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| Sunday, 24 November 2002 |
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Naseem Hammad, is a girl like no other. Just twenty years old she is a fully qualified hair stylist who has a little salon of her own, at her residence, in Kollupitiya. Naseem's interest in hair styling emerged at the age of thirteen, when she began (to her mother's horror) to cut her mum's hair. Being her first client, her mum has been through the whole hair beauty treatment-from simple hair cuts to tinting, colouring and the whole works. Naseem says she was not really interested in hair and beauty treatment. It was when she was sixteen that her passion for the art really began, when her parents sent her for a grooming class at Sue's Academy of hair and beauty, which she first commenced, the day after her O'levels. From that day onwards Naseem's passion grew, and as the old adage goes, there has been no turning back. At Sue's academy, Naseem and the other trainees were able to do clients when the professionals were absent, which was how she got her first client. People started asking for her, the boss realised this and soon gave her a permanent job. At the academy Naseem also began teaching and worked as head mistress for two years. Sue was a big inspiration says Naseem, still remembering with pride Sue's motto "Do what you do best". Today having done the world federation course and obtaining certificates and membership, Naseem is a fully qualified artiste, able to work anywhere. Her most recent training was a four month course which she did in London and completed just two months ago. There Naseem specialised in body and nail painting, the nouveau trend among teens and adults the world over. Using the training to create a style thats uniquely hers, Naseem paints on both artificial and natural nails. She has special paints for this purpose, but what she really loves is to make her own paints which she says she can do by mixing various products, like vegetable extracts. Nail painting seems a very meticulous as well as creative job. When displaying her very own painted nails chart, shades of colours ranging from pale whites, to rosy pinks and sky blues, to dark greens and murky browns can be seen and on them displaying tiny exquisitive hand painted designs that range from letters to numbers, flowers and scenery and abstract figures. Naseem says there are five basic types of nail designs. Holographic, striping, tape, transfer and marbelling. She also does nail piercing. She says that while people prefer to use false nails on special occasions, most, especially the working class prefer to do it on their natural nails. A Kaleidoscope of colour is what Naseem likes to use in her painting, whether it be nail painting or body painting. In body painting Naseem uses non toxic, hypo-Allgenic paints, painting anywhere in the body-ankles, arms, hands, feet and wrists. She also does Hena,tattoo designs, hair painting and face painting for children. In body painting she does a series of designs such as animal, scenery and celtic designs. Setting up her beauty parlour the money she earned while working, Naseem bought the necessary items, and when she had built up a mini salon, began taking in clients after working hours. Her first clients were her relatives and friends. Later through word of mouth she began getting more and more clients. Today Naseem works seven days a week, taking clients by appointment only. Her clients, range from children and teenage to adults and even the elderly. On occasions she has also done designer brides. Naseem believes in having perfection in her job." Hair styling and beauty is an art. It is a creative kind of job. When doing a design I don't look at a book or copy what someone else has done. I look at the client and come up with my own ideas. In my kind of job being individualistic and original is important", she says. As for the future, Naseem hopes to start an academy of her own, where she can teach newcomers in the field. Naseem says,"I want to have my own students to work under me, work with me and for me". by Farah Macan Markar |
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