30 years and counting: Nabila continues to make headway

Veteran hair-stylist and make-up artist shares how she continues to gain ground in realms of fashion and beauty

KARACHI:

Standing tall as the most coveted make-up artist in Pakistan even after 30 years, Nabila is a force bar none. She has been the taproot of an industry that has branched out over the years into one that is now abreast with international fashion and beauty trends. With fingers that work like magic and the vision to innovate and rejuvenate, Nabila is among the industry’s most prized possessions.

Starting off at a time when the industry was far from its current ascent, she shares how a simple want culminated with her pursuing a career in fashion and beauty. “The need for a good haircut made me go to Vidal Sassoon and learn how to cut hair,” she says. “I was sick of getting bad haircuts and took matters in my own hands ... quite literally,” she adds. And so began a whole new ballgame for the industry.

But Nabila continues to be relevant even in the wake of a growing number of salons and stylists. This she credits to working hard, learning the new tricks of the trade herself and training her team. “I keep myself up-to-date with the latest trends and technology, and keep producing and getting our work out there to be noticed. This has kept us in the driving seat.”



According to veteran model Nadia Hussain, it is Nabila’s vision that has made her gain a foothold in an industry rife with competition. “In my over 15 years in the industry, I’ve known Nabila to strive for and achieve the best. Her vision has always been very clear,” she states. “She’s a lovely person to work with, who doesn’t take any nonsense from anyone.”

Having worked with designers and models, both old and new, Nabila is someone whom many have kickstarted their careers with. “My first experience working with Nabila was for my first shoot three years ago,” shares model Saima Azhar. “I still present those pictures as part of my portfolio,” she adds. Touting her as a looks designer, Saima shares that Nabila remains grounded despite the fame and glamour that surround her. “She’s larger than life yet she’s very humble and soft-hearted,” she says about the veteran.

Nabila with team

Among Nabila’s recent feats has been the launch of her No Makeup Palette, the success of which has ‘overwhelmed’ her. On how she came up with the idea, she shares, “The need to hide my dark circles and look flawless without looking like I had tonnes of make-up on made me experiment with pigments and textures. I used it personally and tweaked it for 15 years before launching No Makeup.”

Designer Maheen Khan commends Nabila for this very ability to innovate. “Nabila is a creative artist. She has the ability to visualise what a client needs. I sought advice from her when I had long hair and the next day, she called me in and chopped my hair off. She made me feel so confident,” she says.



Nabila has also refocused her energies on bridal make-up. “We haven’t recently ventured into bridal make-up as it has been part of our services for decades. We didn’t encourage brides in the past as the majority liked looking like over-the-top characters from Indian films,” she shares. “After denying such requests and constantly creating awareness, we’ve been able to attract the educated and liberated modern bride. She is confident and wants to look like a flawless and glamorous version of herself.”

With wedding season in full swing, Nabila feels less continues to be more in terms of bridal make-up. “We encourage keeping hair effortless, skin flawless and glowing, and eyes and lips enhanced to flatter the face. We believe in using tradition with a modern sensibility,” she notes. Of the trends that will dominate the season, she shares, “In our salons, we are seeing a lot of mid-length, effortless hair looks with colour used to enhance textures. We’re seeing a lot of darker, autumn-tone lips with smoky eyes.”



But more than establishing a name for herself, Nabila has built a team that will carry forward her mantle for decades to come. “Nabila has been my godmother. She’s the one person I look up to,” says Tabesh Khoja, brand representative and celebrity stylist at Nabila. Terming her as a “beacon of light” in the realms of fashion and styling, Tabesh shares how she has the flair for bringing out the best in those she trains. “She often tells me she sees great potential in me … I don’t know what that is though …”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2015.

Like Life & Style on Facebook, follow @ETLifeandStyle on Twitter for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.