The Color Bar’s Jof Fantone’s heart of gold paints his life and work
The Chief Hairstylist and Managing Partner of The Color Bar shares what truly matters to him
Ask anyone in the industry—the first time you meet hairstylist Jof Fantone you immediately feel a lot lighter. Whether it is his gentle manner of speaking or his thoughtfulness, one can only imagine the kind of environment his salon, The Color Bar, has. After living in the US for ten years, where Fantone studied under Paul Mitchell, he decided to go back to his roots. “Every time I would come back from a vacation, I noticed more and more Filipinas coloring their hair. This is something I wouldn’t see before when I was living in Manila. There’s one thing I noticed though with a lot of them—their color was turning a little brassy,” he shares, deciding then that something must be done. “When I was ready to come back, I decided to put up a salon that specializes in color,” he adds.
It’s hard to imagine that Fantone and co-owner Darwin Cerrado put up their first The Color Bar branch in BGC just two years ago. Since then, they’ve reached bigger heights, opening a new branch just this year in Estancia Mall, Capitol Commons. “Our motto is no matter what color you go for, it’s all about acceptance,” he shares. True to his words, one has to simply experience his salon to see what he is talking about.
BEAUTY TALKS
HOW DID YOUR LOVE FOR HAIRSTYLING BEGIN? I used to be in the corporate world. Before I moved to the States— where I lived for ten years—I had this hairdresser in Manila. I always thought, Wow this guy is so cool, so badass. So I told myself that if I wanted a career change, it would be in that industry. I loved how he was able to express himself.
WHAT SETS THE COLOR BAR APART FROM OTHER SALONS? Asidefromour expertise in color, one way the salon is different is our culture—the attitudes of the stylists only add to the experience. The number one thing I look for when hiring someone is the right attitude. Skills can be learned, but you can never learn attitude. Plus, I’m there working with them so I want a relaxed, stress-free environment.
WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR INSPIRATION? Everywhere! I look for hair inspiration in magazines and also a lot of the times on social media. It’s where I can access so much— from the latest editorials to runway trends to the best dressed in Hollywood.
CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT YOUR MUSES, GARIE CONCEPCION AND NICOLE CORDOVES? Both started being my clients around 2018. Garie came to me devastated because a salon she went to beforehand had bleached her hair without her knowing it, and her hair ended up damaged. She was scared to go lighter. She soon started to trust me and now, she wants to go lighter and lighter! Nicole has a more subtle color which she carries very well. She shows us that color doesn’t always have to be bold or in-your-face.
WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT BEING A
HAIRSTYLIST? The best feeling is when you see that authentic smile in your client—when they gasp—the moment they see their finished look. It’s great when you give them what they didn’t know they wanted. A lot of my clients were surprised that we were able to achieve a certain color. Seeing them happy and more confident makes me feel so fulfilled.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE ASPIRING HAIRSTYLISTS?
Educate, educate, educate. The hair industry is constantly evolving so you should always stay updated. Every year, I go to the US for this very reason. I attend classes; I update myself with the latest trends, techniques and tools. When it comes to attitude, on the other hand, you have to be open-minded and absorb whatever you learn like a sponge.