Lourd Ramos on Queer Power, Precision, and Reinventing the Cut
A master of transformation, Ramos turns hair into high art—and queerness into a leadership style that’s both flamboyant and fiercely professional.
With over two decades of experience in the hair and makeup industry, Lourd Ramos has become a true multi-hyphenate. As the CEO of the Creations Salon chain, Tresemmé hair expert, and Denman global hair ambassador, Ramos continues to help shape the local and international beauty scenes. It’s no surprise he’s the beloved go-to hair artist whose clients include Miss Philippines Universe 2025 Ahtisa Manalo and host Suzie Abrera.
Courtesy of subject
Can you tell us about the moment in your career when you felt truly seen or recognized for your work?
It was when I was employed to work for MAC Cosmetics as part of the pioneering team in the Philippines. I created and delivered trend reports and trained the MAC Team in Asia between 2014 and 2016.
How has your identify shaped your artistry and the way you show up in your work?
Being an artist has honed me to become more disciplined, more direct to the point, and has taught me to plan with purpose to achieve my goals. At 21 years old, I competed for hairdressing awards worldwide and won several of them. This brought so much knowledge and pride to both myself and our country. But until now, it’s still important for me to maintain professionalism and make sure I’m always early for call time and finish the work early.
What has been the most meaningful project in your career so far and why?
Being part of Asia’s Next Top Model as the “Makeover Guy” gave me the freedom to direct, create, and have fun with my talent and express my queerness through the subtle elegance of my work. This has opened up a lot of opportunities for me, like the chance to live in West Hollywood while working with Smashbox Cosmetics as the first regional training development manager for Asia and the Pacific. It was a great experience to travel to several different countries to deliver makeup trends, fresh from the runways of L.A., New York, and Europe.
What does Pride mean to you, not just in the context of June but every day?
“Pride” means life for me. It means being proud of who I’ve become, being with my husband, and celebrating wins, big or small. This is what brings me happiness and contentment.
What is your vision for the next generation of queer creatives hoping to break into beauty or entertainment?
My vision for the next gen is to humbly use their talents and pair them with discipline, good work ethic, and commitment in their chosen careers. Never stop learning and always share what you can with others because the world is full of talented people. We have been given the freedom to express ourselves to the full extent. But as I would always tell my “children,” be kind, but learn how to bite when needed; be compassionate, but never stupid.
