Color Expertise Reinforced

CEBU, Philippines - On its 4th year of conducting rigid tests to improve the skills of hairdressers/hairstylists in Cebu, L’Oreal Professionnel Color Expert Academie through Technico Commercial Manager Anna F. Andres proudly announced that they have received bravos from salon owners whose hairdressers have updated their skills and have raised the bar of excellence in the local hairdressing industry.

Among the courses offered at the L’Oreal Professionnel Color Expert Academie are the Color Expert Club classes, wherein students will have to take the Revalida: written exams, actual color application and oral defense. Those who have already graduated as Color Experts may take a refresher course, which also includes a Revalida Examination to be re-certified. Color Experts who passed the examinations for three consecutive years and have endured the grueling special revalidation examination will be hailed Master Colorists. Quite a hefty number of Cebuano hairdressers, as well as those from Davao and Bacolod, went through the process yet only a few survived.

Twenty-eight hairdressers emerged triumphantly from the rigorous tests this year and were named Expert Colorists. Aside from the perks, salon owners will definitely benefit from having a Color Expert since they’ll gain customer trust and loyalty. “We believe that education is the key business driver,” said Andres during the Color Expert 2010 Graduation Ceremony held at the Riga Room of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino. “We continue to strive for excellence. For us to succeed back in the salon, we need to continue to learn,” she said. The 2010 honor graduates are: Nivment Tomorong of XSalon-Banilad, Top Master Colorist; Calixto Sacnanas of Bridges Salon-JY Square, Master Colorist; Marlon Rebuyas of Salon de Rose-Bacolod, first honor for renewal; and newbie Jonstone Calinawan of Salon de Rose-SM, first honor. “L’Oreal is the only brand in the Philippines that holds the Color Expert Program. We support education, only deliver proper and safe techniques,” Product Manager Robbie Lizares shared.

Aside from the plaques and certificates given during graduation, the Color Experts enjoy limited edition L’Oreal merchandising, exclusive classes/trainings from experts, product/service testing, free tickets to product launchings, product allowance worth P2,000, invitation to its annual gathering, and be recognized through a newspaper advertisement listings of the Color Expert graduates, among others. With all these privileges they have to enjoy in one year, they are not to rest on their laurels as the academy will continually reinforce on education, hence give refresher exams to ensure continuous learning. Failure to pass the exams means that one’s membership will be revoked.

L’Oreal Ambassador Danny Katalbas, Head Stylist of Emphasis Salon in Makati, served as inspiration to all who enrolled in this year’s classes. He started in a salon in Zamboanga City and never failed to look back to his humble beginnings as a hairdresser who was hungry to learn since education was not accessible then. “I was an impersonator but I dreamed of becoming a Fanny Serrano or Henry Calayan and so I strived hard. When you achieve your dreams, be humble. Humility is important,” he enthused. “I never expected that I have inspired them in a big way. I’m honored,” he said. Congratulations, graduates!

Katalbas and Lizares revealed that the 2010 trend spells Avant Garde – bob is definitely out; it’ll be more on the artistic touch with waves and curls still perk up a look. In terms of hair colors, dimension browns/reds are more dominant with high lights and low lights.