Want a fashionable haircut? Then it has to be Lebanese. Dena Rashed holds on to her locks The Lebanese are definitely in. In fact, they are all over the fashion business in Egypt: hair stylists, beauticians and designers, as if their nationality was in itself some sort of passport to fashion. Of course, Lebanese women are famed throughout the Arab world for their beauty -- and more importantly, for their sense of fashion tinged with no small amount of sex appeal. It is a sophistication other Arab women seem only too eager to pay considerable sums of money to try and import into their home countries. For young women like Inas Mahgoub, who chose a Lebanese hairstylist in Heliopolis district to give her the new look she wants, Lebanese just is style. "If I want to dye or cut my hair, I would definitely go for a Lebanese, and it really made a difference for me," she says. Mahgoub believes that the Lebanese will give her the different look to which she aspires. "I don't want to go for a hair cut and look like all the women around me," she adds, "I prefer the Lebanese because he sees what suits me personally. And on top of that all the products they use at the salon are imported from Lebanon!" So what makes these stylists from the Levant so different? Well, for one they are all hip, young men. Let's face it, Egyptian hairdressers don't really look the part. And who wouldn't want to sit around and discuss hair and fashion with a cute guy with no strings attached but the bill? The stylists themselves suggest that their appeal is simply a reflection of the quality of the service they offer. "Definitely it's the quality of the service that attracts the woman to the salon -- how you see the woman and how you offer her the service she needs," says Kriss, a Lebanese hair stylist who has been working in Egypt for the past six years. And these men are working with volatile stuff: for every woman, her hair can be either her asset or her nightmare. While many hairstylists would describe their work as art, Kriss says, "for me it is not art, it is about imagination." For him a woman's hair style is defined the moment he sees her: "I look at the woman for the first time and I imagine if I was in love with her or taking her out, how would I see her best, in which hair style, or haircut." He also believes that the impression that is common among Egyptian women that they prefer a traditional look, unlike Lebanese women, is incorrect. "Every woman likes to change, and I find Egyptian women go for a lot of changes in their looks too," he confides. "I don't feel intimidated when styling their hair, they are open to new hair styles and different colours." Another Lebanese who is becoming well-known in hairstyling is Maron, who manages the Jacques Dessange salon in Mohandessin. Maron is also in his late 20s, but has not yet been in Egypt for quite two years. For him, hairstyling for women is not an art either. "It is all about taking a good look at the person," he says. Maron, who studied hairstyling in an institute in Lebanon, also believes that his own perception of the person helps define the hairstyling that suits her: "When I talk with the woman for a couple of minutes, I get impressions: she may be calm, so she might not prefer strong colours; or on the contrary she may be very energetic, so I would guess she is up for a change." He also has a chart with him that he works with and tries to make his colleagues follow too. The first items on the chart are "the pre-conditions of the client, or how her hair is like before styling or cutting", followed by "what you believe the client wishes". "Of course, it is the lady who decides what she wants for her hair, but sometimes you have to have the last say," explains Maron. "If a lady wants to dye her hair and I am positive she won't get that colour, that it could ruin it, I would never do it for her." It is argued that despite the fact that Egyptian women are always doing their hair, the competition in Cairo amongst stylists is in fact rather limited. Maron agrees: "It is not like Lebanon," he says, "where the competition is fierce. Here there are less than 10 famous Egyptian hairstylists, and the city is open to new people." But it is also becoming obvious that the new trendy salons offer women a lot more than hairstyling. The ambiance and interior design make a huge difference. "I have to feel comfortable at the place," says Naiera Hassan, an air hostess, "the colour of the furniture and the decoration help a lot, and that is what I also like about the Lebanese salons." Making women at ease in the salon is becoming even more competitive than the hairstyling itself. "A woman has to find all she needs apart from hairstyling -- manicure, pedicure, and more importantly, facial treatment and make-up," opines Maron. "I can't let my client go to another salon or beauty centre, that would be a shame." As for Kriss, at his new salon, innovation is the best form of competition. He has managed to provide women with all the usual services, and added massage and a special section for veiled women as well. Most surprising, perhaps, is the option to bring your partner with you. "We have a separate floor for men, and now we have couples who come together -- mostly on Fridays -- to style their hair and go out later." Although the idea of finding young men going along with you to the same hairstylist might seem awkward, Kriss finds it normal. "Some men used to come to my other salon that was mainly for women, so I decided to have a special section for them -- especially now that some men grow their hair or want to have highlights," he adds. "We are even going to provide Internet access so the ladies have something to do while they wait for each other." Although the cost ranges between average and very expensive depending on the salon, some women will pay whatever it takes to get "the look". "Although I paid LE900 to cut and dye my hair, I think my new look is worth it," Mahgoub said. Tips for your hair: * To avoid exposing your hair to adverse weather conditions, don't go out immediately after washing it: dry it first * Try to use UV protection products on your hair, whether shampoo, conditioner or gel * For a healthy look, trim your hair every six weeks * Consider the colours that suit your complexion if you want to dye your hair * Remember that "fashion" is what suits you best
