I was delighted when I found out that an old college friend of mine, Sheikha Muneera Saoud Al Thani, had teamed up with a renowned Parisian hair stylist to open up her first very own hair studio here in Doha, at Hilton Hotel.
Blue Brush Hair Studio is the name of the hair studio which is bringing a level of hair styling, hair care and makeup at Paris Fashion Week standard. And the hair stylists at the studio previously worked at Paris Fashion Week.
At the helm of the studio is manager David Martinez, one of the most highly recognized hair stylists in the international beauty and fashion industry. With fifteen years under his belt, David has worked with big fashion magazines like Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and Vanity Fair, and in big fashion shows for the likes of Dior, Lanvin, Louis Vuitton and Chloe.
The Blue Brush Hair Studio experience is akin to that of a high-end Parisian hair studio.
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| We all love a mood board! |
I was lucky enough to get the chance to interview David, who by the way is super sweet:
How did you find your way from Paris to Doha?
David: The Middle East has been a great opportunity. I came to Doha some years ago and met Sheikha Muneera Al Thani by chance. She has, as a lot of Qatari women, a very sharp and clever idea of beauty. I knew from the beginning that we could build something great and really new here.
My story is like a fairytale and Doha is the cherry on top of the cake!
I grew up in a small city in south France and one day I decided that I wanted to move to the BIG world of fashion and without any real reason but just because I felt it, I just made it… I was 19. I worked in Paris for the past fifteen years in the highest fashion circles and after all this I felt it was time for me to explore something else and move again. Life is a circle isn't it? There is a huge difference between working in Europe on models and styling real women in real life. I used to be my own boss, the only eye, the one that could decide everything that I wanted on a woman's hair; now it is absolutely different. The only boss, the eye, is the woman I'm going to style. Now my biggest challenge is to enter a woman's head, to understand her personality, her wish and to help her get the best style according to who she is or who she decided she wants to be. This new part of my work is much more human and personal. I love people, I love to share and I know how much happiness I can give with my scissors. That's the interesting part.
When it comes to the hair and beauty industry, what do you think Doha lacks?
David: I feel sometimes Doha misses a little bit of exigency. In terms of beauty, there are quite good technicians, but sometimes you need more than technique; you need a vision and a sharp eye. Doha can lack subtlety. Things can look quite old fashioned if you don't find the right balance. You can't always have a giant up-do with very heavy makeup for instance…We will always try to balance things according to your style.
What do you think you and your team can bring to Doha?
David: Our will is to bring some freshness, some craziness and some real fashion to women in Qatar. At Blue Brush we all come from the fashion industry and that makes a huge difference. It is vital to stay tuned and keep the team and myself in the move and the mood. We will always continue to go to Paris, London and Milan for major fashion events. The Blue Brush team needs to be cutting edge and technically always on top; we always need to learn and the best is to be in the heart of the business.
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| The delightful David Martinez... |
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| ...and his blue brush |
What do you think of the women's sense of style and beauty here in Qatar and the Middle East?
David: Women in Qatar are very exigent. They travel a lot and are used to high standards; they also have a wide beauty background, they know icons and styles. Beauty is very focused. I think hair and makeup are essential, maybe also because they wear abayas so all the focus can be on the face, the eyes, the perfect skin. They have "allure," they are mysterious, have deep looks, and are very feminine. I find them always very elegant and subtle.
What are the services and features offered at Blue Brush Hair Studio that clients won't find anywhere else?
David: My dry cut. I’m absolutely addicted to dry cut, and all the women I’ve know in my life that have tried it once would never go back to the "traditional haircut." Jean Marc Maniatis is one of the French Masters of dry cut; I learnt it from him in Paris when I was starting my career. When I saw the first dry cut I fell in love with this technique. It is not very known and developed yet because it requires several years of practice and it is not an easy technique but it has BIG advantages.
First of all, hair is elastic, if you wet it and pull it, hair is going to stretch, so when it gets dry again it is going to get its natural movement and you will very often get bad surprises with a wet cut. Cutting on dry hair is working with the real length, the natural movement and the specific texture of the hair, no more bad surprises. You can style your haircut without my help at home! Hair will grow with its natural shape; you can enjoy your cut for longer than a classical wet haircut. Self-styling becomes easier; you basically don't even need it because I will work according to the logical nature and specificity of your hair. It has more freedom, safety and style.
What options do you offer for women who wear the hijab, like me?
David: Qatari women love to have healthy hair. They use a lot of product and are always looking for the most natural and efficient hair care. We have a specific hair clinic that provides deep treatments for each hair nature. We also learned with time that Qatari ladies often go to big events like weddings, so we provide hairstyles for all tastes and wishes, from the most simple but perfect blowout, to the most technical fashion up-do.
I have also noticed that Qatari women are very sophisticated with makeup. It is really an art here. Our makeup artist, Alexandra Rouger, comes straight from Paris Fashion Week; she is one of the most recognized makeup artists in the industry. If you try her you will become a big fan for sure. She also works as a nail artist, so if you look for something really special, she is the one. If you wear the hijab my hairstylist Souad will take care of you. She’s really good and is also a colour and care specialist . She worked in Innovation for L'Oreal for three years before she came to Doha with me.
