A merger of Pakistan’s two most prominent beauty empires had the industry hooked to Redah and Shammal’s union. How will this work, worried industry insiders, with a local merging, for better or for worse, with the international guru of hair? What will happen to these beauty brands? Will their identities be diluted? While it may be too soon to tell what path these mega beauty brands will take, The Express Tribune grabbed the opportunity to speak to both the professionals on their own turf of what they have to say.
In between cuts and running around his quaint salon, Shammal Qureshi still managed to give off his characteristic vibrancy and democratically dealt with his business while giving an interview and styling both men’s and women’s hair. Redah at 22 years manages 28 branches of Depilex across the country and holds her fort with a stringent code of conduct, polite but firm, and rules the empire with diligence and immense concentration. Here’s what these two opposites have to say about their remarkable union.
How did you two meet?
Shammal: There was an event in Paris, the L’Oreal Hundred Years Birthday, for which salons from Pakistan were invited. We met on the initial meetings for the event and then spent the entire flight time talking to each other. From that point on there was no turning back.
Redah: We met at the L’Oreal Hundred Years event in Paris, since we were the only young people in that group, something was bound to happen.
How did you win her over?
Shammal: Paris is a really romantic city particularly if you know where to take someone. Since I knew the terrain well, thanks to numerous visits with my mother, I was able to show Redah a great time. We went for lovely French dinners and various romantic places like the Montmartre Cathedral.
How did your families react to this union?
Shammal: My family’s very chilled out. They were happy that I found someone like Redah who is managing such a large network of salons at just 22. She’s very responsible and has a great hold on things while I am the artistic scatterbrain. My parents thought she was a great complement to me. She’s a home girl and I’m the party guy.
Redah: My mother was like “You want to marry a hair dresser? I have been looking for an engineer for you.” But she was very understanding after she met his family. They are such good people.
How has your marriage impacted both Depilex and Toni & Guy as brands?
Shammal: We keep each other on our toes. Our marriage has helped us both develop our brands more creatively.
Redah: It hasn’t really since our work is very different. Everyone keeps asking me this but our markets are so different. You can’t compare McDonald’s to Jason Steak House now can you?
Is it like sleeping with the enemy?
Shammal: No. But we have become more competitive now. If she does something creative for Depilex, I’m always quick to hound her to think something for me too because I feel that I too have to catch up. Both our brands have their distinct image and clientele. My mom’s brands of salons also have their own flavour so there’s never been any jealousy or competitiveness between us. Our philosophy of work is very different; we have our own staff and we run totally independently of each other.
How will both the brands grow now? Has there been a dilution of interest?
Shammal: Artistically, we are both very different so there can be no dilution of interest. We have both become more competitive though. For example Toni & Guy and Vidal Sassoon have different outlooks. Similarly, Redah and I have separate identities and taste.
Redah: They will continue like they always have. We focus on brides and their (Toni & Guy) forte is hair cuts. We work independently of each other since our clientele is so different.
How are both of you coping with the stress of work and marriage?
Shammal: Redah’s a workaholic. So we established a seven o’clock barrier. Realistically we don’t get to spend more than three hours every night, of which one hour is just dinner. When we were dating we spoke a lot about work, now neither of us even wants to discuss work. We watch a lot of television series together and lately there’s been a lot of going out.
Redah: We have enforced a seven o’clock deadline for our last appointment so we are home by 8pm and can spend time together and go out if we want to.
What’s your spouse’s most endearing trait?
Shammal: Her strength. She is immaculately strong. My mom is also a very strong person so I needed someone like that. You will never see Redah break down or cry over things. She’s not pretentious unlike many young girls that we meet today. She’s very real.
Redah: He’s got a big heart. He’s very sincere and caring.
What’s your spouse’s most annoying trait?
Shammal: Sometimes she gets into these moods where you can’t read her face at all. She has this blank expression and I don’t know how to react. She doesn’t open up easily, it took her an entire year to warm up to me. She generally just keeps to herself.
Redah: He’s very gullible and will believe and fall for anything.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 16th, 2011.
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