“The hairdressing language is universal across the world.”

"Hairdressers Journal has been very influential for hairdressers like me over the years since I started 23 years back, and I used to get the Hairdressers Journal all the way from London. It has been a major influence in my hairdressing career. At the same time, since it now has been introduced in India, it’s the best thing that could happen.”

Savio John Pereira, Founder, Savio John Pereira Salons, shares some top tips for surviving and reviving the business, and his life changing experience that changed his perspective towards challenges and successes.

TODAY, SAVIO JOHN PERERIA IS A BRAND IN ITSELF, WHERE YOU ALSO ASSOCIATE WITH HOTELS, OTHER BRANDS AND CONCERTS. IN ORDER TO GROW ONE’S SALON BUSINESS IN THESE NOT SO EASY TIMES, WHAT WOULD YOUR TIPS BE TO INDUSTRY COLLEAGUES TO SURVIVE AND REVIVE BUSINESS?

In order to grow the salon business, my tips for the industry to help survive and revive during covid times would be as follows:

• It is important to be patient and calm.

• One should analyse.

• Do not miss out on researching on global and national trends. •Continue to stay motivated and inspire people around.

It is fine to surrender to the fact that it is ot going to be easy.

Give it all the time you have physically and mentally.

Stay focused.

And most importantly, be innovative to hanging business trends and consumer mind-sets and be quick to adapt to he fluctuating market and consumersentiments.

TELL US ABOUT A LIFE HANGING EXPERIENCE IN YOUR ROFESSIONAL JOURNEY THAT HANGED YOUR PERSPECTIVE OWARDS CHALLENGES AND UCCESSES IN THE INDUSTRY?

In 2008, after completing a decade n the hairdressing industry and having opened five salons and working on multiple Bollywood movie projects and high-end ad films/print media, I decided to take a break. I gave up all my salons, handed over my movie projects and took off on a world hairdressing tour. I worked in multiple countries across different continents. In America, it was New York and Los Angeles, Australia was Sydney and Melbourne, South East Asia was Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Jakarta, Shanghai and my favourite Tokyo. Then I went to the UK to London and Scotland. In Europe it was Paris, Amsterdam, Milan, Barcelona, Madrid, Denmark, and Sweden. In Germany, I went to Berlin, Bonn and Hamburg. In Austria, Vienna; Switzerland was Geneva and Bern; in Brazil, was São Paulo; and in South Africa, Durban.

I travelled for over a year working and visiting salons and realised one thing that the hairdressing language is universal and the traits and requirements to be a great hairdresser anywhere in the world are the same, i.e., you have got to have the creative spark, the right attitude, communication and technical skills and a deep know how of your craft. And one thing for sure that the client/hairstylist relationship is the same across cultures where each one has mutual admiration for each other.

THE TOP 20 LIVA MISS DIVA 2021 FINALISTS UNDERWENT A FABULOUS MAKEOVER AT SAVIO JOHN PEREIRA SALON IN MUMBAI. TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE IN STYLING THESE DIVAS ALONG WITH ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR LOOKS THAT WAS CREATED?

We have been doing makeovers for the Miss Divas contestants since 2017. For the hair makeovers, we decided to keep it consistent across the board by maintaining long layers and strong solid colours for all the contestants. We also worked with brown and auburn hues to match and complement each of their individual skin tones. We also introduced a few styling options such as the textured braid, a top knot bun, classic vintage waves and the high ponytail for the contestants this year.

It’s a mix of the ambience, hygiene, and positive vibes that one experiences at the salon.

But what tops my list is keeping the solid colour and the long eyer look, which e flattened and ironed to give it a mirror finish look, which I predict will be one of the biggest trends for the years 2022-2023 straight hair is back.

WHAT PART OF THE CUSTOMER XPERIENCE MAJORLY ONTRIBUTES TOWARDS MAKING T AWESOME FOR THE CUSTOMER STSAVIO JOHN PEREIRA’S ALON?

It’s a mix of the ambience, hygiene, nd positive vibes that one experiences at he salon. Every client steps in to a warm welcome and my team makes the client eel comfortable and not stressed.

IN YOUR VIEW, WHAT’S GOING TO BE EXCITING FOR THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY - SALON OWNERS, HAIRDRESSERS, SKIN EXPERTS, MAKEUP ARTISTS, BRANDS, ETC - IN THE YEAR 2022?

Most exciting is going to be the Savio John Pereira (SJP) product line. or professionals, there is consumer pending power, a lot of experimentation rom a client perspective, and loads of competition – in my view, survival of he fittest.