The once right-hand man of Nabila talks about making his own mark in the market and how the industry has evolved.
Trends may come and go but some artists evolve so seamlessly that they secure a lasting spot in the local fashion scene. As new faces and places emerge in the hair and beauty industry, Mohammad Altaf Hussain, popularly known as Altaf, is one such force who continues to go from strength to strength. Now in his 25th year of grooming, the once right-hand man of Nabila and now a lone ranger tells a courageous story of the choices he made.
“Nabila and I literally grew together as make-up artists. She’s my ideal,” said Altaf, adding that the beautician set foot in the industry five years before him. “I worked with her till 2012, which was when I decided it was time to stand on my own feet,” he added. But it hasn’t been smooth sailing since he initiated his eponymous salon over two years ago. “I knew I had to generate money and take care of logistics to support my salon, which is located on [the posh] E Street.”
Although he acknowledges that a focus on money hampers creativity, he doesn’t regret his decision of going solo.
With Nabila’s N-Pro, Peng and the Nadia Hussain salon having made their way to E Street, the cultural hotspot of the city, the location and industry at large seem to be rife with competition. “The [competition] isn’t easy to deal with,” Altaf admitted. Yet he’s confident in the abilities of the team he has built over nearly three years.
Despite boasting a clientele that’s both loyal and holds his opinion in high regard, he shared that it’s a challenge to convince people what colour or haircut would suit them. “It’s difficult to make people understand that a certain trend isn’t in vogue. Colour trends and hairstyles have changed over the years. They need to understand that and be educated about them.”
But over the time, Altaf feels awareness about fashion among the masses has grown and the industry seems to be heading in the right direction. “The youth have developed a strong sense of fashion, but there’s a dearth of choices to pick from,” he noted. On what hairstyle has seeped into the fashion front line, he said, “The Dimple Kapadia style is back. The vintage waves are the ultimate style to opt for.” Revealing the faces he’d like to work with, he doesn’t take a moment to think. “Salma Hayek. She has a very pretty face. And Naomi Campbell … I enjoy doing make-up on dusky skin,” he revealed. “In Bollywood, it has always been Rekha and among the contemporaries, Kangana Ranaut.”
Altaf doesn’t rule out the possibility of branching out in the future. “My clients in Lahore and Islamabad have been begging me to move to their cities and even I want to expand my business, besides opening up a training centre at my salon,” he shared. “I want to give lessons to those who know nothing about hair-cutting but are passionate about the art. This is my passion and I want to share it with others.” For now, he intends to focus on consolidating his team. “It’s good to see that young people are entering this field now. They’re educated and belong to good families. It’s fitting to see that people have realised the worth of and accepted this profession.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 19th, 2015.
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