MANILA, PHILIPPINES – L’Oréal, in collaboration with corporate social responsibility organization Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), today announced a strategic partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) that will elevate professional hairdressing standards in the Philippines, equipping Filipino stylists with world-class skills and unlocking livelihood opportunities.
Under this partnership, L’Oréal Philippines will share beauty expertise and resources with TESDA to elevate and update the Hairdressing NC II Certification. Through advanced training, Filipino hairdressers will be equipped with the latest hair trends and techniques and gain specialized skills to improve their craft and open doors to more job opportunities in salons, freelance work and the creator economy.
The updated program will also introduce the L’Oréal Color Certification – a global program designed to help hairdressers become colorists with internationally-recognized skills.
To support hands-on learning during the program, L’Oréal Philippines will sponsor professional-grade products, giving trainees access to world-class tools and materials. The L’Oréal Academy in the company’s new, future-fit headquarters in Mandaluyong City, will also become an accredited hairdressing assessment center, allowing graduates to receive recognition of their skills and competencies under TESDA’s national framework.
“At L’Oréal, we believe that beauty has the power to transform lives,” said Yassine Bakkari, Country Managing Director of L’Oréal Philippines. “This partnership with TESDA is part of our commitment to inclusive growth — ensuring that more Filipinos, especially women and underserved communities, gain access to education, skills and sustainable livelihoods. By equipping Filipino stylists with world-class skills, we are creating livelihood opportunities and strengthening the future of Philippine hairdressing.”
“This partnership demonstrates how skills development can unlock opportunities,” said Sec. Jose Francisco Benitez, Secretary and Director General of TESDA. “Hairdressing is not just about styling – it is culture, livelihood and dignity. Through this partnership with L’Oréal Philippines and PBSP, we are not only enhancing our Hairdressing NC II program to meet global standards but also empowering women, out-of-school youth, and underserved communities to turn their skills into sustainable careers. Together, we are raising the bar for the profession and giving every Filipino hairdresser the opportunity to compete on the world stage.”
This alliance comes at a pivotal time for the Philippine hairdressing sector, which is experiencing robust growth. In many neighborhoods in the country, community salons continue to thrive – contributing to the estimated 77,000 salons registered[1] in the Philippines. This booming industry creates immense potential for skilled professionals, making advanced training more vital than ever.
BEAUTY FOR A BETTER LIFE (BFBL): Hairdressing as a viable source of livelihood for Filipinos
Hairdressing offers a viable career path for many Filipinos, offering flexibility, creativity, and financial independence. By investing in upskilling and certification, hairdressing helps build futures especially for women and underserved communities.
As part of the partnership between L’Oreal Philippines, TESDA and PBSP, at least 50 new aspiring hairdressers will be trained this 2025, empowering them with skills such as haircut, hair styling and hair color.
An example of the power of beauty in opening career opportunities is Vaneza Soriano – a devoted housewife who transformed her life through L’Oréal Philippines’ BFBL program, emerging as a professional hairdresser with a renewed sense of purpose.
“Before joining the Beauty for a Better Life program of L’Oreal Philippines, I was a full-time housewife with limited opportunities to earn. The program gave me the technical skills I needed to excel as a professional hairdresser — from mastering haircuts and color techniques to understanding and applying global salon standards. The training gave me not just technical skills, but equally important, the confidence in myself. Today, I am a professional hairdresser, able to contribute to my family’s income while doing something I love. This program has truly transformed my life and gave me a sense of purpose and a reason to believe in myself,” said Vaneza Soriano.
Since 2017, BFBL has empowered 524 Filipinos from Antipolo, Mandaluyong, Manila, Marikina, Pateros, Quezon City and Taguig with world-class training and pathways to sustainable livelihoods, proving that beauty can be a powerful driver of empowerment and financial progress. Building on stories like Vaneza’s, L’Oréal Philippines’ new partnership with TESDA will expand this impact to more Filipinos, offering global-standard certification to elevate the profession to new heights.
