By Azera Rahman, IANS
New Delhi : They will paint faces, snip off locks and drape figures. All of this, though, will not be aimed at beautifying anyone in particular but at winning the India Cup Open-Hair and Beauty Competition, the first of its kind in the country.
Come December and the National Hairdressers and Beauticians Association (NHBA), along with OMC India (World Hairdressers Association), will be organising a national level competition of hairdressers and beauticians.
The winner of the competition will be sponsored by NBHA to participate in OMC Hairworld, the world’s biggest styling competition, to be held in Chicago next year.
Well-known beautician Blossom Kochhar, who is the president of NBHA, said Indian hair and makeup stylists were abreast of global trends and it was only fair that they got a platform to showcase their professional talent to the world at large.
“Thanks to the media and the constant education provided by seminars on beauty and hair care, we are getting a lot more conscious and our stylists a lot more aware. Hence there is no reason that Indian stylists should keep their talents and creativity within the walls of their room,” Kochhar told IANS.
“This competition will give them a big boost, to show their talents as well as learn from others.”
Creativity and the ability to give proper structure and form will be given topmost priority while judging the competition that will be held at the India Expo Centre, Greater Noida.
To be held Dec 4, the competition will also see an exhibition of works by international beauty experts as well as a two-day educational seminar by experts in the field from the world over.
The panel of judges for the competition will also have experts from the world over, who, after taking a test, will qualify to be part of the jury.
“This is similar to the OMC Hairworld, held every two years, where experts from its 65 member countries take a test and only after qualifying do they get to judge the competition,” Kochhar said.
From India, famous makeup and hair stylist Ambika Pillai and Nalini of the well-known duo Nalini and Yasmin will be among the judges in the panel.
There will be six broad categories in the competition.
Trend, cut and style for men and women, long hair style up, bridal make up, full fashion look for men and women, henna art and nail art.
“We have included henna art and bridal make up because we Indians are good at it. Henna art, especially, is our forte. Nail art, which is very famous abroad but is catching up here, has also been featured,” she said.
Talking about nail art specifically – as it has not yet been fully explored in India, Kochhar said this might be the perfect opportunity to see some 2-D and 3-D images on nails!
“Nail art is very interesting. Besides the simple nail paintings, there is folk art, with its origin in China, whereby two-dimensional images are drawn on nails. Then three-dimensional images, like that of a flower, can also be drawn with acrylic colours.
“It’s a craze abroad and it is catching up here as well,” she said.
The competition will be preceded by road shows in Kolkata, Guwahati, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Delhi and Kochi.