Our Staff

JC Mungia was fresh out of high school when he accidentally stumbled upon his future. “My good friend was a stylist, and everyone saw that I also had a talent for hair—everyone but me,” JC recalls. “I planned to go into fashion merchandising, when my friend said, ‘Hair styling is in the fashion industry.’ He convinced me to pursue my cosmetology license, and I figured at least that way I would always have something to fall back on.”

After JC graduated from the Vogue Beauty College in San Antonio, he went on to work at Visible Changes, where he met future partner Pauli Andrew. For the next seven years, JC became immersed in the craft of hair cutting, coloring and styling.

“I discovered that I really liked doing hair, both color and cuts, that I loved the art of it,” said JC.

It was a last-minute trip to New York City with Pauli on New Year’s Eve 1998 that gave JC the itch to try his luck in the big city. He was ready for something bigger.

“New York, being the fabulous city it is, just grabbed me like nothing else and without a second guess, I decided to move here,” said JC. “Paul agreed to come along, and we set off with no plan but the will to succeed.”

The two men teamed up with future partner Marylou Vasquez, and the trio struck out on their own. The small salon they opened in 2001 on East 4th Street gave way to a larger location in Chelsea, and now, the spacious 17th Street salon in Chelsea/Flatiron.

“We decided to go out on our own, saw our windows of opportunity, and took it,” said JC. In less than 10 years, their clientele has grown significantly.

Along with his colleagues, JC attended quarterly classes at the Wella Studio, and formerly underwent training retreats at the Sexy Hair Academy Institute of Courage in Topanga Canyon, California. He was also an original member of Colors of the World, an organization that gathers the best techniques for color and cut from around the world.

In 2011, JC went through extensive training to become an Advocate for Sebastian Products, informing stylists of the latest products, styles and techniques. In 2012, he did hair for the Wedding Runway Show of Japanese designer Yumi Katsura. In 2014, he did hair for Fashion 4 Development, a benefit show for developing countries held during the UN Global Congress.

His continuing education has included recent classes in all Wella lines including Wella Color Touch and Illumina Color, plus Koleston Perfect and Koleston Innosense. He has also completed the Artego Balayage training, a professional hair bleaching technique that lasts longer than traditional foil treatments.

Possessing stellar cutting and styling skills and an easygoing nature with clients, Pauli Andrew fits the ideal of what you expect from your hairdresser: someone who makes you look good, while at the same time making you laugh at the wild stories he tells.

This native San Antonian went from high school right into two years of beauty trade school, and then into an elite group of high-end beauty salons, where he met future partner JC Mungia.

A last-minute trip to New York City with JC on New Year’s Eve 1998 gave the two the urge to pick up roots and relocate to the Big Apple, and soon after, they did just that. After working as a team along with stylist Marylou Vasquez, the three struck out on their own.

Pauli began to work with Sexy Hair Concepts and was schooled in the Michael O’Rourke Technique, an advanced level of hair cutting. He also mastered Pyrametrics and Noxin, and Wella. All the while, the PANYC clientele was steadily growing.

Soon, their work was being featured on “Inside Edition” and in GQ Magazine, and they began to attract celebrity clients, including Elizabeth Reagan of “The Sherri Shepard Show.” More recently, he has styled Paul Wesley from “The Vampire Diaries,” Collette Wolfe for the red carpet premiere of Charlize Theron’s film “Young Adult,” and up-and-coming artist Alex Aiano's for his music video “Doesn’t Get Better.”

Along with his colleagues, Pauli attended quarterly classes at the Wella Studio, and training retreats at the Sexy Hair Academy Institute of Courage in Topanga Canyon, California. He was an original member of Colors of the World, an organization that gathers the best techniques for color and cut from around the world, teaching the newest ways to create the latest looks.

Pauli also does wedding coiffure, and is now in very high demand for the spring and summer months, traveling around the country and to tropical locales to ensure that his clients look flawless on their special day. His work has taken him to styling models hair with Adrian Jones of Choice Models in New York, and working with women’s designer Abby Z at New York Fashion Week 2005.

He did hair for the Wedding Runway Show of Japanese designer Yumi Katsura, and in 2014 styled hair for Fashion 4 Development, a benefit show for third-world countries held during the UN Global Congress. He also organizes Team PANYC each May for GMHC’s Annual AIDS Walk, raising funds to help people living with HIV/AIDS.

