REDAH MISBAH - GIRL ON THE GO

  • 22 Feb - 28 Feb, 2020
  • Alina Qamar
  • Interview

Redah sits across me, pearl earrings dangling through a mane of perfectly blow-dried hair. Her smile is warm and breaks the ice, before speech can. Redah Misbah is a beautician and heiress to Depilex group and the daughter of Masarrat Misbah. Her potent combination of talent, beauty, charm, and self-confidence makes her look like a throwback to an earlier era. And her authenticity is a refreshing, much-needed antidote for a world drowning in a digital sea of meticulously curated social accounts, photo filters, and sponsored tweets. Misbah is imbued with professionalism, work ethics and extraordinary natural talent. At length we speak to Misbah and get a glimpse of her journey as a beautician and beyond. Excerpts:


Introduce us to Redah Misbah. Share something you would like the world to know.

My main aim is to give women equal opportunities in the beauty industry and train them with the skill that I know. For instance, if I know hair dressing, management and skin and makeup, then I feel like it is my responsibility to impart that knowledge onto other women so they can be sustainable, contributing members of the society.

What sparked your interest in the beauty industry?

I grew up in the salon. My mother Masarrat Misbah pioneered the industry and salons. She was a single mother so we used to be together all the time. I watched her start a few salons and I watched it become an empire that it is today. So I think, naturally, when it came to that point where I had to choose what I want to do in my life, this is what I wanted. I wanted to be like my mother, I wanted to be in the industry. I was very lucky to go abroad and study and it wasn’t until then that I realised that cosmetology is an art, that there was a science behind it, that it wasn’t just ‘glamour.’ There is so much more to this field than what meets the eye.

What three makeup items should no woman leave home without?

For me, a lipgloss or a lip balm, can’t live without it. And my favourite product is an eyebrow kit. I love a good eyebrow kit which has a gel, a lighter powder and a darker powder. And the third thing would be a blush. A nice blush with some shimmer just spruces up your look.

There’s often a debate about women looking better with or without makeup. What’s your take on this?

I feel like makeup can be empowering and liberating and it gives me a lot of confidence. At times when I’m feeling down and I just wear a red lipstick, it lifts my mood up.

What is the most important beauty advice that you give to women?

The most important beauty advice was something that my mother gave me which was that water is the cheapest beauty product. It’s so important to drink eight to 12 glasses per day. It keeps you hydrated; it keeps your skin fresh. That’s the best beauty advice that I got.

What is the hardest part about working in the beauty industry?

I feel that regulations and laws are lacking in the industry. In the foreign countries, there are health and safety regulations. They have so many laws to protect customers, also to protect a therapist in the salon but we don’t have that. Considering how fast our industry is growing, we should have a lot more regulations. But I think it’s improving, it’s not bleak.

What do you love most about being a beautician?

To be able to make a difference to my clients. I see how it impacts people in such a positive way. They feel empowered; they feel like a new person. I also love being able to make a difference for my colleagues and employees. I train them, and teach them skills and continuously work towards their growth. That is also very rewarding, working with a team and being in a place where you can make a difference.

What do you still struggle with when it comes to your artistry?

I am a creative person and I do love cutting hair and being on the salon floor, but since the last couple of years I have to be in the office more which is not as exciting for me creatively. But again, in the office I have learned so much because salons are like any other business. It’s been a learning curve, but sometimes I just miss being on the salon floor and hairdressing.

What is it like to be your mother's daughter?

She has been an amazing mother and growing up with her has just been so amazing. To experience her as a boss as well when I started working with her was tremendous. She helped me, guided me and she pushed me to make decisions and to deal with the repercussions of those decisions. She allowed me to have my own vision and not share hers. She nurtured me so I can have my own vision and helped me realise it. She allowed me to explore, to fail and succeed and to have faith in myself.

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