“I welcome challenging hair,” Dar, the lauded celebrity hair stylist and designer told us. This is likely because his couture creations consistently prove the perfect modish answer. Over the last few years, Dar has popularised the ‘blunt bob’ (pictured): a traditional ‘bob’ cut, with the scissor-smith’s trademark sashaying finish. “The hair hangs freely at the bottom, showing the aesthetic boldly.” This has transformed the look of famous personalities such as the international fashion designer, Karen Millen, to radiate a noticeable “youthfulness and glow.”
Additionally, Dar also recently created a short elegance for the prolific journalist and author, Candida Crewe, who wished to keep her hair longer without compromising a strong media image. In the public eye, it is customary to revert to classic cuts, such as the iconic bob, which originated “through the Thirties and Forties”, as a woman grows older. However, Dar has discovered a way to preserve length alongside the classiness. “It’s about having longer layers which make the hair voluminous.” As opposed to falling as if a drab “blanket”, the shape is tapered off to a sharp central point at the back. One can still boast trendy, cascading tresses with half of the heavy inches.
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Dar then possesses the imitable ability to infuse timelessness into tactile imagination. Indeed, currently based near Buckingham Palace, the stylist has worked with a range of high-profile clients, from royalty and actresses such as the Queen of Malaysia, and Goldie Hawn, to younger stars such as Aishwarya Rai, cast members of ITV’s show, Love Island, and Miss England 2017/18. His wonderous work has also featured in top fashion magazines such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Tatler, and he has styled Bond girl, Maud Adams, of Octopussy, early on in his esteemed career.
Dar elaborated on the subtle power of hair: “Just a trim doesn’t exist in my opinion. At the end of the day, you might remove your make-up, clothes and jewellery, but your hair stays with you. It is as if a crown so it must be treated with respect. In fact, the most rewarding part of my job is the joy felt by customers after a cut as they feel a new, emanating pride.” No doubt this philosophy is the reason the talented hair designer opens his salon to the general public, making the glamour of his impressive portfolio available to all.
He continued on the natural allure of a majestic mane: a concept embodied by the full and flowing hair of one of his most sensational clients – Nicole Scherzinger. “People spend money on getting a new jumper, or expensive beauty products, including anti-ageing creams etc. but why not hair that’s in plain sight? It’s inherently worth the investment: one that everyone deserves.” Dar then rightly taps into a priceless source of everyday confidence. In his sessions, he talks at length with clientele to familiarise himself with their personality and really help complement that particular lifestyle: “I have serious conversations. I want to get an idea of who someone is. Each person inevitably requires a different style.” However, he will unfailingly focus on “the individual features of the person’s face to inform the cut.” He emphasised: “a good hair cut will make the eyes pop, and bring out the neckline. If you focus on this, you can’t go wrong. A haircut must exaggerate someone’s unique facial beauty.”
And so, a veritable combination of high concept and visuals, Dar highlights the exciting niche of his profession: working closely with the human spirit, hair design emerges a most personal artform. “I definitely think of myself as an artist,” the stylist concluded. “In fact, there are so many times I’ve picked up magazines, or seen a film, in which my stylings appear cinematically in a still or on set: through the background models I’ve worked with, as well as the main stars. It can be surreal.” Dar truly elevates, helping people feel good through a vital canvas.
Tell us of some more memorable celebrities you have styled?
Cricketer and 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan: Imran Khan. He is a dear friend to this day. Through my career, I’ve met so many great people: starting from my time at Vidal Sassoon to pop videos over time. The latter Paul McCartney, Kate Bush and Boy George.
What contemporary trends have caught your eye in hair design and fashion?
Maybe the beachy look: the wavy, naturally messy hair. However, I don’t push hair styling onto my clients. I will go with their vision.
As a technique, I’ve always enjoyed blow-drying hair so that one can see the full effect of my creativity.
What makes a good stylist?
You need to be in control of the client while remaining collaborative. Your experience and knowledge should speak for itself, as should your awareness of the latest trends. You must be able to combine that with personal tailoring. This includes having a dialogue with people. You need to design the vision together. Don’t dominate their picture.
How does one make hair colour look good?
I look at colour as if it is the make-up for hair: where you might emphasise the eyes and cheekbones with powders and so on, I will highlight the cut by brightening certain areas of the hair e.g. with highlights, you might simply need to colour the top, near the eyes as opposed to everywhere. As if you’re being animated by the light of the sun. This gives a healthy look, instead of looking monotone and grey.
What have been some of your favourite projects?
When I did Miss World in 1989, and then again in1992. I also had a TV Channel, on which I would discuss hair: tips, trends etc.
Finally, do you want to open up a line of your own products?
I am doing that actually. I was born in Malaysia as my father served in the British Army, and was stationed fighting the Japanese. We then moved to a Punjabi village where my father bought quite a bit of land. We had female workers on the farm; they would sit on each other’s laps, open their hair and apply mustard oil onto each other’s heads.
When I started getting into fashion, I had similar beginnings: getting coffees and sweeping hair. Soon, I ascended into the western fashion world. I would present to different European hairdressers such as Wella etc. However, I have noticed that the focus on enhancing hair products, such as conditioner, was always just on the hair, and not the scalp as it is with Indian beauty. I’ve been working on bringing the Neem oil of India to the market: to encourage the growth of healthy, beautiful hair from the roots. I want to be able to formulate it for massage to relieve stress, and promote well-being.
W: https://www.hairbydar.com/