His continuing education has included recent classes in all Wella lines including Wella Color Touch and Illumina Color, plus Koleston Perfect and Koleston Innosense. He has also completed the Artego Balayage training, a professional hair bleaching technique that lasts longer than traditional foil treatments.

His vision remains down to earth, as he admits what he most wants is, “to continue to teach and bring back the real passion of the industry.”

El Paso native Marylou Vasquez began her career as a master colorist with a solid foundation in hair coloring, working with Sebastian, Nioxin, Wella, Logics and Ariella, where she taught chemical application, coordinated photo shoots, and was a platform educator at the IBS Show in New York City. Marylou was also prominently featured as a make-up artist on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

Nearly 20 years ago, Marylou relocated to New York City and connected with Andrew and JC, and the trio struck out on their own in 2001 to form PANYC salon. As she had done in Texas, Marylou quickly distinguished herself among savvy New Yorkers as one of the most talented and creative colorists in town.

“My goal is to become an innovator of the latest techniques and trends. I hope to sharpen and expand my existing skills while maintaining and sense of imagination and creativity,” said Marylou. “I hope to continually build on my previous accomplishments.”

To that end, Marylou attended quarterly classes at the Wella Studio, and ongoing training retreats at the Sexy Hair Academy Institute of Courage in Topanga Canyon, California. She and her partners were also original members of Colors of the World, an organization that gathers the best techniques for color and cut from around the world, teaching the newest ways to create the latest looks.

“I work hard to be ahead of the newest trends, so when someone asks, ‘Can you do it?’ I want to be able to answer, ‘Absolutely!’” said Marylou. “I may have been in this game for a long time, but I am always going to stay ahead of the latest styles.”

To that end, Marylou regularly attends classes in all Wella lines including Wella Color Touch and Illumina Color, plus Koleston Perfect and Koleston Innosense. She has also completed training in the art of Balayage hair painting.

She is an Advocate for Evo Hair, an Australian-based company, informing stylists of the latest products, styles and techniques. Marylou is currently collaborating in ongoing projects with companies including Giuseppe Zanotti Shoes, Theory Apparel, Tobias Italian Suits, and with makeup artist John Alfred from “Project Runway.”

In 2012, she did hair for the Wedding Runway Show of Japanese designer Yumi Katsura; her work was featured in “Brides” magazine and a passel of other wedding publications. Marylou donated her time and talents to do servicemember makeovers for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.

In 2013, she did hair for a Look Book for designer Carmen Mark Valvo. In 2014, she did hair for “Fashion Elements” magazine. Marylou regularly travels to Berlin to do ongoing product development for Proctor & Gamble.

If you’re looking for the latest in colors and styles, look no further than Marylou Vasquez.

When it comes to cutting and styling hair, Simon Suh is all about his client’s happiness. This senior stylist has invested eight years on the PANYC team working toward one goal: making sure his clients leave the chair feeling sexy and confident.

Simon obtained a BFA from New York University, then then went on to study styling and cutting at Aveda Beauty School, which he said provided a good foundation for the fusion of form and function.

He continued his training under such renowned names as John Dellaria, Wella Studios, and polished up his advanced cutting techniques with Michael O’Rourke, creator of the widely successful Sexy Hair line. He then joined the team at PANYC, where the owners took him under their wing and trained him personally. His emerging philosophy meshes engineering with hair styling.

“The most important person in the field of hairstyling isn’t Vidal Sassoon, it’s Isaac Newton, because above all, a haircut is a shape that falls in gravity,” said Simon.

His continuing education has included recent classes and certification in Wella lines including Wella Color Touch and Illumina Color, plus Koleston Perfect and Koleston Innosense. Simon took Vidal Sassoon geometric precision cutting classes, and has also completed the Artego Balayage training, a professional hair bleaching technique that lasts longer than traditional foil treatments.

“I believe in customer service, above all things,” said Simon. “My middle name is ‘accommodating’; I wish it was something cool like ‘Skywalker,’ but alas… when you sit in my chair, you’re going to leave looking amazing.”

PANYC newcomer and colorist Billy Ray started his career by enrolling at the famed Aveda Institute in NYC's SoHo district. Among the highlights of his education was serving as an assistant to German stylist Kristoph, formerly of Arrojo Studios, at the Spring 2007 Fashion Week for the NAUM label. He hadn't even finished his schooling before this up-and-coming colorist was being sought out for these elite assignments.

After graduating and receiving his license, Billy Ray made great progress during his time at Christopher Stanley Salon. He first trained as an apprentice, under the salon's top colorists, Christopher Gamper and Peter J. Ripley. Along the way he learned little tips and techniques from other colorists and even from the hair stylists, which he added to his bag of tricks.

