Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rochelle Sunglao. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Rochelle thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s one of the most important lessons you learned in school?

After graduating high school, I spent a few years at San Diego State University. I was in pursuit of a double major and finally hitting some of my upper division classes when I decided to leave. My plan at the time was to do field research with a background in economics and anthropology. I had romanticized the idea of studying the effects of globalization on indigenous people. Eco tourism was becoming more of a trend and I was curious to see if these groups of people were able to maintain their ways of life, and how they were able to do so when faced with these economic proposals.

It sounded great in my head! However, it was a smack in the face to see the reality of the kind of labor that was required to get grants and funding. I had to sit with myself and really ask if I was prepared to give up other life dreams for this work? The short of it, was no.

I knew I needed to change course after my time at SDSU. As much as having degrees would have been a benefit, I decided that a creative career would give me better longevity in overall satisfaction. I don’t regret my time spent on a more conventional path. I needed to experience that so I could boldly create a new one to follow.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I named my business Mayari Hair as a nod to my Filipino heritage. In folklore accounts, Mayari is the goddess of the moon and also beauty. My mom is a large part of how I got into the industry. Some of my earliest memories of her include watching her do her makeup, going with her to the salon, and having her style my hair. Our family lost her in 2011, and when I was getting ready to start my business 4 years ago I wanted to create something that she could be proud of.

My business primarily focuses on providing highly personalized in salon hair services. It’s not just about what you want your cut or color to look like, I take time at the top of every service to really listen to client goals, desires, and hair dreams. I want to know what routines look like, what challenges you may be faced with, and how much time you want to spend on styling. My educator background allows me to find solutions and also give tips and tricks to help a client feel like their hair looks great at home between services. Clients old and new alike get this check in so that we can collaborate on what should be next in their hair journey.

The other parts of my business are providing on location hair and makeup services, and education for a haircare brand. I have worked on weddings, short films, editorial and commercial photo shoots, and music videos. I have been able to travel thanks to this part of my career. It’s truly amazing that I’ve been able to do a lot of interesting creative projects.

All that being said, my salon work is the most rewarding. Connecting to clients and helping them feel confident fuels my drive as a stylist.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Being in the personal service industry, I’ve found that growing my clientele relies on two main strategies. The first is to create an experience that stays with the client. Old and new clients alike can expect three things every visit. I will always do a consultation or check in at the top of the service. This gives me a chance to listen to my clients and collaborate on the desired outcome for their hair. During the service I do my best to connect with a client and let them take lead with what’s comfortable in our interactions. We find common ground and engage in a way that feels respectful and safe for us both. The third thing that clients can expect is that I’ll share tips or give them educational insights that they can take home with them. My overall goal is to make sure they can achieve the hair that they want between visits to the salon. This service experience helps me retain clients, and converts new clients into return ones.

My second strategy is to just make sure if clients are happy with services is to ask for referrals. I have grown much of my client base with the help of existing clients. I’m fortunate enough to have families that choose me for their hair needs. It feels like I’ve connected to community just by asking clients if they know anyone else who would enjoy my services.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

There was a point early in my career where I was taught that taking the most clients possible was the best way to make my living. There were days where I took up to 12 haircutting services during my 8 hour shift. Those days it was about the turn and burn, get a client in and out so you could move onto the next. For some stylists, that’s a great way to work. I realized for me, it was draining and unsustainable. My original intentions for starting a hair career was to connect with people and help them feel confident, I couldn’t do that if I was pushing myself to move onto the next client. It didn’t give me time to honor the one currently sitting in my chair. Over time, I’ve slowed down to allow for a more relaxed experience for not only the client, but for myself as well. Slowing down has really made my career more enjoyable and allows me to get to the heart of why I’ve chosen this career path.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mayari-hair.square.site
• Instagram: mayari.hair

Image Credits

Monét Nyree (headshot)

Rochelle Sunglao