Aamir Khan experiments with his hair style: Jawed Habib

'Jawed Habib' is a brand name people trust and rely upon. The expert, who initiated a new wave in the Indian market with experimental science in hair styling, is not just a big shot in India, but is equally popular in the overseas market. In an exclusive interview with Ritika Handoo of Zee Media Corp, the hair expert talks about various myths related to haircare and how his brand is different from the rest in the business.

Your name says it all. How does it feel to be a renowned face in the industry?

Well, I do not really know what to say about that. Being a workaholic has been my USP. And I feel supremely dedicated to my profession. Honestly, I am of the opinion that it is education which takes you places. Therefore, I thought about the need to bring it to the hairstyling industry too—the rest as they say is history.

How difficult was it to build brand Habib?

I have worked really hard to reach the place I am at today. It is the knowledge of your work which puts you ahead of others. In my case, it is education related to the field of hair dressing and style that has helped me build this brand. I have always maintained that hairdressing is not an art, rather it is a science. I know, my point of view differs from many experts, but I sincerely believe that hair styling is more of a science than an art form.

Also, it is very important to be educated in a particular field of interest. If you are educated in your profession then a proper system is in place and what you create becomes style. A lot many things are considered before suggesting a hair cut—we have to see the client's personality, his/her personal style and many such things. Interestingly, the way you carry yourself can make or break your personality. In fact, hairstyles can make a person look either intelligent or dumb, for that matter. Therefore, styling hair properly is crucial.

How much experimentation in terms of hairstyling has been done in India in comparison to the West?

I would say, it is still coming up, although it's not that big as yet. India, is also called 'Bharat' - out of the total population, just about 10 percent form the urban class. Our country is largely a traditional society where everyone wants to sport long hair; people are scared of experimenting with their hair colour.

Reason? People don't want to use chemicals on their hair. In fact, many stylists here don't even have full knowledge about hair colouring techniques—and that is where education comes in handy.

Do you feel there is still a breakthrough possible in terms of styling?

Yes, of course, I feel people have accepted this profession now with open arms. Ten or twenty years back, that was not the case. Also, more importantly, in today's time we see a film hero to be a hair dresser or the lead actress essaying the role of a stylist—which is a big sign of acceptance socially.

You have a Limca Book of World Record for 410 non-stop hair cuts in 25 hours and 42 minutes. Are you planning to break your own record anytime soon?

I did that just for fun, without actually realising that it will create a record as big as this. It was done in a fun spirit, and we have no benchmark to reach. I am not planning to break my own record anytime soon.

What do you have to say about hair transplant technique? How feasible is it, keeping Indian men in mind?

Firstly, the technique is not 100 percent successful. It might differ from person-to-person. Transplant depends upon how much bald area needs to be grafted. Although, it can be quite expensive, it really all depends upon the bald patch.

How can we manage unruly hair at home? Any simple tips for both men and women?

The best way to keep your hair in good condition is to wash it every day with a normal shampoo. Your hair will stay in good shape for 100 long years. But, unfortunately due to lack of education, not many are aware of it.

With so many hair salons today in the Indian market, do you feel the pressure to keep your own brand going?

No, not at all. My brand is based on the solid foundation of education, which has helped us till now. However, others in the market take it as business.

Pick one Bollywood/Hollywood celebrity, who has best hair according to you.

I feel today everyone is experimenting with their hair styles. In films, the look of an actor is decided according to the character they play on screen. I feel Salman Khan looks great on screen. In fact, Aamir Khan experiments a lot with looks in his films. He sports different hair styles in each of films based on his character.

Is there anything new that you are currently working on? Tell us something about it.

Today people have accepted me as a brand. Unlike the rest, our brand is not at all expensive. We are trying our best to cater to the needs of each and every section of the society. We are creating a new brand for everyone. We have Jawed Habib Beauty Parlour, Jawed Habib Xpreso, Jawed Habib Hair & Beauty and the likes. All of these have been created to suit the pockets of all our clients. Several hair outlets are being made available to reach out to everyone in the country.