Nina Lotia’s career began in 1988 in her bedroom where all her hair products were placed on a small dressing table and today, she is one of the leading hairstylists in Pakistan. This stylist knows no bounds when it comes to cuts, colours and styling and has a passion for what she does. She opens up to The Express Tribune about the last 25 years of her career.
“Techniques have remained the same but styling has changed,” says Lotia, adding that she now deals with the third generation of the clients she had 25 years ago. “I try to create a new look for every individual depending on their hair type. I’m an artist and like every artist/stylist, I have my own signature style.” Her outlet is currently located at Zamzama but she plans to move to Khayaban-e-Bukhari in Defence soon.
The friendly Lotia, with high-powered energy dwelling inside her, believes her clients’ comfort is of utmost importance. “I am here to make my clients feel comfortable and I’m always ready to listen and help,” she says with a smile. “It’s all about personalising the look for me — if my client is unhappy with it, I will redo it.” She admits enthusiastically that she was the first to introduce highlights in Pakistan.
Lotia further reveals that Pakistani women seem to be obsessed with Turkish dramas. “The husbands ask their wives to get that one specific hairstyle done; the one we see in these Turkish soaps,” she sighs. “And these women get influenced very easily — they need to learn how to deal with their hair themselves.” Lotia feels that without making an effort, you cannot achieve the required look you want. “I don’t have a magic wand either. And more importantly, not every look suits a person.”
“This is in fact an issue I deal with on a daily basis — convincing my clients to opt for particular looks which would actually suit them,” she says, adding that this is a big challenge for a stylist. “And clients who don’t care what you say because they have decided which look they want for themselves, confronting and telling them that the look doesn’t suit them is a big challenge.”
“People need to understand that hair is serious business,” she says, adding that they should listen to a hairstylist’s suggestion. “It’s my passion — I breathe it.”
She became the official brand ambassador of Pantene earlier this year. “The Pantene team is very inspirational. They came to me six years ago but I refused politely,” she says, adding that she wants her clients to be better educated about hair and that is why she is endorsing the brand.
When asked what kind of a look would Lotia endorse or encourage amongst her clients for the year 2013, she says, “Long hair and lots of colour in it!” She feels it ultimately comes down to how an individual plays with it or pulls it off. “Sometimes I feel a different look can do wonders and so you shouldn’t restrict yourself to just one look,” she adds. “It has a lot to do with your creativity.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 1st, 2013.
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