IN THE PURSUIT OF DREAMS AND THE WORLD OF BEAUTY

A story of beautiful Nasim Alireza who came to England in 2009 from Tehran, Iran and
started her journey through fashion&beauty industry. The beauty insider shares key
takeaways from the game-changing moments that both catapulted and challenged her skills
Her greatest passion is hairstyles and making the dreams of the most demanding customers
come true.

Leaders: Ms. Alireza, in your opinion, is this a good time to work in fashion?
Nasim Alireza: The fashion industry is competitive to break into. You might not find a job
immediately after graduating – especially if you want to work in fashion design. You will
need to complete as much work experience as possible – both at university and afterwards.
Otherwise, I think it is a good time now because the internet has allowed small independent
fashion designers to gain recognition. Fashion is a highly dynamic and competitive industry.
It is also one of the most sought-after careers.

Leaders: What inspires your fashion designs?
Nasim Alireza: Iranian fashion has inspired me, while mixing it up with western trends, this
gives a unique look. Modern Iranian men and women in Iran and all over the world dress
mostly in Western clothes. Iran has a rich textile history. To this day, Persian fabrics are still
considered among the most beautiful and well-crafted in the world; many are also regarded
as artistic works and showcased in museums and private collections.

Leaders: Social media has really been a factor in how much brands, and even luxury fashion
houses, are opening themselves up to the public. Do you think that Instagram also
contributes to how people perceive fashion?
Nasim Alireza: Absolutely agree. Instagram contributes to how people see fashion as it’s
everyday on their screens. Fashion has changed since the advent of social media as
consumers increasingly dictate trends rather than brands. Also trend forecasting using social
media analysis allows fashion brands to unlock their potential for commercial and creative
success. Furthermore, social media has amplified and accelerated the spread of a viral buzz
and made it hard for brands to anticipate the lifecycle of a product.

Leaders: Would you call yourself an outsider in today’s fashion industry?
Nasim Alireza: I believe fashion industry is for the people who are unafraid to be different.
Fashion is subjective, I try to be myself regardless of trends. My approach is marked by a
conceptual and deconstructive attitude and questioning the conventions of the industry.

Leaders: Can you please tell us a little bit about how you first got into makeup, and about
your journey to where you are today?
Nasim Alireza: I started make up tutorials in Debenhams, and then into my own salon, doing
party make up, weddings. For me wearing makeup was a progression. My makeup usage has progressed and changed over time. As a makeup artist, I think the biggest challenge we face
is staying up to date with changing trends and styles. Since trends and the fashion industry
change so frequently, it forces us to always research the latest styles. Because of this, we
have to upgrade our expertise frequently.

Leaders: Do you have any advice for anyone, any young person who wants to go into the
field of professional makeup?
Nasim Alireza: Easiest way to gain experience is definitely in a department store, you meet
so many people with different complexions and skin types. No matter where you work, you
want your everyday makeup to appear polished and professional. While your evening or
nighttime look may involve bronzer, your morning routine for work should focus around
creating a more natural look. Also you don’t need a face full of powder—a tinted
moisturizer or just spot correcting for blemishes is good, and that will help even out your
skin. Think about the features you feel most confident about and polish them up. Sponge,
brush, lash curler are the three tools in my makeup kit that I can never, ever be without.

Leaders: Where do you find your core inspiration?
Nasim Alireza: Predominately Instagram due to the vast gallery of ideas available. I look for
inspiration in the world around me, the people I meet in the Internet space. Nowadays, the
distance has significantly decreased thanks to the internet facilities. I think it is important to
use inspiration to create your own style and search for your own self. Sometimes certain
details can inspire us to create something new that reflects our true personality.

Leaders: What is the most important beauty advice that you can give to both men &
women?
Nasim Alireza: Facemasks!! Essential for amazing skin. Adding face masks to your skincare
routine can do wonders. They’re easy to apply and great at delivering results. My favorite
thing about applying a good face mask is the feeling of tightened and toned skin after a
single use. Masks are incredible at providing this deeper cleansing process, which leads to an
improvement in the appearance of pores that you can see and feel. You’ll be left with softer-
feeling and smoother-looking skin, and you’ll also notice a radiant glow and a more
refreshed appearance. Another benefit to wearing a face mask is the feeling of being
pampered like you’re at a spa from the comfort of your own home.

Leaders: What famous artists have influenced you, and how?
Nasim Alireza: Huda Kattan an Iraqi American makeup artist, beauty blogger, and
entrepreneur who is the founder of the cosmetics line Huda Beauty. Her brand is one of the
world’s fastest-growing beauty brands. With almost 50 million followers @HudaBeauty is
one of the largest beauty Instagram accounts on the planet, reflective of Huda’s drive to
build an informed, engaged and passionate community.
Leaders: Do you ever have doubts about your work?

Nasim Alireza: Not really, if you’re clear and professional doubts shouldn’t really exist. My
passion became my career and that’s why I also say, do what you love, you never know
where it will lead you. Inspiration comes from everywhere, from travelling – when we were
able to travel! From nature and the incredible colours around us. remember to always
believe in yourself and your abilities. If you have a good experience and faith in success – you
will never doubt your abilities.

