Ricky Reyes, Filipino ‘hairgicians’ take spotlight at the 19th APHCA Hair Olympics

From major dye jobs to length-erasing pixie cuts, hair-raising headdresses down to towering stiletto heels, “hairgicians” and makeup artists from the Asia Pacific region resorted to different tactics and gimmicks just to get the judges’ attention at the 19th Asia Pacific Hairdressers and Cosmetologists Association (APHCA) Hair Olympics held recently in Taoyuan City in Taiwan.

A “bride” in a fully beaded gown from Hong Kong literally stood out from the crowd with her towering bird cage headdress with a real bird inside. I also spotted a bunch of models who looked like intergalactic villains in their fancy costumes, face and body paints. On the other side of the room was the creative hair color area. As expected, the models’ locks were as crazy and colorful and bright as what I imagined their hairdressers and makeup artists’ personalities would be.

“APHCA is more than just a hair and makeup show, but a fashion extravaganza,” enthused Ricky Reyes, APHCA president and co-founder, during the judges’ briefing.

Participants from 18 member countries — who were champions in the local leg of the competition — compete in six categories: Ladies’ Cut, Men’s Cut, Creative Colors, Bridal Makeup, Evening Party Makeup and Fantasy Makeup. The room is divided into two platforms where the contestants battle it out simultaneously (two categories at the same time) for 30 minutes in front of the judges and spectators.

“To get the judges’ attention, there has to be that ‘wow’ factor, even if you’re just competing for the Bridal Makeup category. That’s what will make them come to you, scrutinize your models’ makeup and decide if you make the cut,” explained Reyes who didn’t play favorites or show partiality in a competition that gathers the region’s best beauty practitioners.

It’s Showtime!

The annual Hair Olympics transformed the grand ballroom of Chuto Hotel into a world where fantastic creatures — with techni-color hair, wings, horns and other unearthly appendages — ruled. Clad in eye-catching creations, the models’ faces served as a blank canvas for the artists to draw their dreams on.

It took Federico “Stefhanie” Ilagan, a makeup artist from Lagro, Quezon City, seven months to prepare and save enough money to join this year’s competition. He was named second runner-up in last year’s APHCA held in Bangkok, Thailand. The trophy he received and his photo with Mother Ricky Reyes served as a magnet in attracting clients to his salon in QC.

“Applying makeup is easy, but not when you’re under time pressure,” said Stefhanie. Besides perfecting his craft, Stefhanie had to think of her model’s overall look. Everything was customized — from the gown to the beaded wings, the mask and the eight-inch high heels her 13-year-old Jordanian model Ameera Johara wore, which he ordered from Bangkok. And yes, it cost him a lot of money.

“For seven months, I set aside earnings from my salon to fund this trip,” he noted.

Stefhanie’s hard work paid off when he bagged the grand prize in the Evening Party Makeup category. Stefhanie’s model Ameera wowed the judges, not only for her beauty and grace, but also for wearing her makeup well. Stefhanie managed to draw the judges’ attention away from Ameera’s fancy costume to her eyes by using thick, extended lashes and applying red and purple makeup — with the right amount of shimmer — on the eyelids.

“It helps that Ameera has luminous skin,” Stefhanie added. Ameera endured the weight of her gown, her 20-inch headdress (weighing two kilos) and standing for hours in her eight-inch high heels in the name of beauty.

“I hope I made my parents proud with this victory,” enthused Stefhanie who ran away from home when he was 17 because his father couldn’t accept that his favorite son — who he dreamt would become an engineer someday — is gay.

Filipino and Proud

“Take pride in everything you do,” Ricky Reyes reminded his protégés Raquel Pangilagan, Jayson Hisola, Giovanni Luague, Roland “Japan” Esperanzate, Ruby Ann Valderrama, Alexi “Erie” Angeles and Stefhanie Ilagan on the eve of the competition.

“Mother Ricky motivates us to always give our best shot,” said Jayson Hisola, who won second runner-up in both the Ladies’ and Men’s Cut categories.

Jayson almost threw down his hat during the competition due to the obstacles he encountered. First, he was disqualified from the Creative Coloring category — even if his model was all made up — because his name wasn’t on the list of contestants. Second, the electric razor he brought was busted. Thank goodness, one of the contestants offered his razor to him.

As they say, “the competition must go on.” And Jayson delivered! Joining Jayson on the winner’s podium were Filipino hairdresser Roland “Japan” Esperanzate who won second runner up, Evening Party Makeup; and grand champions Mai Yamazaki, Ladies’ Cut and Hitoshi Usukura, Creative Color; both from Japan.

The highlight of the competition was the Fantasy Makeup category, which Macau dominated. The bride who wore a bird cage headdress was declared grand prize winner in the Bridal Makeup category, while the Philippines’ Raquel Pangilagan placed second.

Next year, the Philippines will play host to the 20th Asia Pacific Hairdressers and Cosmetologists Association (APHCA) Hair Olympics.

“So expect a bigger, better and spectacular show worthy of APHCA’s 20th anniversary,” assured APHCA president Mother Ricky Reyes who was beaming with pride when he posed with his “inakays” — with their trophies in hand — onstage for a souvenior shot.

Indeed, “bakla man at magaling, maipag-mamalaki din!”