Salon owner’s career started with scissors, hard work

Giving people confidence through proper grooming has always been a passion of hairdresser Aurelio P. Mendoza, better known as Wendy Mendoza.

She was a big name in hairdressing and makeup in the 1980s long before national-brand salons were established in Cebu.

Her first salon was a small shop in Urgello Street simply called Wendy Mendoza Hairdresser.

“I realized that holding (a pair of) scissors and a comb made me whole. I opened the Urgello branch with just a pair of scissors, comb, chair and a mirror,” she recounts.

Six years later, the salon moved to a bigger location in the Robinsons Place in F. Ramos Street.

“That’s when the businesses really soared. I found myself catering not only to neighborhood families but prominent families in Cebu as well as actors and actresses.”

Mendoza continued to pursue trainings to improve her craft and joined competitions.

In 1986, she won first place in the prestigious 2nd Manila International Hairstyling and Makeup Competition in the Philippine International Convention Center.

“My winning awards in local and international contests helped build my brand,” she said.

Mendoza said she had to give out priority numbers to accommodate her customers who patiently lined up outside her salon, waiting to be serviced.

“It was overwhelming,” she said.

Hardworking and determined, she opened six more branches before she moved to the United States to try her fortune there.

Mendoza said she had to close all Cebu branches three years ago because of difficulties in managing her salon chain from abroad.

She eventually decided to return to the Philippines, encouraged by constant requests of her loyal customers to continue her passion in her home country.

Last year, she joined the Regional Cosmetologie in Cebu.

Mendoza recently got accredited by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) as an Assessor for Beauty Care NCII and Hairdressing NCII.

“Tesda graduates who finish vocational courses come to me for evaluation. I evaluate whether they pass the standards or not,” she said.

Mendoza recently opened a salon in Sangi, Tabunok in Talisay City.

She said this is the start of more salon branches since she plans to stay home for good.

Services being offered include haircuts, hair treatments, facial massages and nail care.

“To build on the image I have established, I plan to expand and open more branches,” she said.

Mendoza said she will also continue assisting Tesda in evaluating their vocational school graduates.

With Metro Cebu’s growing population, she said the demand for well-trained hairdressers and makeup artists will continue to grow.

“I want to be part of this growth,” she said.