HAIR | Your Complete Guide To Great Hair And Beauty

How has your journey been so far? Was this a career path you'd always planned for yourself?
When I was 17, and in college, a family friend noted my creativity and offered me a job at her salon. From there on, one opportunity took me to the next. After six years of work experience, training as a skin therapist, and completing a professional course in hairstyling from L'Oreal, I’ve joined Enrich as their master stylist. My days keep getting brighter!

The best part about being a stylist?

The mystery of a new day! Everyday is a new day and everyday is an exciting challenge. I never know who's going to walk through that door and with every new client, my skills are put to the test and I have to prove myself. It’s a wonderful feeling of achievement each time.

What do you enjoy more — make-up or styling?

Depending on the situation, both are a wonderful challenge and push my creativity.

The make-up essentials every girl should own?

The right shade of blush can do wonders to your face! That, paired with a natural gloss, can instantly bring out a fresh glow. I also think Indian girls have the most beautiful, deep eyes and kajal helps enhance that.

Biggest faux pas ever? techniques are very different from each other.

Liquid eyeliner for the lower eyelid! We've seen this so often and it’s so wrong! After a while, it starts to streak and enhances dark circles! It should be banned. Any regular waterproof kajal pencil can do the trick instead.

What are the main aspects you consider when styling someone?

First of all, the hair texture, of course. One of the most important things to consider is also what profession the person is in. It would be quite awkward if a person working at a corporation or a lawyer going to court turned up to work with a crazy 'do and a wild hair colour!

Dream clients you'd love to style?
For make-up, I would pinch myself if I had the opportunity to work with Aishwarya Rai. I'd also love to enhance Bipasha Basu’s flawless sun-kissed skin and expressive eyes. Hrithik Roshan has gorgeous hair for a man, and Rihanna literally keeps me guessing with the way she changes her look and carries it off so effortlessly. She would really put my creativity skills to the test!

For the woman on the go, what are quick and easy styling tips?
Always embrace your natural hair type and maintain it. This will immensely reduce your styling time. A leave-in conditioner does wonders in combating curly hair frizz. Girls with wavy hair simply have to lightly blast-dry their hair, apply mousse on the tips, tie a high ponytail and roll it in a bun. Open it after half an hour and you’ll have beautiful waves, especially if your hair is cut in layers.

Brands you cannot live without?
Kajal. Without it, I look like I've woken up on the wrong side of the bed. M.A.C's Eye Kohl pencil liner stays put through the day. Lancôme's Magique blush also helps to add a sheer pop of colour to my face. I’ve coloured my hair countless times, and I cannot survive without L’Oréal's Spiral Splendour leave-in conditioner and Lumi-Oil 2 after blow-drying. I also love Kérastase's Ciment Thermique to protect my hair.

Timeless, classic hairstyles or the latest rage?
Timeless hairstyles are more common, so if you want to stand out, then it has to be something new and different, but don’t go too crazy mimicking the latest rage if you can't carry it off.

What inspires you to do something new and different everyday?
I love keeping up-to-date with the latest trends, especially from the West. Flipping through magazines and watching movies always inspires me to give my take on these styles.

The road ahead…
I'm in a happy place right now. I don't plan to open my own salon because I feel that would hold me down and I'd get stuck. I dream of working on a movie set one day and experiencing the energy and experience on set.