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For the look

Jawed Habib says he defines more than just the hairstyle of a person

MANE STORY Hairstylist Jawed Habib has styled many a famous mop of hair

"You are not bothered for your hair." Quite a way to begin an interview, with a damning assessment of the mop on my head, by none other than Jawed Habib, India's claim to fame in the hairstyling industry.

All in the family

Taking a break for a conversation he sits down and continues with the adrenaline still very much flowing: "When I cut hair I get very involved. The body and the soul work together with the eyes and hands. A lot of people ask me what will suit them. I don't look at the face; I just feel the hair. There is no long face, round face, sharp face... with me. When my fingers move through hair, it feels good to have that power. There is nothing special for Bollywood or celebrities, I just give creativity to every client."

He describes himself in his portfolio as a "bundle of energy" and that is pretty apt. He is said to come from a family of hairdressers. It seems Lord Mountbatten, the last viceroy of British India, used to bow to only two people in his life. One was the British queen — Queen Elizabeth and the other Habib's grandfather Nazir Habib, who also had Jawaharlal Nehru as his client. Habib has added to skills handed down by studying at London's Morris School of Hair Dressing and London School of Fashion.

He says hairstyling today is more than just a cut today, branding it a complete "package".

"It is not just a cut. It is a package. Includes shampoo, a cut and after care. It is about creating a complete image and seeing yourself. It gives you a lift when you admire yourself. People sometimes don't understand that, we can give a complete personality."

Having learnt a lot of his trade abroad, Habib is quite an advocate for using synthetic shampoos. He does not rule out using indigenous hair care products but prefers to classify all of them as "chemicals".

Myths?

"There are lots of myths about shampoo. But India has changed. We know what are the latest trends in the world and we like to experiment. It doesn't mater whether we take herbal or synthetic products, it is all basically chemistry. For me herbal is a powder and liquid is chemical."

Habib describes his style of work as based purely on "common sense". He claims to treat all his clients as equals and is not afraid to mix things up however big the client might be. "A client is a client. I don't look at the face. I do the same job, everyone is the same."

And he is fiercely protective of his creative freedom. "I am a deaf and blind hairdresser," he laughs when asked what his response would be if someone forces a style on him. The only thing he is careful about is finding out what is the length of hair the client prefers, as it seems we Indians are very sensitive about it. He finds working on South Indians a challenge because it seems we are known for our long hair, which requires a lot of work.

ANAND SANKAR

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