A colorful life

MANILA, Philippines - Adlai Peter Antonio adds color to the life of people around him by literally putting color on their hair.

Adlai, son of “Hairdresser to the Stars” and owner/creative director of Salon de Manila (SDM) Pin Antonio, is carving his own niche in the business. He represented SDM as an interpreter of a hair collection in the Davines World Style Contest and was recognized as one of the best hairstylists in Asia last year. He was also the country’s representative in the 2009 Best of Asia World Tour conducted by Matrix, the top brand in hairstyling in the world. 

The International Culinary Arts graduate is a master of precision cutting and creative coloring even if he’s only in his early 20s. Guiding him are his mom and SDM head colorist Lilia Lacbayen. Adlai and Pin develop their own styles, colors and cuts. They usually take inspiration from Vidal Sassoon where they have taken several courses.  

This stylist of Claudine Barretto, Kyla and Carmina Villarroel, among others, is a perfectionist when it comes to hairstyling and coloring. 

“Everything should be precise. Everything has a formula, hindi dapat hula-hula lang,” Adlai says. 

He sees no limit to the creativity one can apply in hair coloring. For 2010, he recommends mahogany brown with a touch of ash for the base color. This shade, he says, softens facial features. Highlights can be any color that blends with the base. 

He adds that brown is great as base for Filipinos who are usually dark-haired. Reddish brown, ash brown, tobacco brown, and SDM’s own shade called Louis Vuitton brown are among Adlai’s favorites.  

Colored hair is not just fashionable, it also helps make one look younger and fresher.

If you have white hair, Adlai recommends putting color every month. But if it’s just for style, you can change colors every two or three months. Strong chemicals in some hair coloring products can damage the hair so it is best to use milk-based products with low peroxide. 

Adlai’s commitment and passion is to add color not just to his clients’ hair but to their lives as well, making them feel younger, better and more beautiful.