And this hair revolution is not limited to Delhi and Mumbai. Even smaller cities and towns are gelling with this trend. "The awareness of what's in is there but they lack infrastructure," say stylists at the Ravissant salon in Delhi. Be sure to run into John Abraham clones with badly bleached hair in smaller north Indian cities like Patiala or Meerut.
Interestingly, the reach of Bollywood-style hair mantras is not limited to the Hindi-speaking belt. In Chennai, girls who care to dare are getting rid of their naturally wavy hair and spending anywhere in the Rs 1,000-2,000 range to get their hair straightened in reverence of their screen idol Preity Zinta.
Although Kamalahaasan and Rajnikant remain ultimate style icons, says Wasim who works at the Habib's salon in Chennai, "The younger lot is even going for colour and red highlights."
In fact, it is interesting to see how people's hairstyle often speaks volumes about a city and its culture. In a cosmopolitan city like Mumbai, it's commonplace to see men and women in interesting and often striking hair colours and styles walking on the street. Meanwhile, most Calcuttans, barring a handful of nightclub regulars, still seem to hate the idea of tampering with their hair.
If clients are getting hair savvy, the hair stylists have to ensure that they are one step ahead. "Even small kids know exactly what they want," says Motwani. She recalls the visit of a very young client who wanted her fringe cut to just the length that she could blow away easily and look ultra cool.
Equally, the social position of a hair-dresser has risen dramatically. At upmarket salons, hair stylists come from more affluent backgrounds with a public school education. "More respect is associated with the profession," says Anniesha. They are well-groomed, well-travelled, keep updating their skills by attending seminars and workshops with international hair experts. And the change shows in how they conduct themselves.
"Before cutting hair, we ask about the client's professional/social background, his/her personal tastes apart from technical details like texture and health of hair," says Jawed Habib. Clients do expect stylists to inform them about the latest hair products, how to use them and which will suit them the most. After all, they are paying a pretty price at the end of it.
A cut or styling at any fancy hair salon costs anywhere between Rs 300 and Rs 1,000. Colouring would set you back some Rs 1,500-5,000 (the techniques and materials used vary widely). And processes like re-bonding (permanent hair straightening that's the latest craze), a four-hour process, can cost anywhere between Rs 8,000 to Rs 20,000. So, loosen those purse-strings, and let your hair loose.
