Mubashir Khan: Back in business and in love
After a long break, the stylist has now returned to Pakistan.
KARACHI:
“Don’t panic, we’re back!” are the words printed on a mug at stylist Mubashir Khan’s spanking new salon. With his two year hiatus from make-up and haircutting, it seems that the time Mubashir spent in London has revitalised him in more ways than one.
“Taking a break is the best thing I did,” he says, explaining that he spent his time in the UK working with Regis Salons as an area manager. “In London, I found what I left searching for,” he says, with a warm smile. He says that he went away to learn how a business flourishes abroad, so he can eventually implement that model here in Pakistan.
Mubashir is now back to business, but has taken a back seat from hairdressing and make-up and prefers to manage the salon and train his staff instead. For hair styling, he has trained his young niece Zainab, whom he says has earned the admiration of some of his fussiest clients. “Teaching is most fulfilling. It’s so much more than just doing it,” he says. “It feels fantastic when I see Zainab do an excellent cut. My heart swells.”
When asked why he stopped styling altogether, Mubashir is thoughtful. “When I left Karachi two years ago, I know that I wanted to stop. I strongly felt that I didn’t want to be cutting hair forever. I wanted to train people; create a team and put it on the frontline.” Ultimately, he wanted to delve into the business aspect and set up a salon without being involved in the services directly; he wanted to do “something different — something Karachi doesn’t have.”
His new place is vastly different from his previous salons; while his first salon in the Tauheed Commercial area (where he worked from 2000 to 2005) was small and vibrant, his second located in Clifton Block 4 (from 2005 to 2010) was white and serene. Located on Khayaban-e-Nishat, Mubashir’s third salon is neat and modern; the furniture by Afsheen Teli is sleek and sophisticated, giving the space an almost corporate feel. Even the girls’ outfits for the salon are smart, having been designed by Sadaf Malaterre. With a large room divided into different stations and a separate room for those who like their blow dry with a cigarette, Mubashir hopes to make his clients feel as comfortable as possible. The pleasant aroma of vanilla scented incense is immensely comforting, and the personalised mugs for specific customers are a thoughtful gesture — it shows that his team will go all out to pamper a client.
“You have no idea what it takes to maintain this level of perfection,” Mubashir says, explaining that he takes a personal interest in every client’s concerns and wouldn’t let a stranger manage the place. He takes pride in the fact that he supervises his staff on a daily basis and wants his clients to leave “100 % satisfied.” He points to a hair dryer and describes it as being four times more expensive than the average gadget, having sophisticated technology that doesn’t damage hair. “A salon has to be luxurious,” he adds, presenting soft, crème-coloured micro-fibre towels. “I take responsibility if any client is upset, not my girls.”
The woman of his dreams
Changing roles in his profession was not the only big change that the London experience brought about for him — Mubashir has fallen in love!
“I met her though some common friends,” Mubashir says with a smile, talking about the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with. “A year-and-a-half ago, on her birthday, I told her how I felt. I realised she is the person I love; she makes me happy.” Preferring not disclose her name before things become official, Mubashir describes her as a “selfless person; a good soul with a beautiful and pure heart”. “I honestly don’t think I could have found a better person,” he says brightly. He explains that she is currently pursuing a postgraduate degree, and that their families will meet once her education has been completed. “My relationship with her helped me grow so much,” he says earnestly. “She keeps reminding me of who I am and keeps me grounded… someone who believes in space and lets me breathe.” It is clear that Mubashir is head over heels in love with this young woman, whom he hopes to marry very soon. “She really is one of the best people I’ve met. She makes the world beautiful.” We wish him all the best!
Published in The Express Tribune, November 21st, 2012.
“Don’t panic, we’re back!” are the words printed on a mug at stylist Mubashir Khan’s spanking new salon. With his two year hiatus from make-up and haircutting, it seems that the time Mubashir spent in London has revitalised him in more ways than one.
“Taking a break is the best thing I did,” he says, explaining that he spent his time in the UK working with Regis Salons as an area manager. “In London, I found what I left searching for,” he says, with a warm smile. He says that he went away to learn how a business flourishes abroad, so he can eventually implement that model here in Pakistan.
Mubashir is now back to business, but has taken a back seat from hairdressing and make-up and prefers to manage the salon and train his staff instead. For hair styling, he has trained his young niece Zainab, whom he says has earned the admiration of some of his fussiest clients. “Teaching is most fulfilling. It’s so much more than just doing it,” he says. “It feels fantastic when I see Zainab do an excellent cut. My heart swells.”
When asked why he stopped styling altogether, Mubashir is thoughtful. “When I left Karachi two years ago, I know that I wanted to stop. I strongly felt that I didn’t want to be cutting hair forever. I wanted to train people; create a team and put it on the frontline.” Ultimately, he wanted to delve into the business aspect and set up a salon without being involved in the services directly; he wanted to do “something different — something Karachi doesn’t have.”
His new place is vastly different from his previous salons; while his first salon in the Tauheed Commercial area (where he worked from 2000 to 2005) was small and vibrant, his second located in Clifton Block 4 (from 2005 to 2010) was white and serene. Located on Khayaban-e-Nishat, Mubashir’s third salon is neat and modern; the furniture by Afsheen Teli is sleek and sophisticated, giving the space an almost corporate feel. Even the girls’ outfits for the salon are smart, having been designed by Sadaf Malaterre. With a large room divided into different stations and a separate room for those who like their blow dry with a cigarette, Mubashir hopes to make his clients feel as comfortable as possible. The pleasant aroma of vanilla scented incense is immensely comforting, and the personalised mugs for specific customers are a thoughtful gesture — it shows that his team will go all out to pamper a client.
“You have no idea what it takes to maintain this level of perfection,” Mubashir says, explaining that he takes a personal interest in every client’s concerns and wouldn’t let a stranger manage the place. He takes pride in the fact that he supervises his staff on a daily basis and wants his clients to leave “100 % satisfied.” He points to a hair dryer and describes it as being four times more expensive than the average gadget, having sophisticated technology that doesn’t damage hair. “A salon has to be luxurious,” he adds, presenting soft, crème-coloured micro-fibre towels. “I take responsibility if any client is upset, not my girls.”
The woman of his dreams
Changing roles in his profession was not the only big change that the London experience brought about for him — Mubashir has fallen in love!
“I met her though some common friends,” Mubashir says with a smile, talking about the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with. “A year-and-a-half ago, on her birthday, I told her how I felt. I realised she is the person I love; she makes me happy.” Preferring not disclose her name before things become official, Mubashir describes her as a “selfless person; a good soul with a beautiful and pure heart”. “I honestly don’t think I could have found a better person,” he says brightly. He explains that she is currently pursuing a postgraduate degree, and that their families will meet once her education has been completed. “My relationship with her helped me grow so much,” he says earnestly. “She keeps reminding me of who I am and keeps me grounded… someone who believes in space and lets me breathe.” It is clear that Mubashir is head over heels in love with this young woman, whom he hopes to marry very soon. “She really is one of the best people I’ve met. She makes the world beautiful.” We wish him all the best!
Published in The Express Tribune, November 21st, 2012.