This week You! is in conversation with Angie Marshall, a Karachi-based seasoned stylist…
beauty interview
In our country, few stylists have managed to complete their 30 plus years in the industry. Angie Marshall is one such stylist who has been in the beauty industry for more than 35 years. Over the years, Angie has been able to maintain her credibility as a celebrity stylist owing to her willingness to learn and to be on her toes constantly. “For any reputed stylist, it’s a big challenge to sustain in the industry. I have been doing refresher courses in hair and makeup to update myself with the latest trends and to compete in the market,” says Angie.
A versatile artist, Angie is equally at ease with all kinds of makeup and styles - be it party or bridal makeup, a fresh cut or colour. “I have always been inclined towards glitz and glamour. I started working from a very early age - when I was in high school. My mom had a salon at Tariq Road, so I used to go straight to the salon from my school. I learned the basics in hair and makeup from there. By the time I was 16, I was almost trained as a hairdresser. Initially, it was fun for me then I started taking it seriously,” elucidates Angie.
It was in 1981 that Angie went for her first training to England. She did diploma courses in hair and makeup from Vidal Sassoon and Complexion School of Makeup, London, in the year 1986. And it was in the mid ’80s that she opened up Angie’s Salon in Defence Phase 5, Khadda Market, Karachi. In 2003, she went to Singapore for Asia and Pacific Hair and Beauty Show and won a trophy for the most outstanding performer. In 2011, Angie got to work at the Miss Universe pageant, held in Brazil, where she had dressed up Miss Philippines, who was the third runner up.
Angie has been teaching makeup and styling as a free lance trainer for almost every leading and reputed brand throughout Pakistan. She also conducts grooming sessions for the corporate sector. Recently, she was in Bahawalpur, taking a master class for a renowned cosmetic company. Angie has an impressive list of celebrity clients including Neeli, Meera, Bushra Ansari, Seemi Pasha, Hira Mani, Amna Sheikh, Mansha Pasha, Zubab Rana… the list goes on. One of her earliest memories is of legendary actor, Zeba Muhammad Ali. “As a young girl, I always got excited to do hairdo of Zeba ji. She used to come to our salon whenever she was in Karachi,” tells Angie.
Angie feels that education and learning has no limitation. “I keep on doing refresher courses. You can also learn from your juniors. I believe in staying abreast of changing trends so I have ensured that I attend as many international courses as possible whenever I get a chance. I have been to Germany, Canada, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Dubai and England, to name a few,” informs Angie.
Talking about latest makeup trends for summer 2023, Angie explains, “These days it’s all about glowy skin. Natural glowy skin is trending this summer with soft barely there hues for a casual look. Matte is being overshadowed by glossy lips. Barely there lip colours are in; soft shades of brown are in. Defined eyeliner is in. Long lashes, either extended or with mascara is very popular among young girls. Dramatic eyeshades are in vogue too.”
So, how can one get the perfect summer glow using a few products? To this end Angie recommends, “To get the perfect glow, it depends on how well you take care of your skin. Good skin starts with proper diet, cleansing, exfoliating. I recommend washing your face regularly with a gentle facial cleanser; use a vitamin C serum for brighter skin; protect your skin with a daily sunscreen. I also suggest having regular facials from reputed salon to get that perfect ‘glow’.”
While describing how to prevent makeup from melting off in the heat, Angie expresses, “It’s best to use water proof formula makeup - be it foundation or mascara. Better to use matte lipsticks. Use tinted sunscreen and moisturiser, it keeps oiliness away. Another good idea is to use a makeup setting spray.”
Under-eye circles are a big problem too, so in order to cover under-eye bags, Angie suggests using colour correctors and concealers judiciously. “Basically, it’s all about how well your skin is prepared. If your skin is looked after and moisturised and if you sleep well then you don’t even need to use concealers to hide those under-eye circles,” stresses Angie.
While illuminating some of the popular haircuts in 2023, Angie shares, “The latest hair trends are all about feminine and versatile hairstyles. These days, there is a mix of long haircuts and short haircuts. Layers, bobs, fringes are all in - inspired by ’80s and ’90s. And there is lot of emphasis on texture. Now, is the trend to work with natural texture. Just get rid of the frizz and play around with natural curls, if you have straight shiny hair - play around with that.”
“Thick chunky streaks are also in vogue. For fashionistas in 2023, hair is all about revivals and evolution. They are ready to experiment with different tones and hues, especially the younger lot. They are willing to follow international hair trends; they also go for colour extensions. Bold colours like green and purple are also popular among fashionistas,” elaborates Angie.
Angie believes a true makeup artist is the one who should be able to work with all brands of cosmetics – whether high-end brands or local brands. “I work with all kind of brands from Chanel to M.A.C. It’s not necessary that only expensive products are good. Some of our local products and mid-range products are really good like Maybelline, Revlon, Avon, Etude, etc.
When asked whether ordering makeup online is a good idea or not, Angie replies, “It can be tricky. It can be a hit or miss kind of a thing. Sometimes you get amazing stuff and sometimes you really get disappointed when open the box. I myself am bit apprehensive when buying makeup online. I like to see what I am buying; I like to feel the texture,” states Angie.
According to Angie, social media is good for publicising your work and to build your clientele but it has its downside too. “It can be misleading for clients and followers, as a lot of times the work has been photoshopped for perfection and a lot of filters are used to hide all the flaws. Also, sometimes mediocre artists, owing to their contacts and PR, attract more customers than genuine artists who are good at their work. I recommend not following social media blindly. If you are a bride-to-be then it’s always a good idea to meet the makeup artist in person and then make an appointment,” advises Angie.
Model: Urooj and Zeenia
Designer: Bakhtawar Memon
Hair & Makeup: Angie Marshall
Photography: Yasser Sadiq
Styling: Thomas Fernandes
