designer to create a look for you, why would you show them a picture of something that you want? You want them to do it for you? You know, it’s like, you know, I, if I came to your gallery and I said, look, I’m looking for this kind of art, why would I come to see you? You know, I would come to look at what you’re endorsing, what you have chosen for me to purchase. I’m one of your clients, by the way.

Pearl Lam: Yeah. Oh, yes, you did. Okay. You bought, you bought the sous by. Thank you.

Kim Robinson: Excuse me. They’re in my home in Australia in Australia, you took them all the way there. Because they are stunning, and I’m never getting rid of them.

Pearl Lam: Thank you so much. But all these years you’ve been doing hairdressing, are there changes of the look?

Kim Robinson: Of course, you know, we’re living in a new era.

Pearl Lam: So. So every ten years or every few years, your ladies will come in and say, kim, I want a new look.

Kim Robinson: No, not every ten years. That could be every time. I’ve got clients that want to change constantly. But there really is about, really the time in which we live. You know, contemporary woman wants a look that works for her. That’s a great cut that she looks good every day. But if you go back, if you go back, say, 1015 years ago, perhaps the consumer then was more influenced by what the trend was. I don’t think there’s a trend today. If you look at it, a lot of women, whether it’s short pants, long pants, wide pants, skinny pants, high boots, short boots, flat shoes, I mean, there’s so much on offer out there. I think that’s a change. I think women today aren’t being dictated to. It’s the same with art pill. I mean, if you look at what’s on the show, you’ve got mister doodle on show now. I mean, next minute you’ll have somebody else completely different. You know, there’s so many choices.

Pearl Lam: But don’t hairdress or your styles is influenced by fashion. Fashion and hairdressing that goes hand in hand?

Kim Robinson: Yes and no. I think that you can’t just dictate by what fashion is showing. If you look what’s on the Runway. I don’t know whether if people like a lot of that look, sometimes it doesn’t work for you. I mean, you don’t have Runway hair.

Pearl Lam: No, no, I don’t.

Kim Robinson: So, you know, I mean, I haven’t shaved my head off all the latest cuts. All the boys are shaving up and doing the shaved up side thing. It’s kind of like, see the skin at the side and you’ve got a bit of hair on top and a bit of. I don’t like it on me, but I think it explode on some guys. I mean, I think it works, but I think it’s a personal thing. So I’m not a big advocate on following the trend. The trend. Okay. So to me, I think it’s all what works for you. And to find a look that works, that makes you feel beautiful, confident and empowered is the most important thing. And that’s a trend.

Pearl Lam: Absolutely. I like that. I know a lot of men also come and come to you for cutting their hair.

Kim Robinson: Yes.

Pearl Lam: And men cut their hair quite often. And you are really very expensive. So do they come all the time?

Kim Robinson: And so is art from fo lam. You know something, you have to ask them. Okay. Why they pay.

Pearl Lam: You’re absolutely right.

Kim Robinson: Okay. It’s not for me to judge. But the thing is, if they want to book my time and have me to create a look, I don’t think they’re worried about the price. Otherwise, they won’t come.

Pearl Lam: No.

Kim Robinson: I won’t work into Chanel, Hermes, or. Or go or buy haute couture if I couldn’t afford. I won’t walk into Pearl Lamb’s gallery. If I’m looking for cheap art, I’m looking for something that has a sense that Pearl has endorsed, and I’m willing to pay because it’s at Pearl Lang Gallery. This is not airport art. Okay? So I think the same for whether it’s men or a woman. What you’re investing in is yourself. Okay. And to them, it’s important.

Pearl Lam: But isn’t that really limited to do men’s hair?

Kim Robinson: Because it’s limited if what they come in with. But a lot of men have the wrong haircut for their shape face. A lot of men have bozo looking hair, and they’re executives and they want to make an impression. And they look kind of like a bit blur to me. So I’m not talking about trend. I’m not trying to make them look like freaks. I just want to give them a cut that works for them and gives them confidence. But the thing is, that’s what I do. I sell empowerment. That’s what I do.

Pearl Lam: I know, but if they come in with short hair, then how can you do anything? So ask them to grow longer.

Kim Robinson: Or sometimes I tell them that their hair is too short to do what I want. Sometimes it isn’t, and I can readjust it. Sometimes they’re not my type of client. I’ve got a clients that fly in on their private jets with their wives or girlfriends, and then they sit there and see what I do to the girlfriend and wife, and then they want to be next because they see the change, you know? And you know what? It’s priceless, Pearl, when you feel beautiful. And some of women I’ve touched, it’s for the first time, and I’ve got women cry. And I thought they cry because they hate their hair. No. They said they’ve never felt this beautiful, and they feel it’s priceless to them. So to me, you know, I think a lot of women, you know, go through life, you know, not finding their beauty, not really being in. You know, they get nervous. They’ve tried this hairdresser, tried that hairdresser. They’ve made mistakes. They couldn’t handle it. They didn’t like it, so they get nervous. So they shut down and do nothing except keep their hair long. Then one day they pop in to see me because someone recommended and I changed them. And they never leave me because they feel that that’s priceless to them because they feel beautiful.