"No two heads are the same, and the colors or highlights used shouldn't be, either," said Billy Ray, always a stickler for perfection. In an effort to keep his coloring techniques fresh and cutting-edge, he continues to educate himself by taking advanced education classes, and by tailoring each color and foiling process to each client in his chair.

He has mastered the complete three-tiered Goldwell system, Wella's essential coloring system, and Nioxin. Billy Ray has also been certified to use several different keratin treatments, including the complete Brazilian blowout, Cadedieu, Simply Smooth, Beox, and Marcia Teixeira. He has also taken KMS California men's and women's cutting classes, and is certified with KMS California up-do classes.

Billy Ray truly believes that variety and individuality is the spice of life and feels that no matter how far you've come, you can always learn more. He applied this credo to his earlier work as a senior colorist at Christopher Crabaugh Beauté (formerly known as Christopher Stanley Salon) in Manhattan's chi-chi Chelsea/Flatiron districts, and it is something he strives to achieve in his current work as a colorist at Chelsea's PANYC Salon.

He recently updated his skills this August with a men's haircutting workshop by Wella, plus color education in lines including Wella Color Touch and Illumina Color, plus Koleston Perfect and Koleston Innosense. He has also completed the Artego Balayage training, a professional hair bleaching technique that lasts longer than traditional foil treatments. He also assisted with the Wedding Runway Show of Japanese designer Yumi Katsura.

Since joining the PANYC crew, Billy Ray’s clientele has more than doubled, prompted no doubt by his expert level of proficiency and continuing education.

New to the PANYC team is Stylist Crystal Gerard, a Milwaukee native whose passion for hairstyling and cutting has guided her entire career.

“From a young age, my first two loves were music and artistic things,” said Crystal. “My teachers always told me I’d be in a creative field.”

Crystal began cutting hair as a teenager, using the niece she babysat as her “guinea pig and inspiration.” Before long, she knew her way around a pair of shears.

And she didn’t wait long to build upon her self-taught skills. After graduating high school, Crystal attended beauty school at Erik of Norway Salon to learn everything she needed to become the best. She soon discovered that her passion was doing cutting-edge hairstyles.

“I knew I wanted to do hair, and my school gave me a scholarship toward it,” said Crystal. “I really love doing rock and roll men’s haircuts, but I also have a nice diversity of clients.”

In the beginning of her career, Crystal traveled to London to take hair styling and cutting classes, which she said was “life-changing, and still my favorite inspirational city for music and fashion.”

She returned to North America to take classic and creative courses at Vidal Sassoon in Toronto and Miami. In 1994, she moved to New York City, and signed up to learn the popular razor-cutting technique at Bumble & Bumble.

Noticing her talent, they tapped her to become one of their lead educators, teaching classes all across North America. She’s also worked Fashion Week in Paris, Milan, and New York City. Crystal’s passion for bringing out the best in people is what fuels her.

“I believe in making people look and feel their very best,” she said. “This is the most fulfilling part of my job: to make others shine!”

Crystal brings to PANYC a great sense of teamwork, her quality cutting and styling techniques, and excellent customer service with that “little element of rock and roll” that will have you looking your best.

Sindy Orellana came to PANYC in the fall of 2013 from a Brooklyn salon, looking to improve her experience in cosmetology. Although she knew that she wanted to be a hair dresser, she knew that she would have to start at the bottom, and work her way up.

“I want to do my best because I want all the clients in my chair to look beautiful,” said Orellana.

In her two years at the salon, she has learned about coloring techniques and taking classes at PANYC, along with the other stylists on staff. Sindy has paid close attention to the experienced technique of senior colorist Marylou Vasquez, carefully mixing the colors and learning the method of application.

She has also been getting lessons on styling and up-dos for formal events like weddings from senior stylist Paul Andrew, and has learned some of the techniques to doing elaborate styles.

She has attended the Wella Studios classes in the salon and at Wella, in preparation for taking New York State’s cosmetology licensing exam, which she will submit to in December.

In the meantime, the team at PANYC keeps her busy washing clients’ hair, doing client services, salon prep and blowouts. She spends her extra time practicing cuts and styles on mannequin heads, and is anxiously awaiting her big chance to join the stylists at PANYC, particularly doing color and highlights on long hair.

“I really love to do color on long hair, because I really like how the color dazzles, and is so beautiful,” said Sindy.