Groomed to Perfection

Nabila and her son, Zair Maqsood bring state of the art men’s grooming salon to Lahore

The right shave or haircut can make or break your look. So if you’re in Lahore and are in need of a trim or just want to pamper yourself in a grand Turkish Hammam of Ottoman tradition, head to the newly opened N Gents by Nabila

Nabila and her son, Zair Maqsood have brought state of the art men’s grooming salon to Lahore after the success of N Gents in Karachi, nearly five years ago. The salon is more than just a place for grooming; it is an oasis for men. Besides complimentary shaving consultations and personalised services, men can enjoy a full menu of services and treatments. The salon also offers an in-house cosmetologist, who offers comprehensive skin and hair care solutions. Clients at N Gents also have the freedom to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere at its well–stocked cigar lounge, where customers can watch TV or just enjoy a variety of food. Needless to say, to experience a taste of N Gents is to experience professionalism and gentlemen-oriented care like no other.



Maqsood, while speaking exclusively to TEdit  shared what inspired him to open a high end grooming club in Lahore. “Salons come aplenty here and from what I imagine many offer pretty much the same in terms of services, products, standards and atmosphere. When I was considering getting into this, it made complete sense to break away from the aforementioned norm. With regard to atmosphere, if I am to spend 1-4 hours a month at a barbershop (or anywhere for that matter), it should be at a place I look forward to going to, not a place that leaves me questioning my existence whilst waiting my turn for what can easily be perceived as a mundane task,” he said.

He added that, “From a client’s point of view, a one-stop solution to a man’s complete grooming requirements made complete sense. We’re living in the age of convenience where people already have a tough time keeping up with hectic schedules. When time is already short, the last thing a person needs is one more errand to run and 30 more minutes on the road.

Talking about how much Nabila influenced her sons to come into this business, Maqsood said, “Surprisingly, she never enforced her professional expectations on to my brother or me. Since she’s been doing this pretty much all our lives, and (like it or not) there’s a lot we picked up on subconsciously. I had a different career vision till I moved back to Pakistan but the exposure made getting into this field of work quite easy and a much more realistic start”.

The modern looking facility offers the ultimate balance of handcrafted leather furnishings in chocolate brown and oxblood interiors. The barbering chairs along with hydraulic backwash are something you’d expect from a bespoke spa experience. Every room at the salon is designed to  give a  club-like experience. “We want for our clientele to feel as if the place is theirs and for this, they must feel comfortable. Many feel decor would do this whereas that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The fact that there’s really no such outlet here indeed was one of the major contributors to the brand’s philosophy, Maqsood added.



When asked how he sees the grooming industry evolve and what measures are being taken by N Gents to change it, Maqsood said, “As an industry it has huge potential. Technology is seeping into almost every aspect of our existence, if not immediately I would expect the same in this sector in the long run. With regards to products, consumer and ethical awareness is evolving and accordingly supply is reshaping itself in the western world. I’d expect to see the same from consumers here in the future - to have their buying power dictate products that are less harmful to their health, their environment, and for them to want to contribute to a greater cause. We are constantly working within our capacity to help achieve more.”

With the perfect synergy of Nabila’s non compromising standards and driven by Zair’s vision and execution, N Gents has fast propelled as the ultimate authority in men’s grooming while preserving the charm of an era gone by.