How are these creatives making waves through their masterful techniques and passion for beauty?
With the fashion and beauty industry once again finding its rhythm and pace, first-rate creatives, both old and new, are thriving more than ever. In their vision, expertise, and fervor, the local scene places its hope for a fashion-forward future that’s true to the core of Filipinos—authentic, spirited, and rooted.
Over to the side of skillful artists, here are the Filipino hairstylists going through great lengths to forward the local creative industry: Ja Feliciano, Valerie Corpuz, and Dale Mallari. How are they making waves through their masterful techniques and passion for beauty?
JA FELICIANO
Ja Feliciano was influenced by his sister who was a hair and makeup artist. Turns out, the sister would focus on makeup, so Feliciano decided that he would be the one to pursue hairstyling. In the following years after he started his career, he had the opportunity to have one-on-one sessions with celebrity makeup artists, which helped him gain knowledge and hone his craft. His turning point as an artist was when in 2014, he saw his work in print for the first time on a MEGA editorial shoot—and that continues to keep him grounded. His tip for hairstylists and creatives? Believe in your craft and stay humble.
VALERIE CORPUZ
Another mainstay in the industry, freelance hairstylist and content creator Valerie Corpuz started a career in 2010 as an assistant of makeup artists in Pangasinan, where she was tasked with lugging and carrying things. Eventually, Corpuz discovered that she was more interested in doing hair, so she began experimenting with the curling iron.
In 2012, she had a crisis in his career and decided to become a factory worker. Fortunately, for this industry, she came back to doing this craft in 2016.
When watching shows on television, she always found herself curious about how the hairstyles of celebrities and those in shampoo commercials were made. Her huge break happened when conditioner brand Cream Silk got her for their digital advertisement—it was the ultimate dream of hairstylists. Corpus shared that at the time, she felt relevant, happy, and honored to be part of that project.
“Focus on yourself, don’t look at others’ work because it only leads to unnecessary competition,” Corpuz says. “Second, every day is a learning process. Don’t stop learning and don’t get tired of it. Be the first to critique your work. When you see your work as perfect, that means that you’re no longer willing to learn. As long as you see your mistakes, you’re still ready to learn and reach more in your career.”
DALE MALLARI
And finally, a science teacher by profession who chose to enter the world of hairstyling, Dale Mallari found both opportunities and lessons during the pandemic. Before the series of lockdowns, he decided to resign from the academe and shift to the service industry, particularly in hotels and airlines.
In the end, he was led to the place where he truly belongs, and was given the opportunity by his makeup artist friends to try hairstyling. Back then, he knew only how to curl hair using an iron. Still, he fell in love with hairstyling along the way.
Mallari can’t say he’s a professional hairstylist already because he has only been doing it for a year, but he realized he was a true hairstylist when MEGA recognized him as one of the “next generation of hairstylists.”
“Keep pushing through and keep practicing,” Mallari shares. “Don’t forget that everytime you achieve something, keep yourself grounded.”
