If you want your hair to look a ‘cut’ above the rest, it’s better to pay attention to your stylist rather than coercing him or her to bow to your wishes, says ace hair-dresser Amjad Habib, who was in town recently to hold a workshop for professionals at the Limelite Salon & Spa, Race Course.
“Customers should follow hair-dressers, not the other way round,” he says. “It has become common for stylists to appease their customers by giving in to their demands. It is our job as educated stylists to advise people about the cuts that would suit their face, features and the texture of their hair.”
Styling stars
Habib’s words are worth paying attention to if you want your look to rise head and shoulder above the rest.
After all, the ‘Reverse Graduation’ haircut that Amjad gave to former President APJ Abdul Kalam gained cult status and became the leader’s signature look.
“I was one of the official hairstylists for Mr. Kalam for over a decade,” he says.
“A fashion trend may come and go, but if you specialise in something, you will be called and remembered for that,” says the stylist who has also done the hair of Hindi film actors like Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit.
With over 25 years of experience in the field, the hair-dresser has been associated with Limelite for 17 years, and is a qualified professional from the Morris International School, London.
Right look
A good hairstyle can help a person project a confident image, says Habib.
“A person with a round face would want a hairstyle that hides the chubbiness whereas someone with a small chin would need a style that would elongate the length of the face,” he says.
“The customer may not always choose a style that suits their look, which is where stylists should step in.
A haircut should just not look good just for that one evening. Customers should take care of their hair after they have left the salon.”
Textures and colours
People should know how to nourish their hair according to its texture, says Habib. “Hair should be washed everyday using a shampoo that has a low chemical content. Washing in pure RO water is ideal to combat the rising levels of pollution in cities.”
Studying the art of the haircut in London has helped him grow as a professional, says Habib, who also has taught at his alma mater. “It was there that I understood that there is a geometric and scientific approach to styling hair,” he says.
Tailor-made care
Talking about hair-styling based on a person’s profession Habib says, “If for example, you are a student, you will not be able to maintain many hairstyles. Stylists need to think like that while providing services. People are too frivolous with their hair on a personal level and expect the salon to give them results that would last for months. That is impossible unless one decides to put in five minutes’ effort into their hair after every wash, if not every day”.
Known for the Amjad Habib Unisex Salon chain, Habib says that the time is right for hairstylists and salons in India to carve a niche and stick to it.
Amjad and his brother Jawed Habib have so far opened over 600 hair salons in the country under the brand name The Habib Group.
“Our motto is to open at least 60 new stores every year, and with each store we need more customers to adapt to and understand hair styling as an art form,” he adds.