Leaders: Is there something that keeps you motivated?
Nasim Alireza: Beauty motivates me, when I feel like I’ve done a good job, and made the
client feel beautiful this makes me happy and motivates me. Knowing the fact that my hard
work and perseverance will help me achieve greater professional success is what keeps me
going. Goals give me a direction to focus on – one that’s measurable and has an endpoint.
This can help you to stay motivated. Choose goals that interest you.

Leaders: Who is your ultimate hair icon and why?
Nasim Alireza: Mounir. He is a middle eastern stylist, who is always so creative, and make
amazing color transformations… it’s like magic! He has blessed beauty lovers with short clips
of himself magically cutting a bob in minutes, and creating perfectly balanced ombré swirls
with his magic hands. He has flawlessly styled celebrity hairdos for people like Shatha
Hassoun, Basma Boussil, Hellyluv, and Nadine Nassib.

Leaders: Debunk the biggest hair myth you’ve heard.
Nasim Alireza: Grey hair! So many of my clients are used to say that stress is causing them to
go grey. The fact is that, whilst they are correct in the sense that stress doesn’t help
anything, the truth is…grey hair is genetic and a natural part of ageing. As we get older, the
pigment cells in our hair follicles gradually die. When there are fewer pigment cells in a hair
follicle, that strand of hair will no longer contain as much melanin and will become a more
transparent color — like gray, silver, or white — as it grows. People can get gray hair at any
age. Some people go gray at a young age — as early as when they are in high school or
college — whereas others may be in their 30s or 40s before they see that first gray hair. How
early we get gray hair is determined by our genes.

Leaders: What do you predict will be huge in the world of hair in the next year?
Nasim Alireza: I think ‘70s hair should come back…big hair, lots of layers, and Uber glam….
These retro styles are back in a big way, from the shag haircut and feathered bangs to disco
curls and crimped textures. Think about Olivia Newton-John! Ever since Alessandro Michele
took the design helm of the Italian fashion house, we’ve seen more and more ’70s-style hair
flicks, curls, and long hippie-style tresses on the catwalk and more celebs are making
feathery free-spirited chops. Not only was ’70s fashion iconic (and relevant to this day), but
there was a beauty revolution as well. In fact, some of the most iconic hairstyles of all time
can be traced back to the decade, and we have these women to thank for leading the way.

Leaders: How did you learn hair styling?

Nasim Alireza: Growing up in Iran, hair and beauty and fashion is huge! Since a very young
age I was always inspired by the beauty of the influential women in my life and I knew that I
had to do something in that field. After various courses and educational paths… I found my
true passion… hair! I also learned how to take care of my hair in a professional way. Now my 1 haircare tip are regular trims, hair masks and oil massages. I was lucky enough to live in such an ethnically diverse country as the UK, where everyone’s hair type is different. I didn’t want to limit myself to one type of hair, so I have learnt the differences in hair colors, textures, and types.

Leaders: What is the most important thing in becoming a successful hairstylist and in
managing a salon?
Nasim Alireza: Customer service… have a great team and know your clients. Discuss their
expectations and be honest about the possibilities. In this way your clients will stay with you
and recommend your work to others. Many clients will ask the hairstylist for knowledge and
advice on how to cut or style their hair. Creativity and understanding lines and shapes will
help the hairstylist come up with the best hairstyle for their clients. Being attentive, pleasant
and engaged will help the hairstylist offer the best customer service available.

Leaders: What is your favorite hairstyle you ever created?
Nasim Alireza: I had a client who had extremely long and thick hair. She wanted to cut her
hair and donate them for the charity… It was an amazing and beautiful act. After cutting, I’ve
had the pleasure of styling her hair into the most beautiful Pixi Bob. It was really an amazing
transformation.

Leaders: What tips can you give to up-and-coming hairstylists?
Nasim Alireza: Being an up-and-coming hair stylist is an incredibly rewarding experience. You
get to make people feel great about how they look using your artistic and creative skills,
attracting new clients each time. Be attentive, foster interesting conversation, and get to
know your clients on a personal level. This will help your clients trust you. Take your time to
learn, which will build your confidence. With an established level of trust, your clients will
recommend you to their friends and naturally expand your client base.

Leaders: You must have seen many changes in hairdressing over the years. What in your
opinion were the best innovation and the worst?
Nasim Alireza: Best innovation – good quality heat protection products. Let’s face it, all our
clients love to use heat on their hair, but at least now they can do it safely. By adding a
protective barrier to your hair, heat protection spray prevents the loss of moisture when you
apply heat during hair styling. This keeps the hair healthy and nourished. Using heat
protection spray before styling your hair can help you keep your hair cuticles integrated. This
prevents protein loss, which in turn, controls the hair breakage and frizziness caused during
heat styling.

What was the worst trend? I think – the 2000’s mullet hair style…what were we thinking!? In
Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom of the 1980s, mullets were
“everywhere”. The 1980s were also the high point of the mullet’s popularity in continental
Europe. However, it is worth remembering that according to Cosmetify Hair Report – the
mullet tops the list of “most popular” hairstyles of 2021. It was the most searched hairstyle
in the past year – with more than 15.5 million searches.