The beauty and wellness industry is flourishing, fuelled by an ever-evolving mix of consumer behaviour and the power of social media. People today are more conscious of their appearance and eager to explore innovative treatments, according to Ongcangco. “We’re in an exciting time where people have growing needs for beauty services, and merchants are offering more innovative solutions.”

She describes Parlon as “your best friend in discovering, booking and buying your beauty journey”. Whether it’s trying lash extensions for the first time or finding the perfect balayage salon, Parlon’s technology helps users navigate an overwhelming array of options. “With all these beauty choices, it can feel intimidating. With Parlon, you can filter by budget, read reviews and even explore new trends through our mini blog, Glowgetter,” she says.

Read more: Filipina Claire Ongcangco is building Southeast Asia’s largest beauty and fintech platform

Since its launch, Parlon has grown steadily, now boasting at least 700 partner merchants across the Philippines and nearly 100 in Singapore. These include a mix of established brands and up-and-coming local gems offering beauty, hair, spa treatments and dental care.

Before she founded Parlon, Ongcangco was in the corporate trenches. The transition from corporate finance to tech and entrepreneurship wasn’t as smooth as a freshly applied coat of nail polish. But then again, innovation rarely is.

Ongcangco is also a partner in an IT company offering tech solutions to large companies and startups. “We develop mobile apps, websites, tech solutions for top Philippine companies and other startups as well,” she says. 

A startup advocate even before founding one herself, she co-founded a law firm, Tingson Ongcangco Ponce Law, where she is still a partner. The firm focuses on startups and technology, investments, energy, franchising and corporate law.

Ongcangco had always been practical, excelling in analysis, strategy and problem-solving, but a little spark of creativity kept calling her name. It was this spark that ignited the idea for Parlon.

“I realised we’ve been building for others for so long. Why not build our own startup and solve a problem?” she says. “Everything has been digitalised; you can book restaurants, flights and hotels, but beauty and wellness services are being left out.”

Read more: How AI and 5G can power innovation and productivity in the workplace

With years of experience in marketing and business development, she had a knack for understanding what people wanted, even before they knew it themselves.

“I realised that while the beauty industry was booming, it was also fragmented,” she says, recalling the painstaking process of searching for reviews, comparing services, and calling for availability. “I wanted to bring everything together in one place—something that was simple, effective and user-friendly. I thought, why isn’t there a seamless way to bring all this together?”  

After too many frustrating attempts to book salon appointments online, her light bulb moment came. Ongcangco did her research, interviewed industry experts and spent countless hours on beauty apps. Thus, “Parlon” was born—a name that combines the words “parlour” and “salon” while hinting that beauty, like life, should be easy, accessible and most importantly, fun.

On top of the glamour in the face of Parlon, it is a meticulously built platform grounded in compliance. As a lawyer-by-trade, Ongcangco brought her legal expertise into every aspect of Parlon’s development, ensuring it wasn’t just another startup but a credible and fully compliant marketplace from day one.

“When I launched Parlon, I treated it as a serious business,” she shares. “For instance, as a marketplace holding money on behalf of merchants, we secured an Operator Payment System license from the Central Bank of the Philippines even before the one-month operational rule applied. Being ahead of compliance ensures credibility and builds trust.”

From adhering to regulations on withholding tax for digital marketplaces to implementing advanced privacy laws, Parlon doesn’t cut corners.

Read more: How to build a global startup, according to Airalo’s Abraham Burak

Beyond legal structures, Parlon excels in digital empowerment for its partner merchants. This all-in-one platform isn’t just a beauty marketplace, it’s a B2B2C (business-to-business-to-consumer) solution. For salon owners and merchants, Parlon provides a merchant partner hub, a powerful software enabling them to manage bookings, accept prepayments and even streamline their customer relationship management.

“Some of our partners started with no knowledge of tools like Zoom, but now they’re managing appointments online and gaining exposure through Parlon’s consumer-facing app,” Ongcangco says.

Initially designed as an online directory for local salons, Parlon’s e-commerce experience was launched in 2019. It wasn’t long before the app gained traction, attracting users with its ease of use and sleek design.

In today’s hustle culture environment, professionals seek a “work-life balance”—a quest for the perfect equilibrium between work and personal life. For Ongcangco, this concept doesn’t quite capture the reality of being a startup founder.

“It’s not about work-life balance. It’s a work-life fusion,” she says. “When I travel, I still work. Even when I sleep, my mind’s running with ideas. It’s a commitment, and I’m not going to sugarcoat how hard it is.”

Her candid approach underscores the sacrifices she has had to make, such as her teaching practice to focus on Parlon. Ongcangco taught technology entrepreneurship at the Ateneo de Manila University for eight years while juggling her law studies at the same institution.

Read more: How Pure Culture’s Stephanie Oller is changing Filipino skincare routines with clean beauty

Ongcangco shares that she is always a student; her insatiable thirst for knowledge fuels her work. “I love reading, whether it’s books, magazines or online courses on Udemy. My Netflix is often Udemy,” she laughs. “TikTok is also a different kind of learning—it’s amazing how much information you can pick up there.”

Her drive to learn extends beyond personal growth; it’s integral to Parlon’s success. “The industry changes so fast. Staying informed helps me ensure Parlon remains relevant and ahead of trends.”

Read more: “Skip-care”: The Korean beauty scene’s “less is more”, but what is it?

Expansion is firmly on the horizon of Parlon, with plans to cater beyond the Philippines and Singapore, particularly to a broader Southeast Asian market. “The beauty and wellness industry is evolving alongside consumer behaviour,” Ongcangco says. “People want more personalised, convenient solutions, and merchants are offering increasingly innovative services. Parlon is positioned to meet that demand, both locally and regionally.”

On top of that, Ongcangco is continuously upgrading Parlon’s features and offerings, hinting at an expansion in lifestyle services, catering to physical and mental needs.

With its mission to democratise access to beauty and wellness services while supporting local businesses, Parlon is well on its way to becoming the ultimate destination for beauty enthusiasts in the Philippines and beyond.

“The goal really is to have a beautiful life,” Ongcangco says.

Here, we ask Ongcangco a few quickfire questions to learn what truly drives her.

Favourite beauty product or treatment?

Claire Ongcangco (CO): Gua Sha and everything facial mask.

Morning person or night owl?

CO: Night owl.

One app you can’t live without?

CO: Parlon app.

Go-to productivity hack?

CO: Stay away from my phone.

One thing you do to unwind?

CO: Eat, eat and go to the salon.

Best way to start the day?

CO: Pet my dog.

Favourite tech gadget?

CO: My Kindle and my pink fan.

Short breaks or power through?

CO: Power through. Always game face on.

Must-have item in your makeup bag?

CO: Oil blotter film and lipstick.

Favourite colour?

CO: Pink!

This article is part of Founder Stories, a series dedicated to discovering the untold stories and challenges of today’s entrepreneurs on their climb to the top.

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