Meet the Modern-age hair educator

Najeeb-Ur-Rehman, master hairstylist and educator, brings to the table his experienced view and expertise about the direction the hair industry in India is heading, while underscoring the need for advanced training in an exclusive interaction with Kanishka ramchandani.

Najeeb Ur Rehman is a name to reckon with in the Indian hairdressing fraternity. Known for his calm and composed demeanour, his artistic skills and his knack to connect with his students, be it online or offline, Najeeb adds value to all his endeavours and plays the myriad roles of a stylist, colourist and trainer with enviable perfection. Apart from being a sought-after educator he is also currently a consultant with Schwarzkopf professional and the Kerasmooth Ambassador for Godrej Professional. Here we engage him in a conversation about the importance of continued training for hairdressers and the trends they should watch out for.

Tell us about the latest developments on your professional front in the last one year.

It’s all been about professional education. Since offline training has started after the lockdowns, hairdressers love to come to the academy or at other locations and get themselves refreshed with some new cut and colour techniques.

Which exciting projects are you working on currently?

Apart from my ongoing commitments with Schwarzkopf Professional and Godrej Professional, I am on-board the Delhi Skills and Entrepreneurs University, where I am part of their Curriculum Advisory Group and Hair Faculty. It is our vision to see young hairdressers graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Hair, Beauty and Aesthetics in coming years.

https://dseu.ac.in/courses/b-a-aesthetics-and-beautytherapy/

What are the trends in hair education that are happening in India in the new normal?

One of the main developments in the new normal is niche training or training about a specific topic, such as colour or care. Though international collections like Essential Looks by Schwarzkopf Professional are still launching online. So, instead of training for one entire day on colouration, we focus on teaching only highlights or quick colours, and finish it in a few hours of training.

Which trends will be in vogue for 2022 for cut, colour and styling for both men and women?

It is majorly about short to medium lengths in hair cuts for females like variations in Bobs (long, wavy or curly). The colour palette is all pastel such as ash and powdery pink. However chocolate brown shades remain in regular demand. Shiny and frizz-free hair is in demand in styling with straight or wavy texture. For men, the hair cuts are textured and choppy all around. Uniform hair is the trend. Colour wise, men are preferring silver-greys, naturals and browns. Styling is all matte and neutral.

Which bridal trends are you looking forward to?

The bridal hair trends are more relaxed and red carpet inspired rather than traditional bridal couture hair. The hairstyle should complement and frame the face as well as work with the design of the bride’s dress.

How has customer behaviour and demands changed in the new normal?

I think retail has gone up and in the new normal people are experimenting more than before on their own, so the clients are more inquisitive with regards to the overthe-counter products. When clients ask details about the products and ingredients, we should address them properly and benefit out of it and increase our in-salon retail business.

Why should Indian hairdressers focus on continuous and advanced training?

Hairdressing is all about continuous education and training as the trends and behaviour of the clients keep changing, and they look for something different every time. Hairdressers should always check online for which cuts are in vogue as sometimes there might be a cut, which has come back with a new modern twist. For instance, I had to conduct an online haircut training for a cut named Octopus Haircut. When I researched about it, it turned out to be something that we have done as Uniform with layering but now it has come with the new name of Octopus. So, sometimes components remain the same but the name changes. Imagine a client coming with a name, which is trending online, and if we are not up-to-date, we will lose out on that client.

I mentioned clients are more inquisitive, so in order to fulfil the requirements we need to research and train ourselves for ingredients, latest technologies, etc, in care and styling categories. Find out the features and benefits of products to address the current demands of our clients. All this can happen only if we focus on training.

What advice would you like to give to salon owners for a better service menu during summers?

Express services are the latest trends, whether it’s hair colour or hair spa. This summer, include an express service in your menu, wherein you do the service in a short span with less sectioning that’s faster than the regular methods.

Which trends are going to be in vogue for 2022 for cut, colour and styling for men and women?

It is majorly about short to medium lengths in hair cuts for females like variations in Bobs (long, wavy or curly).

The colour palette is all pastel such as ash and powdery pink. However chocolate brown shades remain in regular demand. Shiny and frizz-free hair is in demand in styling with straight or wavy texture.

For men, the hair cuts are textured and choppy all around. Uniform hair is the trend. Colour wise, men are preferring silver-greys, naturals and browns. Styling is all matte and neutral.