Beauté Espace Exclusive: Get Inspired by Top Indian Hairdressers

Beauté Espace Media is Beauty Launchpad Magazine that connects beauty business — cosmetics, wellness, aesthetics, salons & spas through varied media — magazines, online platforms, and events. With over 20 years of experience tracking the industry, it continues to build industry enhancing products. Beaute Espace recently engaged in conversation with the top notch leaders — Aalim Hakim and Kanta Motwani — from the Indian hair industry, to learn more about their journey and life lessons amidst the COVID crisis.

Aalim Hakim, Director, Hakim’s Aalim Beauty Lounge

Milestones & Recognitions

For me, the most rewarding experience is people appreciating my work. But I do not delve on it — if I have done good work today and get appreciated for it, I am happy and then, I forget about it. Because tomorrow is a new day and a new challenge. I do not want to keep tabs on the work I have done — good or bad, or the money I am making. It’s all about enjoying the recognition and celebrating it at that moment and moving ahead with the aim to do better the next day. Tomorrow you could fail; for example, an actor could have a hit film followed by a couple of flops before they can deliver another hit. The same is possible in hairdressing too — so my focus is to work hard every day and be consistent with the results. You have to keep reinventing yourself and your craft. Keep learning, learn from others and help others learn too — do something new and start a new chapter every day.

NextGen & Future Industry

Today’s young hairdressers are not only hardworking and talented but also aggressively looking for immediate success. No doubt they have the drive to use their full potential, but somehow they lack that ever-important humility and gratitude. Many of them want to be “influencers” and “celebrities” — according to their Instagram profiles; this is completely wrong. When you work with hair, you are a hairdresser; have you ever seen a pilot or doctor calling themselves an aviation influencer or celebrity medical professional? When you are dedicated to your talent and have the right attitude, it reflects on your work which then influences people. The priority should be to work hard and improve yourself; people will naturally like you and be inspired by you.

It doesn’t matter if you are an experienced hairdresser or a young professional — I want everyone to make the best of their talent and abilities to be successful. I wish for everyone to give their best and make the fraternity proud so that Indian hairdressing industry earns the name and fame it deserves. Practice mutual respect and learn from each other’s work, have gratitude and never forget the people who teach you the craft. Stay honest and humble, and you will always succeed.

Kanta Motwani, Curator, Kromakay Salons

Creative Journey

My journey as a hairdresser has been fun, exciting and quite exhilarating; it has helped me grow in every aspect of life. The curiosity to understand customers, as a young hairdresser, has actually shaped my path. It has given me a great career at my own pace which is quite relaxed. It made me a jack of all trades and master of some important factors that have led to my success.

My journey as an entrepreneur has just begun; it is getting there. I believe that I will be an entrepreneur, once I cover everything. But so far so good.

Celebrity Styling vs Regular Clients

It is not different at all! When a guest is sitting in your chair, whether it is a celebrity or a regular customer, you ought to give your best. That is what keeps me going and also the reason why our salon is usually packed with customers — celebrity or not. They see the uniform standards we follow. Our customer base greatly varies and everyone gets the same experience. Post-service, the satisfaction on a celebrity’s face and on a regular client’s is the same.

Beaute Espace brings you the best of celebrity interviews, expert tips and real life stories of the hairdressers and beauty experts. For more such interviews, please log on to www.beauteespace.net