“Hair dressing is not just about the hair; it about the relation that you create with your clients. The way you talk, what you talk, how you relate and connect to them. I build a relation with my clients and enjoy every bit of hair dressing and see to it that my clients are comfortable and enjoy it too, ” exults Michelle Ribeiro, a well known professional hair dresser from Bandra.
Mastering the art of hair dressing, Michelle got her hands on haircuts, hair colour, highlights, straightening, pumps and all sorts of hair styling. She admits, “I have had my basics right so I can now play with anything in hair. I can fix it and mange to create something beautiful out of nothing.”
So, how did Michelle get her basics right? Living her youth mostly travelling across the world as a dancer, Michelle choreographed and performed at various places for around 12 years. It is when she used to dance that she would help all the performers in their makeup, hair dressing and hair styling. “I used to like dressing and styling my co dancers’ hair and I was good at it. Everyone would come to me and ask me to do it for them. That’s how it all started and I was inclined towards hair dressing. In fact, my mother helped spot this quality in me and encouraged me to groom it ahead,” she recollects.
Shifting her career from dancing to hair dressing was quite a difficult task for her but she knew that she had to leave dancing one day as her age would catch up. She was interested in hair dressing and therefore did a 4 month course for the basics of hair dressing. She says, “Training is not enough, you have to work on your own and apply. You need a proper base. If you don’t get a proper base you are never going to reach anywhere in life.”
Starting her career by working for Asif at his salon, Michelle got hands on experience to try and apply whatever she had learnt. She did very well at her job and got her name printed in the paper in the first year itself. Working there for three and a half years, she received proper guidance which she cherishes till date and treats Asif as her Guru for he effectively guided her on the right path.
She then went to Dubai but didn’t like it over there. When she returned, she started working at JUICE for another four years and thus mastered all the tricks of the trade.
“You don’t need to be in one place to learn. You can learn everything on your own if you have the willpower and interest,” she exclaims. After gaining so much of experience, Michelle felt that she should start something of her own and work on her own as a freelancer. She continues, “I had gained experience and build my clients. So I started working from home and freelancing for Asif too. I used to juggle 2-3 hours in the morning at Asif and then return home and work from home too.”
After striving like this for almost a year, Michelle finally decided to be all on her own and work independently. “I started working only from home and I really liked it. I had my own clients and I could treat them the way I wanted. I made them completely comfortable and relaxed and they enjoyed coming home,” she explains.
Some people don’t like to go to the parlour often but prefer a calm and comfortable environment like a home. This worked in her favour as her clients preferred coming to her house rather than spending at a parlour.
“Hair dressers are kind of psychiatrists. For we listen to our client’s worries, tensions, difficult times in their family or relations and thus, build a bond with them and make them feel light,” says Michelle. Her one on one interaction and bonding with her clients made her friendly with them and helped build a trust factor.
“It is one good hour of balanced conversation and healthy advice. I don’t just cut the hair of my clients and take the money. I advise them on what shampoo to use, conditioners to apply, how they should take care and maintain their hair, what they should avoid and what will be better for them,” she explains. So, if you go to Michelle you will definitely find a full packaged return gift in terms of knowledge and also make a new friend in her.
When it comes to work, Michelle Ribeiro is just phenomenal at what she does. She cuts hair of the famous actor Sanjay Dutt, his wife and kids. Also, actors Ashmith Patel and Amisha Patel are her clients.
“After reaching a certain point in life, you feel like sharing your knowledge with others,” she admits as she now imparts her knowledge and experience to others. Michelle teaches hair dressing and styling to aspirants, conducts classes on one student at a time basis, helps mothers who are interested in this field and want to set up something of their own. Moreover, she also helps her students find a job or get various orders by using all her contacts and cliental. “If you are interested in learning then I will help you to any extent. If you don’t want to learn then I don’t want your money for I don’t want to become a big thing but just share my knowledge,” she expounds.
Life is funny as it is said and Michelle believes that life is all about positivity. She is what she is today because she has made herself that way with her own hard work and efforts and support from her parents. “Life is not always going to be straight line. There are going to be crooked lines; there are going to be ups and downs. But take it positively. Learn from everything, pick up your lessons and move on,” encourages Michelle.
“First you make rules then you break them. Learn everything and then do not settle for anything that you don’t like. Keep updating yourself constantly and grow higher,” concludes Michelle Ribeiro as she encourages young entrepreneurs to follow their heart and do what they love.
Ronald Rodrigues
