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In the world of beauty, it's all about being creative and standing out from the crowd. Keeping up with the latest trends is the key to staying ahead of the game, and transforming someone's appearance and making them feel confident takes a unique vision and a keen eye. Marqed Salon, one of the leading salons in the industry, has recently discovered their newest creative mastermind–Miss D, their first-ever Creative Artist.
“I started in this industry way back in 2008,” Miss D shared. “As in, zero knowledge, wala akong kahit anong alam. Basta nung una akong tinuruan, gusto ko lang mag-shampoo, mag-blower ng buhok. Tapos pag-dating sa cut, ‘yun, dun medyo parang nasabi ko ‘Sige parang gusto ko rin matutong mag-gupit’”.
Humble Beginnings
From an early age, Miss D had a deep-rooted fascination with hairstyling. She was a young member of the LGBTQIA+ community; and in spite of facing societal prejudices and judgments, Miss D fearlessly embraced her passion, tirelessly experimenting with friends' hairstyles and seeking inspiration from online platforms and tutorials.
“Nung bata pa kasi ako, member na ako ng LGBT[QIA+ community] talaga. Gustong-gusto ko talagang nag-aayos ng hair. ‘Yung mga kalaro ko, mga girl. Kahit napapagalitan na ako talagang inaayos ko ‘yung buhok nila, kung anu-ano na ginagawa ko–sinusuklay ko, tini-tease ko, kahit ‘di ako marunong mag-braid, bini-braid ko. Naaaliw naman sila ‘pag naaayusan sila. Uso na ‘nun ‘yung Youtube, kaya ‘pag nakakapanood ako nung mga nag-aayos ng buhok, dun ko sila inaaral talaga lahat.”
Miss D's road had its share of bumps along the way. Faced with questions and prejudice, she had doubts and often admitted to feeling discouraged. But through her unwavering determination, coupled with the unyielding support of her mother, she held onto the hope of making it big one day. Together, they defied societal norms, enabling Miss D to pursue her passion wholeheartedly.
“Nung una, hindi naman tanggap sa lipunan, ‘di ba? Talagang andun ‘yung diskriminasyon na ‘Naku, walang mararating yan.’ Pero ‘yung mother ko talaga, siya ‘yung, ‘Sige, go anak, kung anong gusto mo.’ Kami ‘yung talagang tandem na, ‘Sige anak, ayusin mo ‘yung buhok ko habang wala ‘yung tatay mo.’ Talagang gusto ko na talaga mag-ayos ng hair. ‘Yun nga lang, konti lang ‘yung alam ko, through panunood lang. Kaya sabi ko, kailangan ko pang matuto nang mas madami pa.”
So, she tirelessly pursued professional training and attended seminars and workshops to enhance her skills. She immersed herself in the art of haircutting, mastering the nuances of angles, techniques, and the intricate process of creating stunning hairstyles. Hair coloring also became one of her areas of expertise, as she delved into the study of color theory and diligently practiced her craft.
And she did make it big.
Today, Miss D is the first-ever Creative Artist of Marqed Salon. Her breakthrough came when Marqed Salon recognized her extraordinary talent and appointed her the position, allowing her to fully explore her creativity and artistic flair whilst pushing boundaries in the industry. With her unique vision and passion for innovation, Miss D is revolutionizing the salon's approach to hairstyling, delivering exceptional and personalized experiences to clients.
“Pinaka nakaka-proud siguro ‘yung naging mentor ko si Sir Mark, tapos naging boss ko si Ma’am Lucky. Sobrang nakaka-proud kasi ‘yung talent ko, hinahayaan lang nila akong i-explore, tapos kung gusto ko pang mag-aral, sinusuportahan nila ako. Kung gusto ko pang mag-training go lang. Kaya sobrang pasasalamat ko rito sa dalawang ‘to, at siyempre sa mga ka-trabaho ko; sobrang pamilya, pamilya kami. Hindi sila ibang tao. Even sa mga clients, they are not just our clients, they are our friends, our family na rin. ‘Yun ‘yung nakakatuwa.”
It’s all about the client.
While Miss D's artistic abilities are truly extraordinary, she understands that the client's satisfaction and happiness are of utmost importance. She takes the time to hear what her clients need, what they like, and what worries them–making the hairstyling process a team effort between them. And by keeping the lines of communication open, Miss D is able to earn her client’s trust, making them feel at ease and excited about the changes they will see.
“‘Yung isang nakakatuwa dito sa Marqed Salon, bago namin gawin si client, we do the scalp-scanning. Bago mag-simula yung treatment, dun manggagaling kung anong treatment ‘yung the best for the client. Aside from that, kung sa cut naman, sa cut sa hair, kailangan natin aralin ‘yung face shape ng client, tapos kung ano ‘yung lifestyle niya, para ibabagay natin sa kanya.
“Kasi kailangan din natin i-consider kung ano ba ‘yung texture ng hair nila, na kung wala bang blower maganda pa rin ba ‘yung kalalabasan nung hair. Dapat din talaga ‘yung pang-everyday lifestyle ‘yung gupit na gagawin mo sa kanya.
“Sobrang fulfilling ‘yung mga ganiyan, ‘yung pag-kakita mo palang sa salamin, ‘yung ngiti nila, ‘Oh my God, na-transform mo ‘ko, nailabas mo ‘yung totoong ako!’ Tapos ang pinaka-maganda ay kapag bumabalik sila together with their friends or nire-refer nila ako sa mga kapamilya nila, kaibigan nila. Ang pinaka-kinatutuwa ko ay kapag nakukuha ko ‘yung tiwala nila. Hindi ‘yung parang, ‘Ay, pine-perahan lang ako nito… ay hino-holdap lang ako nito’, sa kanila hindi, hindi siya ganon.”
What’s next for Miss D?
By embracing a growth mindset and remaining open to new ideas and innovations, Miss D ensures that she stays at the forefront of her field, consistently delivering exceptional and cutting-edge hairstyling experiences to her clients.
“Kung merong mga training, as much as possible, a-attendan ko talaga ‘yan. Lalo ngayon, sobrang daming lumalabas na bago. Hindi siya ‘yung, ‘O, eto lang ‘yung style.’ Isang buwan lang, meron na agad bagong trend ulit. Gusto ko hangga’t maaari, hanggang ngayon, gusto ko pa rin mag-train ng mag-train.”
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Miss D's journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring hairstylists and individuals pursuing their dreams in the face of adversity. Her success not only reflects her determination, but also underscores the importance of inclusive spaces in the beauty industry.
And through her relentless pursuit of excellence, she has shattered stereotypes, proving that one's true potential knows no bounds.
Get #GetDfullExperience with Miss D exclusively at Marqed Salon—South (Weidmann’s Plaza). The package includes a haircut, hair color, highlights, and up styling for only P4,000 instead of P12,850.
Aside from these beauty bundle, you can also check out other Parlon-exclusive deals from Marqed Salon, which you can redeem at any of the following branches:
- G/F L Ureana Design Center, Connecticut Street, Greenhills, San Juan City
- Weidmann’s Plaza, 90 National Road, Putatan, Muntinlupa City
- Sapphire Residences, 2nd Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Discover, book, and buy more incredible beauty and wellness deals from Parlon. Keep in touch with us, too, on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok.
