Teng Roma. PHOTO BY NELSONMATAWARAN
Hairdresser-entrepreneur Vicente “Teng” Roma sets himself apart from other salons espousing the beauty-wellness approach. After putting up the successful Emphasis Salon in Rockwell, he has launched Teng Roma at Fairmont Makati, which takes to the Japanese style of hair care.
The new venture is a partnership with Japanese hairdresser Ito Yasu, who is also the salon’s managing director.
“You will appreciate his little touches,” says Roma. “He’s got a calming presence.”
Roma admires Yasu’s work, which involves contemplating beauty to the smallest detail, highlighting the importance of each step to the client. Yasu greets the customer with a customary bow before analyzing the hair and scalp.
‘Kangen’ water
Getting a hair treatment or coloring is as pleasant as a Japanese tea ceremony. Hair is handled with utmost care with Japanese eco-friendly products. Moreover, Yasu’s soothing voice enhances the salon’s serene atmosphere.
Yasu introduced kangen and beauty waters to protect the hair. Kangen water is ionized alkaline water that is mixed with the coloring and perm agents. It allows the chemicals to penetrate easily, making processing gentler on the hair. Beauty water, which is more acidic, contains oxygen to revitalize the hair and scalp.
The salon’s premier service is the relaxing head soda hair spa, introduced by Silk Hat Corp. in Japan. This addresses clogged scalp that leads to dryness, dandruff and falling hair.
The hair is washed in carbonated or soda water from a high-pressure water-blasting hose to massage the scalp. Then Yasu gently kneads the scalp to relax tense muscles. Once the soda water is soaked up in the scalp, blood vessels open up and relax the muscles.
The cleansing process improves blood flow and circulation of oxygen in the lymphatic system so the hair will get better nourishment. Soda water removes toxins from the scalp and pores, chemical residues from hair treatments and colors, and shampoo silicones that coat the hair. The hair becomes bouncier and more revitalized after the blow-dry.
Roster of talents
The salon’s creative director, Virgilio “Basil” Yunting, has been wielding his makeup brushes on Manila’s Who’s Who. He has worked in Dubai as a fashion designer and makeup artist. His clients included the late Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto; the daughter of Dubai’s crown prince, sheikhas and other Arab royalty.
Specializing in fantasy hair and makeup, he was champion in major hair competitions and topped the Battle of the Champions, organized by the prestigious Hair and Cosmetologists Association of the Philippines.
The salon also includes a roster of freelance talents. Japanese hairdresser Mitsuo Higuchi, a graduate of the Tokyo Mode Academy, specializes in bobs, wavy rebel hair and medium-lengths and mussed-up hairstyles for men. These are popular for their low maintenance.
Former top model Lou Bunyi-Pareja now works at the salon as a makeup artist. After studying Fine Arts at University of Santo Tomas, she was one of the first adapters of the airbrushing makeup technique.
When she’s not in the salon, she conducts basic makeup classes at corporate image workshops with another former model, Patty Betita.
Nigerian-born Collins Ugwuzor studied makeup with Mac Cosmetics in Miami and was trained by Ted Baker, Michael Jackson’s makeup artist, and Val Garland, makeup artist for the international Fashion Week.
Ugwuzor’s forte is focusing on the client’s complexion by giving it a soft, natural, healthy shimmer. One of his first clients was a Filipino career woman. “I gave her skin an ageless glow,” he says. “When you are complimented for your skin, then it’s about you, not the makeup.”
Having traveled around the world, he enjoys working on Filipino women. “Their beauty is diverse,” he notes.
Teng Roma at Fairmont Makati caters to a discriminating clientele. “To benefit from the services, they shouldn’t be in a rush,” says Roma.
Teng Roma salon at Fairmont Makati, tel. 5559888 ext. 6520