Meet Rochelle Sunglao | Hairstylist, Colorist & Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rochelle Sunglao and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rochelle, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
When I first started my career in hair, I wanted to explore all the different avenues it could take me. While building my client base, I found a lot of projects or work outside of my full time salon gig. In those early years, I would work 7 days a week trying to balance work on photo shoots, being behind the chair, and doing weddings. It wasn’t sustainable. Sometimes projects don’t work out well and I burnt myself out.

After I was in a place where my client base was more stable, I reassessed. I looked at what work was really stressful versus what brought fun and happiness. I aligned myself with the work that felt good and I found that really nurturing my relationship with my salon clients was the key. I am much more selective in the work I engage in outside of the salon. Most of it is referral based, or I join a team because we have an existing work relationship.

Of course, personal life things have changed over the nearly 20 years in my career. I currently work 4 days a week behind the chair. I’m now in a place where I have three days dedicated to caring for the other parts of my life. I have time for family, friends, and rest. I’ve been doing hair for decades, rest is crucial for me to stay balanced and focused. Rest helps me make sure that I’m caring for myself, and in turn caring for all the other parts of my life.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My career has taken several paths. After receiving my cosmetology license, my first salon job was as an assistant. It was a great foundational step to build the rest of my career. While assisting, I learned the ins and outs of servicing clients before moving into a stylist position. While I worked at this salon full time I grew a client base while doing freelance work on the side. My extracurricular activities included weddings, catalog work, editorial photo shoots, and short film. After 7 years of balancing salon life with other projects, I was ready to move onto booth rental, or so I thought.

I found a new salon home and rented for a bit. I wasn’t as prepared as I could have been. There was much more I needed to learn on the business side. I took a step back and became an employee once again. During that time I reassessed how to strengthen my understanding of the numbers side. I learned to better take inventory, maximize my product usage, create a more efficient budget, and dial in my understanding of the overall accounting and tax side of the business. This part of my career was really instrumental. It allowed me to look at my career from a new vantage point so that I could grow in new arenas. While I was learning all of that, it allowed me to become a share holder.

As a share holder in that business, I leaned into understanding the management skills needed to run a salon. Leadership needed to be direct, honest, and it needed to prioritize the overall health of the business. I realized that the balance of what’s best for the business truly depended on having a strong team. One person can’t carry a whole salon alone, but one person can definitely disrupt its success. A fantastic salon team makes it easier to reach business goals. I made the decision to leave this salon after 8 years.

I didn’t intend to leave that salon when I did. Life made the decision for me. I needed to be in a flexible situation. Trying to be part of a salon team wasn’t in my capacity because there was an illness in my fiancé’s family. I dissolved my shares and found a new salon to booth rent in.

I’ve been renting again since early 2022 at John Perry Salon in Golden Hill. In this space, I’ve really been focused on the one on one with my clients as well as elevating the service experience. I’ve been able to step into a regional educator position for a hair care line, while creating more time for my personal life. I still do freelance work, so I’m still doing weddings and creative projects. Last year a short film I worked on was making waves. “When You Left Me on That Boulevard” directed by Kayla Abuda Galang won the grand jury prizes at both Sundance and SXSW. The short film now has a home on vimeo, which can be viewed by anyone. This project allowed our team to tell a little slice of life story about what being part of a large Filipino family is like, while showcasing the San Diego neighborhood of Paradise Hills. “When You Left Me on That Boulevard” is one of my career highlights for sure. This short film took off in ways we couldn’t have imagined, and it was a beautiful community effort.

All in all, the journey has taken many turns. I’m sure there are a few more to go. I’m looking forward to them all. I hope that the biggest take away from reading this is that someone can feel more at ease in the face of change. Reinvention and reassessment can be catalysts to getting closer to the life that feels best for you.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I had friends visiting town we’d stop and get a mid-morning coffee from Provecho located within Bread and Salt in Barrio Logan. After our coffee talk we could take a look at the art in the galleries.

After working up an appetite we’d head to Tambayan in Spring Valley. My brother Fernan brought his GudMudFud menu to that restaurant, so of course I’d want to show that off! The menu is described as Filipino Soul Food, so it’s a riff on the food we grew up with.

I would then suggest a post meal walk at Lake Murray. We could go feed some ducks and keep it wholesome. If they were interested in more tourist landmarks for the walk, I’d pick Balboa Park, Seaport, or Old Town.

I figure that would take us into the happy hour time frame, and for drinks I would want to go to Mothership for that space tiki vibe, or Kettner Exchange for a great rooftop ambience.

A nice dining experience at Animae or Kingfisher is definitely needed. Then round it all out with a night cap at Part Time Lover…but the night is young so keep it going!

Maybe some dancing is in order? It would be a great opportunity to try and hit up Booty Bassment at the Whistle Stop or Hickies and Dry Humps at Park and Rec. Honestly with event names like that you kind of have to go.

Close the bar down then grab taco shop food for the full San Diego experience. My neighborhood shop is 24 hours, so we’ll grab Aiberto’s then put my friends to bed.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to send a shout out to my family (blood related and chosen), my fiancé, and all my clients who have supported me through all the different changes in my career. Having people who believe in your work is magical. Having those same people love you through every evolution of who you’re becoming, that’s life giving.

Website: Mayari-hair.square.site

Instagram: @mayari.hair

Other: https://vimeo.com/887931553

Image Credits
Cean Orrett Rochelle Sunglao Sierra Dawn Photo When You Left Me on That Boulevard production