A month into operation, Koop Studio in BGC has already been named one of Manila’s top 10 celebrity-approved salons.
It’s not just the roster of international dressers that have lured the likes of actress Cristine Reyes, model and host Lauren Reid, blogger Kryz Uy, and singer Denise Laurel. The place lends itself to privacy.
Koop is a pun on the word “coupe,” the French word for haircut. Owned by Anglo-Filipino businessman Michael Needham and French master technician Brice Boidin (pronounced brees bwahdohn), the hair studio gathers stylists who are experts in their own way.
Boidin, the salon’s 30-year-old chief executive officer, spent half of his life honing his craft in precision cut and male hairdressing. Israeli colorist Fendi Dudi is known for his multidimensional highlights. Fil-Am hairdresser Leslie Espinosa specializes in curly hair.
When Boidin arrived in Manila, he researched on the salon interiors, management structure, and the pricing strategy. He noted that the most popular salons could not provide a relaxing ambiance with the noises from blasting hair-dryers and chattering clients.
Beauty in peace
The French stylist thus envisioned Koop Studio to provide a calming experience through its minimalist interiors. In the middle of the concrete and glass jungle of BGC, the salon is like a sanctuary, filled with a hundred plants.
British architect Liamh Treacy executed an industrial look—raw concrete walls and ceiling, exposed lighting fixtures, tempered glass windows, and terra cotta finishes contrasted by parquet flooring from reclaimed narra wood.
Concrete and wood are easily prone to scratches, little cracks, stains, and time-worn patina. To Boidin, the flaws on the surfaces merely express the Japanese aesthetics of wabi-sabi, the acceptance of imperfections. The perceived flaws lend the feeling of being lived-in.
This aesthetic also conveys Koop’s philosophy that customers should embrace their individual looks instead of aspiring to the ideals of beauty espoused by social media.
“We want to change people’s perception of beauty,” says Boidin.
The 160-square-meter salon is enlivened with lush plants that line the modular metal shelves and walls. The owners consulted an expert who recommended the best plants that thrive in air-conditioned rooms. The plants on the dividers obscure the client from other customers.
At the end of the room, a corner is enclosed by a frosted glass divider that serves as a visual barrier, thus blocking a direct view into the workings of the hairdresser on the client.
The salon invested in Dyson hair dryers not only because of its heat controls but the brand is one of the quietest.
The minimalist design and the metal modules allow the salon to be transformed into an event or exhibition place. Koop Studio recently hosted Tresemmé’s launch of Detox and Nourish lines which was attended by beauty influencers.
The powerhouse team
Boidin began his career at the age of 15 at a salon in Paris, working his way up from shampooing the customers’ hair and cleaning the floor to hair cutting. Seeking better opportunities, he moved to London in 2014 despite the fact that he didn’t speak any English.
He learned the language by engaging with his customers and sharing his experience to colleagues. Over time, he acquired a slight clipped British accent.
In London, Boidin met Needham who worked in finance. Needham wanted to try his luck in the Philippines. For 18 months, Boidin shuttled between London and Manila to oversee the construction of the salon.
While Boidin was hiring the staff, he encountered Dudi and Espinosa who were at the crossroads of their careers. Work had become a daily grind for them, and the hierarchical culture of salons in the Philippines—senior stylists, junior stylists, assistants, et al.—hardly enabled flexibility and long-term career planning and lacked communication which invariably could not foster strong team work.
“I don’t like that mindset. I want people to be happy at work,” asserts Boidin. He believes in creating a democratic salon culture where the staffers are free to express themselves and could be trained to move up the career ladder.
He adds, “I want people to feel they are working with us not for us. Teamwork makes the dream team. We are putting together the best of our qualities and expertise.”
Koop Studio makes the pricing competitive with a haircut at P1,800 and coloring for P6,000.
The French artiste doesn’t believe in following trends. He styles the hair according to the face shape, the hair texture and movement, and the client’s lifestyle.
“It’s bespoke service. We ask the clients how they want to look. Will the style be good for their hair? The cut should make people feel more confident about themselves,” he says.
In all, Koop Studio sets itself from the conventional salon service in the country. “Koop is a lifestyle and a mindset,” enthuses Boidin.
Koop is located at 2/F High Street South Corporate Plaza, cor. 26th and 9th Avenue, BGC, Taguig. Call 0916-7666429 for inquiries.
Photos by Ayunan Gunting