Q. Sir, what inspired you to enter the hairstyling industry, and how did your journey begin?
My journey into hairstyling was not something I had planned from the beginning. While my father was a respected professional in the hair and skincare industry, I initially thought I would pursue a completely different career. However, life had other plans. During my school and college years, I would occasionally spend time with my father during holidays and observe the dedication and hard work he put into his craft. Watching him closely gave me a new appreciation for the profession.
A turning point came when I had the opportunity to witness the backstage environment of Wills Fashion Show at Hyatt Delhi, where my father worked. Seeing the glamour, creativity and energy of the fashion world fascinated me. I realised that hairstyling was much more than a job; it was an art form that allowed people to express themselves. My father then trained me from the ground up and taught me the fundamentals. He encouraged me to instil discipline, flexibility, and professionalism in everything I do. From working in local salons to pursuing advanced education in India and abroad, every step strengthened my passion for the industry.
Q. You have trained internationally and invested heavily in your education. How has continuous learning shaped your success?
Continuous learning has been the foundation of my career. From the beginning, I understood that talent alone is not enough in an evolving industry like hairstyling. After completing my initial training in India, I felt there was still much more to learn. This led me to pursue advanced education through prestigious academies and international programmes in countries such as Singapore and the United Kingdom. One of the biggest challenges I faced abroad was the language barrier. Understanding different accents and technical theory was not always easy, but those experiences taught me resilience and adaptability. They also exposed me to global trends, innovative techniques and diverse approaches to hairstyling.
Rather than spending my earnings on luxury, I chose to invest in education and self-development. Every course, workshop and international training programme helped me refine my artistic skills and broaden my perspective. Those experiences not only elevated my own career but also inspired me to bring world-class knowledge back to India. Today, I strongly believe that learning never stops. The beauty industry evolves constantly, and staying relevant requires consistent growth and development.
Q. What motivated you to establish Sunny Hairport School, and what makes it different from other academies?
The idea behind Sunny Hairport School came from a very personal experience. Throughout my learning journey, I travelled to different countries and trained with some of the finest academies around the world. While those experiences were invaluable, I also realised how difficult it was for many talented Indian students to access that level of education. The costs were high, travelling abroad was not always possible, and international languages often became a barrier to understanding technical concepts. I remember facing similar challenges myself. There were moments when I understood practical demonstrations perfectly well but struggled with certain theoretical concepts because I was unfamiliar with the accents of French, Arabic, Korean, Chinese, Spanish, Turkish, or Japanese speakers. These experiences made me reflect on how many aspiring hairstylists in India might be missing valuable opportunities simply because they lack access to the right platform. Sunny Hairport School was created to bridge that gap. When I founded Sunny Hairport School in 2022, my vision was to provide world-class hairstyling education that Indian students could easily understand. We conduct training in both English and Hindi, with a strong emphasis on practical learning to help students develop real-world skills. Today, the school also welcomes international students and offers a diverse learning environment where aspiring hairstylists from different backgrounds can learn and grow together.
What truly sets us apart is our industry-focused approach. Students are introduced to multiple global brands and learn how different products interact with Indian hair types. We also provide strong career guidance. To date, I have personally trained more than 1,500 students, many of whom have gone on to establish successful salons, academies and professional careers. Seeing their growth and achievements is one of the most rewarding aspects of my journey. For me, Sunny Hairport School is not just an educational institution but a mission to empower the next generation and elevate the standards of the hairstyling industry in India.
Q. Having personally trained more than 1,500 students, what has been the most rewarding aspect of being a mentor?
Without a doubt, the most rewarding part is witnessing the transformation of my students. Some of my students have gone on to establish their own salons, while others have become successful educators, academy owners or leading hairstylists in their respective cities and states. Whenever I hear about their achievements, I feel a sense of pride that is difficult to put into words.
As a mentor, I believe my responsibility extends beyond teaching techniques. I aim to instil discipline, professionalism, confidence and a passion for lifelong learning. Seeing students carry those values into their careers is perhaps the greatest achievement of all.
