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Vishnu – the original single-name hairstylist
By Aryana Chelsea
Vishnu . His is a name synonymous with hairdressing in Chaguanas . It ’ s the name that says it all and his name has been saying it for a long time . He ’ s the unconventional talent armed with a comb and a scissors . The word “ fabulous ” comes to mind , a word he aspires to with each haircut and the word that he hopes to inspire each client to be from the moment they walk through his doors .
“ I just try to bring out the true beauty in you ,” he says during a rare interview recently .
He ’ s past the phase of the fads and the “ perfect product ” and is on his way to practicality . Or as he puts it , “ Making them ( i . e . the customers ) look as good as possible with the least amount of maintenance to get the most amount of compliments .”
Vishnu , a hairstylist who has accumulated over 30 years of training and experience in the business with “ a passion for a very good haircut ”, discovered thay passion as a young boy while visiting hairstylist , Anthony “ Brownie ” Mac- Farlane in Couva . His interest in hairdressing was stirred by Brownie ’ s ability to manipulate Afro-Trinidadian hair as well as his creative styling while working on beauty queen pageants .
“ He became a mentor to me with this style of work that he produced ,” reminisces Vishnu .
But it was Vishnu ’ s vacation to Toronto that cemented his passion . He recounts his first visit as a client to Vidal Sassoon , “ This senior stylist at the desk at that time , he said , ‘ You don ’ t have to make an appointment , you ’ re here already . I ’ m free , I ’ ll do it for you .’ And just being in that space and looking at the production , it was such a difference from black hair to caucasian hair .”
Of the haircut he received , he gushes , “ He just went to work . And it was such an amazing joy because at the end of it , it was just what I requested . It was so precisely done .”
Naturally friendly , Vishnu got to talking with the stylist who began educating him on the foundations of Sassoon .
“ They really produced five basic haircuts which are all still up-to-date . You could twist and turn and re-create different versions of it that adds to the trend or the upcoming fashion for the year ahead because that ’ s what fashion is all about . It ’ s not what ’ s wearing now , it ’ s what ’ s coming in . Either you ’ re ahead of the game or you just kinda mass produce what people want .”
Upon his return , he was sent by Brownie to deliver something to a woman named Joan Seudat , a veteran hairstylist who would eventually be awarded the Humming Bird Medal ( Bronze ) for her contribution to the field of cosmetology . While in the process of explaining to his mother who he had made the delivery to , she revealed that the location of Joan ’ s salon was where his parents lived before they moved ( he was born in San Fernando but his parents moved to Chaguanas after his birth ). It was a sign .
“ I just felt , this is it . This is what I want to do , what I want to be .”
Joan offered to train him and he took the opportunity , denoting the start of a long-lasting friendship .
“ This lady was just a next mother . She was just so selfless . She shared everything she knew .”
It wasn ’ t long before Vishnu crossed the waters to be trained by international professionals .
“ Of course I went to Sassoon to be trained ,” he states matter-offactly .
But he refused to limit himself
Vishnu during travels abroad .
to one school of thought , and decided to dip his fingers into Toni and Guy and Trevor Sorbie as well . Every year for a two-month period he would go to London to brush up on his training . He also started attending shows abroad and although it was inspiring to him for a time , he eventually felt the need to be trained by artistic directors . It was back to school in London yet again and even though he didn ’ t have the experience that his other classmates brought to the table , he somehow managed to get his foot in the door .
“ The edge that I have is coming from a very cosmopolitan island and the mixtures of hair , from black to Indian to white . No hair or head was a challenge . I think this is what makes Trinidadian hairstylists so very good at what they do because they have that capability .”
Soon Vishnu started offering his services in Chaguanas on a Sunday and then on a Wednesday and then on a Monday , until he set up shop in his mother ’ s back porch “ next to the washing machine and ‘ juking ’ board ”.
“ I realized I was working my way out of a salon that was under the umbrella of another personality .”
Vishnu ’ s ability to make clients surrender to his styling wisdom using his bold personality coupled with his friendliness and spunk , built strong interpersonal bonds with his clients .
“ You have to know your client , the one who works at the bank , the corporate woman , the one who sells in the market .
“ When you can capture somebody ’ s needs , I think that ’ s the secret of it . As years go by , you start understanding the needs , the maintenance , the upkeep , the expense and you try to simplify it and on their request , if they want to do certain things then you go ahead and do it .”
As his business expanded , changing location to create ambiance and even opening another location in Port of Spain , he began hiring specialists with years of experience to execute his vision . He shied away from the cut and dry Trinidadian set up of one hairdresser doing every job in order “ to create a busy salon ”.
However he still takes pride in being the master of cutting at his shop , continuing to personally see to it that his clients are satisfied , splitting his working days between the two locations , proof that this profession is commercially viable .
To those stuck in the mindset that hairdressing is “ what you do if you drop out of high school ”, he says , “ This is a multi-billion dollar industry .”
“ Respect is earned , not bought . Know how to market yourself . Some people sell themselves short and don ’ t get the respect they think they deserve . People come to your shop to be listened to , people come to your shop to be inspired ,
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people come to your shop to lift them .”
And his connection to Chaguanas has inevitably moulded his personality and channelled his aura .
“ It ’ s a very strong , sort of spiritual place and for me , being there from walking where there were no pavements to pavements and for every house that stood on six pillars now transformed into a parlour , a shop , a grocery , a boutique . I love the whole birth of Chaguanas and what it has become , it ’ s almost like the core . You have to go there to take a taxi to go to Flanagin Town , to Charlieville , to anywhere . It ’ s just such a hub . When you ’ re in Chaguanas you see the nuts man , the snow cone man , it ’ s what keeps you grounded .”
At this point Vishnu is living and letting life with the goal to make the most of it .
“ Life is a subtraction , it changes . Life is about leaving people empowered .”
On that note , he acknowledges the government ’ s efforts in offering courses for people to pursue trade to enable them to serve in their community or discover an untapped talent with the power to take them beyond . However his grievances lie in the current business economy noting that high rental prices “ try to create a business of survival and convenience , not growth ”, especially for upcoming hairdressers trying to make ends meet . His advice ? “ Education is the most important tool . Just invest in yourself . It ’ s not the space that you ’ re around but the knowledge that you can acquire in the field because when you can share that with a client , you realize you ’ re a lot more than what people judge you by . Whatever you choose to do in life , become the leader of it .”
To make an appointment , call : Chaguanas : 665-4373 ; Port-of- Spain : 622-8518 .