Hairstyling as a career

Being a shears Genius

by SHEERE NG

FROM ISSUE # 147 (March 2008) | IN THIS ISSUE
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As models with bob cuts and heavy bangs strut their stuff down the runway, women hurry to salons to join the bandwagon in making a fashion statement. Hairstyles, like clothes, get eliminated fast but are revived even quicker.

In recent years, Kathmandu has seen new salons mushrooming in its alleys. While hairstyling is still developing in the country, many overseas trained hairstylists are coming back, bringing with them new skills and ideas. If you want to have a hand in creating fashion yourself, why not ride on the wave of this booming sector? We talked to two experts in this profession, Sarbjit Singh Chauhan of Habib's Hair Academy and Neel David Katwal of Neel David Salon to find answers to all that you need to know about starting a career in hairdressing.

Back to school
Thought you could finally escape the books? Sorry to disappoint, but the profession requires a good understanding of the science of hair. First, there are different kinds of hair textures: fine, coarse, straight, wiry, curly, wavy, just to name a few. Then, each texture is only suited for some hairstyles, plus, the hairstyle has to fit perfectly to the face shape.

That's not all. Even holding the scissors is an education in itself when it comes to hair styling. Apparently hairstylists don't stuff all their fingers through the handles of scissors, so you'll have to learn the proper way to hold them. Instead of shoving the tool into the bushes to start pruning, hair has to be treated like an expensive pot of bonsai. 

To achieve a balanced haircut, divide them into sections (not in any way you want though) and trim lock by lock. Chopping hair off is another art form in itself. There is thinning, notching, point cutting and more, all giving different effects. After you master these, the lesson moves on to perming, straightening and colouring, which also require your knowledge from day one, as they have to complement, again, the hair texture and the cut and especially the clients' face and lifestyle.

Despite all these, the two masters claim that it is an easy profession. "If you have the interest, you'll find everything easy to accomplish," says Neel. Cliché, yet most of the time holds true.

Choose the right academy
You might want to learn nothing more than hairstyling; however, most salons would prefer all-rounded employees. An academy usually teaches other beauty techniques such as facials, make-up and manicures, which take about 3 to 6 months to complete, depending on the school. Sarbjit suggests sitting in for one or two lessons before signing up. "Don't go to a school just because it's cheap. At the end of the day, you might not learn anything," he says. Trainees that we talked to reflected that some academies have their lessons conducted by junior hairstylists. "It was not worth paying so much to be taught by someone who is an apprentice him/herself," says Shadab, a trainee at Habib's Hair Academy.

Shaperning one's craft
Being responsible for the physical images of tens, or even hundreds, hairstylists should constantly seek improvement and be aware of the latest trends around the globe. Very often, customers will request the look of a particular celebrity. Ideally, you should be able to cut any hairstyle just by looking at a picture. According to Neel, Korean fashion is the top favourite among Nepalis. We suggest you keep fashion and hair magazines as a daily companion. If you're deep-pocketed, go overseas for advanced training courses. The saying practise makes a man perfect holds true here too. "The more you practise the better you get at it," advises Shadab.

Dress code
Some salons have a dress code for their employees. At Habib's, staff are required to dress in black to go with their company shirt. However, there should be general rules that apply to all salons. For example, clean and short nails should be kept at all times for you don't want to mark your existence on your customers' scalps. And also, customers will have more confidence in hairstylists who themselves have trendy and tasteful hairstyles.

Prerequisite of the job
It is absolutely important that you are a people person. Good communication will help you go far as it helps to explain the pros and cons of various treatments. As well as an eye for detail, creativity with a bit of instinct is always a plus point in knowing which cut or style will suit a person. A constant will to learn new things and an open mind is a must–like in any other profession.

Salary
The salary of a junior hairstylist ranges around Rs 5,000 – 6,000. The more experience you have, the more you're paid. If being stuck in the same profession bores you, this job can lead to all sorts of career paths, such as tutoring, technical consulting, make up artistry and projects on movie sets or television shows.

Perks of the job
Most hairstylists enjoy privileges such as free haircuts, dyes, facials, and any other services that the salon provides. Sometimes family members get discounts for patronising.

The flip side of a dream job
More often, jobs include duties that are not within your interest. Like teachers having to change diapers sometimes, apprentice hairstylists are expected to clean and wash. The daily routine includes vacuuming, cleaning equipments and washing towels and capes. Holidays and weekends are your working days.

Academies
Neel David's Academy, Javed Habib's Hair Academy,
Spratt—The Hair Studio (Bangalore), Shahnaz Hussain's Woman's World International (Delhi)