“For salon owners, I am focusing entirely on client retention.”

“Having a technical and a managerial role for myself, the Professional Beauty & Hairdressers Journal India magazine is the right fit for me. With the latest news about the industry being featured from leaders such as Vikram Bhatt and Samir Srivastav, I am well-informed on how the industry is moulding every single month. This is of course with respect to the market sentiment. And on the other hand, on a more specific perspective, I also get to learn more about the clients’ sentiments.”

Yesh Killa, Director of Training & Director of marketing, Head Turners Salons, emphasises on the need to maintain a balance between national and international trends in the training curriculum, important points to consider while shortlisting an academy for training, and his focus in the New Year 2022.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR THE OWNER OF A SALON TO BE A HAIRSTYLIST?

Being a hairdresser is an added advantage for a salon owner. You are the decision maker and you are also the role model for your team members. It is a winwin situation for me and my team members.

TELL US ABOUT THE EMPHASIS THAT YOU HAVE LAID ON SALON HYGIENE AND SAFETY? WHAT TRAINING HAVE YOU UNDERTAKEN AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR SALON OWNERS TO ENSURE THESE MEASURES EVEN POST PANDEMIC AT THE SALON?

Salon services may have taken a hit during the pandemic, but salon hygiene has not. I myself had conducted individual trainings across all my branches to educate my team members about the dos and don’ts of the pandemic.

Also, salon hygiene has become a new normal for each and every industry. Double vaccination has become your new identity card. But, the pandemic curve has not flattened yet. And that is why these new habits have to become involuntary.

AS AN ACADEMY, WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN A BALANCE OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL TRENDS AS PART OF THE CURRICULUM? HOW HAVE YOU ACHIEVED THE SAME?

Glocalisation is the answer for your question. Learning from the world, and adapting to the local demand is what I am doing at Head Turners Salons. My education in the industry is from individuals as well as institutions. My basic course on hairdressing started with Loreal ARTH Academy in Mumbai. Later on, I attended my advanced hair classes from Vidal Sassoon Academy. My mentors have been Michele Baltazar, Seema Jerajani, Savio John Pereira and several others. My salon experience has been with Enrich, JCB and Dessange in Mumbai.

WHAT ARE THE IMPORTANT POINTS AN ASPIRING STYLIST SHOULD KEEP IN MIND WHILE SHORTLISTING AN ACADEMY FOR TRAINING?

While enrolling for a course in hairdressing, my suggestion would be to get feedback on the academy from the leading stylists in the respective city. And to get more specific, attend a workshop by the academy. Get to know your trainers, introduce yourself to them, examine how well you connect with them, and then decide about the enrolment.

"Learning from the world, and adapting to the local demand is what I am doing at Head Turners Salons."

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?

I am hoping for 2022 to be an exciting year to learn and work. As international travel is open now, I am keen to learn barbering from someone whose skills have found a good name in the Indian market – namely Jordan Tabakman. Being a multi brand salon, I am awaiting for new luxury Italian brands to knock at our doorstep. And for salon owners, I am focusing entirely on client retention.