Q. What is your vision for the future of Sunny Hairport and the Indian hairstyling industry?
My vision has always been bigger than building a successful salon brand. I want Sunny Hairport to become a globally recognised name that represents excellence, innovation and education in hairstyling. Over the years, I travelled abroad to learn from international experts because I believed there was always new to discover. Today, I want to take that journey a step further by empowering the next generation of professionals and showcasing Indian talent on the global stage.
I strongly believe that Indian hairstylists are among the most creative and adaptable professionals in the world. We work with diverse hair textures, understand a wide range of client needs and constantly innovate to achieve outstanding results. Through Sunny Hairport and Sunny Hairport School, my dream is to create opportunities where international professionals can also learn from Indian expertise. We are also working on launching our own professional haircare and hair colour brand after extensive research and development. At the same time, we plan to expand our presence steadily while maintaining quality and consistency.
Q. What were some of the biggest obstacles you faced while building your career, and how did those experiences shape you as a professional?
One of the biggest challenges I faced was proving myself in an industry where experience and reputation matter greatly. I had to work from the very basics, learn every aspect of the profession and constantly improve my skills. When I travelled to different countries for advanced training, I had to adapt to different cultures, teaching styles and languages, such as Arabic, French, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, Korean and Turkish. Understanding foreign accents and technical theory was difficult at times, but those struggles taught me the importance of persistence and adaptability.
When I went to London for advanced training at Toni & Guy, I was asked to arrange models for my practical sessions. At that time, I was young, new to the city and did not have a network there. Convincing people to trust an unknown hairstylist with their hair was extremely difficult. That was when I found a creative solution. Even before social media platforms like Instagram Reels became popular, I had already started recording and documenting my work. I used those videos as my portfolio. I would stand outside places like supermarkets, clubs and public areas with a board offering free haircuts and approach people. Many times, I met people from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and local citizens. I would show them my before-and-after videos to demonstrate my skills and build their confidence. Those videos opened the door for me to connect with people and share my work with a broader audience. Slowly, I started finding models and gained valuable experience. That phase taught me that opportunities do not always come to you; sometimes, you have to create them yourself.
Q. What qualities do you think make a successful hairstylist?
A successful hairstylist should be a good human being first. The person should have honesty, respect, dedication, and a strong work ethic. They should never compromise on quality and must keep customers as their top priority. Passion, patience, creativity, and the willingness to continuously learn are essential qualities that help a hairstylist build trust and achieve long-term success in the industry.
Q. How do you stay updated with changing hair trends and techniques?
I believe in creating and adapting techniques rather than just following trends. I developed my own highlighting technique years ago, which later became a trend. I continuously modify my methods according to changing styles and teach my team the same approach. Innovation, learning, and sharing knowledge help us create modern looks that suit Indian personalities, hair types, and lifestyles.
Q. What message would you give to aspiring hairstylists?
My message to upcoming hairstylists is to work with honesty and never make fake commitments. Always appreciate other artists because everyone puts in hard work. Focus on delivering the promised results instead of only creating expectations through social media. Success comes when your work speaks for itself, and when customers trust your skills, dedication, and professionalism.
Q. Who has been your biggest inspiration in life?
My biggest inspiration has always been my father. I saw him work extremely hard and face challenges boldly. His dedication taught me the value of patience and determination. Additionally, my mother, my wife, my sister, and my brothers have also been a constant source of inspiration as they support and balance my journey. Seeing my brothers walk shoulder to-shoulder with me, looking up to me as an inspiration, has made this team effort possible. Their belief in me and their willingness to learn, grow, and build alongside me have made this journey even more meaningful. Together as a family, we built Sunny Hairport from the ground up.
I am also deeply inspired by Mounir Sir, the celebrated Lebanese hairstylist whose passion and dedication to his craft first inspired me through his work on social media. I learned a great deal from him, attended his seminars, and even travelled to Lebanon to meet him personally.
