CRUNCHING IT UP!

In this edition of Young Guns Series of Professional Beauty India, we are bringing the focus on Isha Mahabal, Curly Hair and Colour Specialist, and Owner, Alchemic Beauty Salon, Mumbai.

Meet Isha Mahabal, a hairdresser who doesn’t believe in taming curls. Instead she revels in celebrating their rebellious spirit. She has created a niche for herself as a curly hair specialist and teaches her clients to love their curls as much as she loves her own. We engage her in a conversation about taking the path less travelled and making a success story out of it.

A curly-haired person herself, Mahabal faced struggles with haircare and styling on a daily basis. Fuelled by this internal battle, she started a salon in the living room of the house in 2018, with an intention to celebrate her passion for curly hair. This endeavour eventually shaped up as Alchemic Beauty Salon. Today, with 10+ years of experience and education at Vidal Sassoon LA and L’Oréal Academy, she has developed a strong yet exceptional style of colouring, cutting and treating curly hair.

Here’s an excerpt from her interview:

KEEPING UP WITH YOUR PASSION

“My own hair inspired me to work in such a niche segment because I realised as a curly-haired girl how hard it is to find a curls-friendly hairstylist.

What keeps me motivated is the organic community that I have built over the years, and the love and appreciation we receive for embracing natural curls. I think that’s what keeps me going.

What sets us apart is that we are not looking at making monetary benefits from our clients’ insecurities.

We always try to respect and appreciate our clients. We have created a safe space for every person to just walk in and feel good about themselves. With regards to services, we only do cut, colour and healthifying hair treatments.”

Don’t be afraid to take chances!

TIPS FOR CONSULTATION OF CURLYHAIRED CLIENTS

1. Understanding and respecting the natural hair texture and not trying to shame the client.

2. A thorough consultation in understanding how they like to keep their hair and how they style it on a day-to-day basis.

3. Don’t opt for extreme colours, which require a lot of bleach because that might damage their curl pattern.

4. At the end of the service, try and style their hair to enhance their natural curls, instead of straightening them up.

-As told to Priyanka Parshurami