Thirteen years ago, Lebanese national Moussa Abdayem arrived in the Philippines not speaking a word of English. He came to Manila as a tourist but ended up staying when he was offered a job styling hair at Emphasis Salon.
Now, Abdayem, 30, has made a name for himself with his signature layered cuts, and a welcoming personality that will ease any anxieties you might have about sitting down for your next big cut.
The dapper stylist doesn’t have a favorite cut. He likes to see cuts on women that are flattering and that bring out their features.
“I like styling hair because you are changing the lifestyle of the person,” he says.
A standout trend I’ve been doing on my clients this summer is… messed-up hair, but the same length of a bob.
It’s no secret that… I enjoy cutting hair a lot. I like to see hair flying all over. I feel there is a lot of energy with hair. So when you cut hair, you see that you are changing the lifestyle of the person. That’s what I like about cutting hair.
The most number of clients I’ve had in a day… is 20.
The most absurd request I’ve ever had… was a 12- or 13-year-old asking for permanent hair extensions. This was to make her hair longer and thicker. This was when I was in Lebanon.
My favorite hair color for the season is… red hair.
My advice for women… is keep on changing your hair and never feel scared to cut or carry a style.
The best hair products I’ve tried are… for hair spray: L’Oréal Professionnel Elnett. It’s been my favorite since forever. For hair wax: L’Oréal Professionnel Tecni Art Density Material and L’Oréal Professionnel Tecni Art Web. I use Kérastase Elixir Ultime before blow-dry to protect the hair from the heat.
My grooming basics are… Kérastase shampoo and L’Oreal gel. I use the Kérastase Nutritive Bain Satin shampoo for myself.
Second to hair, I enjoy… going around. I enjoy music very much. I also like doing sports.
My personal style signifier is… my beard. It is my friend. In Lebanon, my beard was always long. I had it shaved a couple of times just for a quick change but it wasn’t me.
My signature style… would be denim.
Fresh ideas
Finding the right stylist is a tough task, and while we love our locks, not all of us have truly found “the one” just yet.
If you’re hot on the hunt for a stylist full of fresh ideas and skills, try booking an appointment with Moussa Abdayem. Find him at Emphasis Salon, G/F, Joya Towers, Plaza Drive cor. Joya Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati City; tel. 4030117, 4030119, 0917-8429699. Haircut by Abdayem is P1,950 (by appointment only). Follow him on Instagram @MoussaAbdayem.
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