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Love is in the ‘hair’

By  M. Shirazi
20 December, 2016

Want shiny, beautiful hair this winter? Celebrated hair stylist Nina Lotia has just the right tips for you...

beauty

Want shiny, beautiful hair this winter?

Celebrated hair stylist Nina Lotia has just the right tips for you...

Renowned hair stylist Nina Lotia has been in the beauty industry for more than two decades now and is one of the leading stylists when it comes to techniques of hairdressing, styling and colouring. Nina Lotia has been running a full hair service salon and spa for the past 27 years. She continues to educate herself with new international hair style techniques and goes for refresher courses at least twice a year in order to keep herself updated with the latest trends and fashion.  Read on to find out what Nina has to say...

Nina Lotia
Nina Lotia

Nina’s journey:

“It all started when I was in my teens. I decided to pursue a career in beauty and to fulfil my dreams, I went to London for a year-long comprehensive course at Robert Fielding of Regent Street. After my training I worked with stylist Shaheen Rahim for a year and then started working from my home. As my clientele grew, I decided to open a small set up in my garage and soon I opened a salon at Zamzama, Karachi. Almost two years back, I celebrated my 25 years in the industry and also moved to a new building (a complete salon and spa) in the same vicinity,” shares Nina.

Of cuts and colours:Love is in the ‘hair’

Regarding hair styles, cuts and colours, Nina is of the view, “Hair is my weakness and I love doing cut and colour. However, while styling or giving a haircut I keep in mind the face cut of the individual and when it comes to hair colour I make sure that the colour complements the complexion of my client. Even though, lighter colours with darker under tones are trending this season, it is important to remember that everybody cannot carry all kinds of hair colours. So, the first thing I do is discuss the colour with the client and then I go for a shade that would enhance the original hair colour. The fact is that both the cut and colour make a huge difference - a nice hair colour might not look as good as it should, if you don’t have a haircut that suits your face cut and personality; and vice versa.”

Hair problems:

About hair problems like dry and brittle hair in winter Nina advises women to condition hair thoroughly and put an anti-frizz serum after shampooing their hair. For those who complain of having dandruff, she says, “Always go to an expert for advice even if you have dandruff as only a professional can recommend a good quality dandruff shampoo that will solve your problem. Also, many women think that oiling is good for all kind of hair problems, but the truth is that there are various hair treatments which are necessary for your hair type.”

According to Nina, “Most women dye their hair frequently, or go for treatments like X-tenso, rebonding, relaxing etc. but what they tend to forget is that it is vital to analyse the hair before going for any treatment. However, I make sure to recommend products and what treatment one should be doing before getting hair coloured or relaxed.”

Expert’s take on makeup:

“It is winter and in my opinion darker eyes and lighter lips always look nice in the chilly season,” shares Nina. “When it comes to winter women should take extra care of their skin and should always keep hands, face and feet moisturized,” she adds.

Winter must haves:

“I believe that every girl/woman should carry an eye liner, a good moisturizer and glossy lipstick in her bag during winters,” says Nina. “For hair, as soon as the chilly season sets in, it is important to buy a good quality deep conditioner with an anti-frizz serum so that you have shiny, bouncy all through winter.”

New Year predictions:

“2016 is coming to an end and in my opinion long hair is going to take everybody by storm in the coming year. As far as makeup is concerned, deep eyeliners of different colours with lighter base and light glossy lip sticks will rule 2017,” predicts Nina.

Nina’s faves:

Up till now Nina has transformed the looks of many celebs and models, but so far her favourite is Maheen Khan.

About a makeup or hair trend that is Nina’s personal favourite, she states, “I love a simple blow dry and a very light make up. And my favourite is eye lashes that really bring out one’s face. Even my signature style is simple yet elegant and mostly my focus is on hair colour.”

Beauty mistakes:

“The most common hair mistakes that really annoy me are bad hair colour and unkempt hair. You can wear the most beautiful clothes but if your hair is not done then you will look disastrous. And also I cringe when I see a pretty face with too much makeup on. The key is to keep it subtle yet pretty,” advises Nina.

Tips and tricks:

“As far as tips are concerned, for the face I strongly suggest to cleanse your face properly before applying makeup or using anything as results won’t show. For hair, my advice would be to keep your hair clean and moisturized especially for winter as it would break due to dryness. I would highly recommend to use hair masks at least once or twice a week,” concludes Nina.