Wajeeha Ahmed: a strong-willed woman

woman @ work

Wajeeha Ahmed is one of those women who never say die. Wajeeha is an internationally acclaimed beautician and hairstylist. She is a professional artist who has done courses from reputed institutes like Merton College for hairstyling, UK. When procedures like micro-blading started taking momentum, she enrolled to Phi Academy (Phibrows) to excel in new aesthetics of beauty. This quest awarded her phenomenal success and she styled various international artists including Bollywood celebrities like Vidya Balan, Nora Fatehi, Varun Dhawan, Sunny Leone, Remo D’Souza etc.

Though Wajeeha was born with cleft palate syndrome and grew up in District Badin, Sindh, it did not deter her from achieving her goals. After completing her primary education, she moved to Karachi for higher education where she developed interest in becoming a beautician and went to UK to upgrade herself. In an exclusive interview with You!, Wajiha shares her inspiring story with our readers…

You! What was your parent’s role in your upbringing?

Wajeeha Ahmed: My parents were well-educated, forward-thinking people. My father served for Pakistan Air Force in Badin while my mother was a certified teacher. I spent the first eleven years of my life there and completed my primary education before relocating to Karachi in 1986.

I was born with cleft palate syndrome, the most common birth defect (cleft lip and cleft palate result when facial structures that are developing in an unborn baby don’t close completely). It was a significant episode in my life. Put simply, there was something wrong with my face. I became very conscious of my appearance and turned into an introvert.

At that time, my mother became my mentor who encouraged me to face the world boldly. She stood by me through thick and thin and emerged as my biggest strength and one of my strongest allies. Slowly and gradually, I was able to overcome my fears owing to my mother’s persistent efforts.

You! What were your initial jobs or ventures?

WA: My first job was in an international food chain way back in 1997. My second job was in a food processing company. It was about testing colour, consistency, and quality in addition to taking food samples and sealing packaging. My initial jobs gave me the much-needed confidence.

You! Tell us about the toughest phase of your life?

WA: I had a miserable married life that ended up in divorce. I attended many therapy sessions in order to retain my sanity. With three boys, life was not easy but thanks to my parents and siblings who supported me when I needed them most. For years I was demotivated and depressed, then I realised that I had to re-start my life. I started working with a strong commitment to give a better life to my children and then there was no looking back.

You! What made you step into the beauty industry?

WA: I have always been interested in hair and makeup. I was naturally good at it. I completed an intensive beauty school program in Karachi, therefore I knew how to thread and wax, but I have never had a job that paid well. It made me realise that I needed professional qualification to work in this field, if I want to excel. And for that, London was the ideal country for short term and long-term courses in beauty aesthetics. I thus completed a few quick courses in gel, acrylic, and lash extensions as well as various beauty treatments and continued to learn while working. After doing courses and attaining trainings in beauty and hairstyling from UK’s credible institutions, I started giving free assistance in a beauty salon in order to gain experience. I was introduced to a makeup artist who used to work freelance and was in search for a hairstylist who could do hairstyles and offered me to join her for a magazine shoot and that’s how I started working for the media and beauty industry. I was thrilled to learn and make some money. I gradually got to know various makeup artists that I saw at international musical performances, concerts, and other events.

You! How was your experience with Bollywood stars and styling them on sets?

WA: I came across a renowned makeup artist who did makeup for Bollywood films in UK. She appreciated my work and offered me to be her assistant and do the hair styling of the dancers in a Nepali film. I gave it a shot. The film crew was spending three days working on a single item song with Sunny Leone.

It was a different but wonderful experience. I enjoyed working as a hairstylist for the movie Shakuntala Devi and for artists Vidya Balan, Varun Dhawan, Remo D’Souza and Nora Fatehi. I also did styling for the web series, ‘The Family Man’ starring Manoj Bajpayee. Professionally, it contributed a lot in building my reputation as a credible stylist.

You! What is the biggest lesson life has taught you?

WA: My life has taught me to never give up. It has been a roller coaster ride and I have learnt to thank God in every situation. No matter how tough your circumstances are, if you have faith in your God, you will be successful in the end.