Pearl Lam: Bravo, Kim. Bravo, Kim. I was told that when Diana, when Princess Diana came to Hong Kong, visit Hong Kong, you were the one who did her hair. Tell me, tell me about her experience.

Kim Robinson: Especially now know I have to tell you, it was a bit of a disaster, actually. I got a fax in those days, we didn’t have Mo. There was no mobile phones. I’m going back 1996. Okay. She was having on her, she was going through a rough time in the media and she was in Hong Kong. And I got a fax from Kensington palace in London asking for me to. For my services for HRH, the Princess of Wales. Okay. To take care of her hair during her Hong Kong visit. Anyway, I thought it was a joke from one of my friends, because nobody sends me this. So I sent back the fact saying, sure, I love to do dyes here, and if she wants to go clubbing afterwards, let me know. And I get a phone call from the secretary at Government House here in Hong Kong, almost blasting me out of this. The phone, you know? Are you kidding? I mean, this is like, serious. Anyway, but when. So when she arrived, the first thing she said to me, so you’re the infamous Kim that wants to take me clubbing? And then I said, I’m sorry, your majesty. And she says, that’s not me, that’s my mother in law. You can call. Call me Diana. That’s how we started the conversation.

Pearl Lam: Oh, that’s very sweet.

Kim Robinson: She was so down to earth and so great. I mean, I will never forget the experience. Anyway, but she said to me, look, I’m here for a charity to promote one of her causes. And I actually can’t remember what it was, to be honest. But she said to me, don’t give me anything strange. I just want something very simple and keep my style. Anyway, I blew it straighter and more slick than she perhaps normally would wear it. And she said to me, oh, my God, I love my hair. And I said, oh, I said, thank you. And she said. She said, oh, well, I’d like to have you come with me everywhere. She says, you are so fast and you’re so good, and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And I said to her, you know, like, oh. I said, she gives me, can you come tomorrow and do my hair again tomorrow? And I said, does anyone say no to you? She goes, yes. She says to me, my husband, I nearly died. I thought, my God, this has been recorded. I’m gonna be, you know, this is gonna be a nightmare. But she was amazing.

Pearl Lam: Okay, now, the crime tv series, don’t start me off. What do you think about.

Kim Robinson: Don’t stop me on it. I think that the actress looks very like Diana. But the hair, for God’s sake, Diana never had black roots with orange overtones inside. I mean, it. Oh, please. I mean, I’m not, because I’m a hairdresser, but it just. They’ve done everything else. They got details about the buttons on her dress and the details about all the other things. But didn’t someone have a look at Diana’s hair, for goodness sake? Never mind.

Pearl Lam: We will write to the producer and let.

Kim Robinson: I think they should have given me a call at least, or Sam. At least Sam McKnight did her hair in London, you know, and. Oh, my goodness. Anyway, but anyway, it is. But you know what? She was amazing. Diana was priceless. And we were. I was so blessed. I was so blessed.

Pearl Lam: You are blessed.

Kim Robinson: And we were blessed, you know, to have her in our.

Pearl Lam: To live.

Kim Robinson: To live at the time that she existed. I mean, the fact that, you know, we were all here. I mean, how blessed were we, you know, to have someone in the royal family with the heart of gold. I mean, what amazing woman she was. But you know what, Pearl? I think you’re amazing. What you created, being a pioneer. And that’s something. That is something. There’s no one else that you could have copied or done. There was no one doing what you have achieved or did when you started out. And I have to say that you’re one of the icons in the industry. And also, really, for me, being a potential up and coming artist is really somebody to look up to. And I really, really feel honored that you would take the time and having a chat with me today. So, so sweet of you.

Pearl Lam: Kim, we’ve known each other for quite a long time. I met your admirer all the time. You know, from, honestly, from someone who comes from Australia without anything and built your career. And not just local, you are an international person.

Kim Robinson: I mean, this is going to cost me a fortune.

Pearl Lam: And you’re the heart of gold, which is the.

Kim Robinson: I’m going to have to charge more for my haircuts after that.

Pearl Lam: Yeah. Thank you, Kim, for us.

Kim Robinson: Thank you, thank you. And thank you for listening.