Alice Dixson, Ruffa Gutierrez, Sarah Lahbati, Nadine Lustre, Mikee Quintos, (to name a few)—what do they have in common? These are just a few celebrities who turn to Junie Sierra, President & CEO and Creative Director of The BLOC by Junie Sierra & Co. for their Hairstyling and Make Up needs.
Scrolling through The BLOC's Social Media Accounts, you'll witness some well-known celebrities walking through the doors of Junie's Salon in BGC, seeking the exceptional service he is known for.
The BLOC by Junie Sierra & Co., though established fairly recently, has garnered a variety of clienteles from Professionals to Entrepreneurs, Local and some International Celebrities, TV/Movie Personalities, Beauty Queens including Top Models and some respectful Politicians.
With this in mind, there is no denying the magic in the way Junie and his team deliver their services. I had an opportunity to sit down with him and talk about The BLOC.
Humble Beginnings...
Shark Tank's Barbara Corcoran once said she invests in kids with hurt inside them because these kids are not after the money; they are out to prove they can thrive in life. Junie's humble beginnings in life are one for the books.
At an early age, he had a penchant for God's call; he dreamed of committing his life to serving God and the Church. "All the signs before going to the seminary were all present," he explained. But that all changed when his mom passed away at a very early age.
Junie was barely out of his teens when this unfortunate incident happened. "Ang hirap pala ng walang nanay, walang magtatanggol sa'yo," he said, recalling the painful memories of his teenage life in Bataan.
Barely an adult, he took the reins in finding every means to put food on the table and support his siblings. He learned to be resourceful and utilize whatever he had at his disposal. He went back at a time when having five pesos in his pocket was already a blessing. Challenging times indeed that forever molded him.
A series of unfortunate events led him packing his bags to go to Manila. "I was determined to make a living and make something out of myself." On his first day in the metro, with five pesos in his pocket, a bucketful of grit, and a map of his dreams, he started applying for random jobs.
He landed a job as a product promoter, earning one hundred pesos for a day's work. He wholeheartedly gave the money he earned to support his siblings who were with him in the city.
His stint in the latter didn't last that long; he eventually landed a job in a salon as a cleaner. Little did he know that this industry would change his life. From keeping the tidiness of the salon, the owner of the salon saw his natural charm and zest to learn anything new. It got him interested in investing in his hairstyling education.
Gig after gig, his talent in enhancing one's features through his magical hands paved the way for his career to slowly take off. Once a simple guy dreaming of serving God, is now serving society's creme de la creme.
The BLOC by Junie Sierra & Co.
Established in 2016, The “BLOC” which stands for Beauty, Legacy, Opportunity, and Career, represents a legacy of credibility, high standards, and respect for people behind the beauty industry. It offers an opportunity to those who want to join the beauty industry and promises a rewarding career allowing people to grow in the salon.
"I asked God to help me name this salon," Junie said. He already had a clientele following his every move, but he wondered whether it was enough to keep the business afloat. Initially discouraged by a few people close to him, "I didn't have a name like the other big salons out there in the market. They were afraid that I might fail. And I also started to doubt myself." Just like any businessman starting a new venture, dark clouds loomed in his head, and all the risks of a business rushed in.
Until one day, Kim Caravana, his business and life partner, quoted, "What's the difference between taking risks today and tomorrow? Do it now and make it happen! You will just waste time." Keeping Kim's quote in mind and keeping his dream alive in his heart, he went on to build his salon. He secured licenses, a space to carve his name, and built a team—all while studying and ensuring he got a healthy supply of clients. It was a tough time putting everything together.
In building his empire he made sure his people are trained very well in how to communicate to clients. He paid attention to small details of interacting with clients, from answering queries about their services all the way to how to offer a drink to them. "There is always a proper way to serve our guests, be it in handing a magazine or offering a drink, we want to ensure we delight our clients by anticipating their needs, it is all about having great salon experience."
He also said the right people should be trainable and should really know their job well. He believes in keeping the atmosphere of his salon serene, so messages between staff are passed on through gestures and signals, keeping unnecessary noise down, allowing a relaxing ambience in the salon. People who are efficient and effective at what they do help to protect the brand. One more thing he added "You need the people who will believe in you. Who trust you. And who will support you." His efforts paid off, his salon experience is simply one of the best, if not the best, in town.
Junie also believes in keeping his ideas fresh for his clients, what ever trends are out there he constantly focuses on his clients, by anticipating their needs and giving them a customed look based on new hair trends that will suit their features, personality and the life his clients lead. What is the Junie Sierra signature hairstyle? He likes his clients to wake up to a hair that already looks nice without the need of fixing it.
Meet the team behind The BLOC.
Running a salon in BGC is no easy task, behind every successful brand is a team that delivers exacting standards to their clients. I am fortunate enough to have had an opportunity to get to know a few people in the team.
Dawn Saytas is a Creative Stylist at The BLOC. A seasoned hair and beauty stylist, Overall Champion in Hair Asia (The biggest Hairstyling and Makeup Competition in the Philippines), educated in Paris and Germany, and having a very rich experience in the industry spanning more than a decade, he has called The BLOC his home since 2021.
"Junie is a very good boss, he knows the kind of support the stylists need being a stylist himself." he said when I asked about working with Junie. And what about the team? "Coworkers are like family, even if they come from different salons carrying with them a style of their own, here we work cohesively. Everyone is ready to help each other. It makes work a lot easier."
Rex Delen, a Senior Hair Assistant joined the team last March 2021. He says working at The BLOC is very different, "The communication here is very professional. We are very big on how we communicate to our clients.".
He started with entry level knowledge in the industry but his experiences here taught him a lot. "I learned a lot here. Junie trusts us a lot.". When it comes to working with Junie, he says he (Junie) handles problems and issues at work professionally. The same level of professionalism goes down to the way they handle their client's privacy. "We are very big with privacy here."
The new location within BGC will open soon.... Here's a sneak peek of their new salon!
More about Junie....
Junie Sierra is a Professional Creative Hairstylist, Celebrity Make Up Artist. The Creative Director, President & CEO and Founder of The BLOC by Junie Sierra & Co. in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.
With more than 20 years of salon experience, Junie's exceptional skills as a Professional Creative Hairstylist and a Celebrity Hair & Make Up Artist, has earned his works not only in advertorial campaigns, print and tv advertisements but also in fashion industry.
Honored for his hard work and skills, working with diverse events like photo shoots, print ads, tv commercials, fashion shows, music videos, concerts, weddings, noon and primetime shows etc. that elevate his good name in the styling industry.
The BLOC by Junie Sierra and Co. is located at the Lower Ground Floor, C2 Building, 28th Street corner 7th Avenue, Bonifacio High Street Central, BGC, Taguig. They are open daily from 9AM to 9PM.
For appointments, please call or message them through these numbers:
02 8403 2033
0917 159 5671
So titos and titas are you inspired by Junie's story? I sure am! Remember that grit is everything in life, that little place of hurt in your heart, keep it, it will propel you to places! On a different note, if you want to sport a new look this summer, getting a hairstyle from The BLOC might be something right up your alley, so do check them out!
Love,
Tito Gary xxx
GALLERY - The BLOC by Junie Sierra & Co.
