MERVIN WEE

MERVIN WEE | BIOGRAPHY

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AT JEAN YIP

Mervin Wee’s career spans over a period of more than 30 years as a hairstylist, salon owner, trainer, industry and business consultant, creative director and managing director. Mervin started a small hairdressing shop with his wife Jean Yip in Katong Shopping Centre in 1982. Now 30 years later the business has expanded to more than 60 outlets of hair and beauty salons island-wide, with 5 in Malaysia and 2 in Indonesia and later this year in Guangzhou, China, with a strong growing team of more than 800 creative stylists and professional beauty therapists.

In 1982, Mervin decided to hone his skills in hairdressing so he packed his bags and left for Alan International School of Hairdressing in London. There he developed his artistic and creative skills. In order to reach a higher level of excellence, Mervin furthered his haircutting and hairstyling skills in England. Jingles school of haircutting, Vidal Sassoon and Toni & Guy in London were early influences in his development and advancement. By diligently working everyday, gaining valuable experience and seeking self-improvement through continuing education and hard work, Mervin developed outstanding haircutting and styling skills and was able to adapt what he learnt to our Asian hair texture. Through hard work, and a commitment to his passion in the business, he and his wife Jean opened the 2^nd outlet in Parkway soon after.

Known for his creative and artistic skills and his strong people skills combined with the timeless energy, competitive spirit and business acumen of his wife Jean, they and their team have made Jean Yip Group one of Singapore’s leading hair and beauty salons in the hair and beauty industry as well as one with the most progressive facilities, creating a positive and professional salon environment for their clients which include professionals, TV personalities and royalties.

Mervin and Jean felt that tomorrow's hairdresser and salon owner would have to learn more than just how to cut and style hair if they wanted to succeed. Therefore they decided to develop their own employee training and educational learning system, which evolved from their experience, combining both artistic and personal growth and development. They have made employee training and development a top priority in helping to raise the standard of education.  Mervin developed the Rhythmic Training System (RTS) for training of Hairdressing Trainees - A first in the Hairdressing Industry for simple and easy steps to systematic Hairdressing and Cutting.

Jean YipAcademy was hence born. It is the only school that has both the Nitec in Hair Services and the Nitec in Beauty and Wellness programmes conducted in conjunction with ITE.

Mervin and Jean also actively contributed to community projects by helping to organize intensive training programs for the under privileged and planning meaningful activities and events at the shopping malls. From 1999 to 2005, they also led the Jean Yip Group in sponsoring and training reformed drug addicts to become hairstylists through the SCORE Drug Rehabilitation program so as to help them to quickly reintegrate back to society.

Under their leadership, the Jean Yip Group is involved and partnered The Children’s Cancer Foundation in 2005, 2011 and 2012 to run the “Hair for Hope” project to raise funds for the cancer patients. A few thousand heads were shaved over the period of months, raising million of dollars for the cause.

Mervin’s artistic directions for Hairstyling are featured in many major television programs and events in Singapore: STAR AWARDS, STAR SEARCH, Route to Glamour, TV makeovers, National Achievers’ Congress, Beautiful People, Singapore Idol to name a few.

The involvement in many global events and organizations has also won Mervin many awards including the Intercoiffure Mondial ICD Honor of Knight and ICD Personality Stylist in Paris in 2002.

The Jean Yip Group was awarded “Reader’s Digest Trusted Brand 2010 and 2011 for Beauty Salon, the only salon to be voted by consumers and “Superbrands 2010” as Singapore’s Most Favourite Salon”. These awards bear testimony to Jean Yip group as a trustworthy beauty lifestyle services provider, as well as being recognized as Jean Yip’s Group’s service quality and its commitment to offer the best in its class.