Feature

Corporate Grooming Workshop:
Behind the scenes!

Sabrina Hasan Shoily

“HEY! Are you interested in getting a free makeover from Kaniz Almas?” asked a friend of mine, a member of the North South University Social Services Club (NSUSSC). I was curious…“Makeover? How would I get that?” My friend replied: “Well, as you have seen the posters around NSU, you must be aware that we are going to have an event called the 'Corporate Grooming Workshop' and Kaniz Almas will give free makeovers to a bunch of boys and girls. We are in short of models actually, would you like to apply?” I answered in affirmative. “Cool, then be there at habibs@persona on the 21st June at 1 pm.”

That's how it all started! I wasn't very sure of what I was making myself a part of but something gave me the hint that it would be interesting. On the 21st, I reached the branch of habibs@persona and was introduced to all the other members of NSUSSC. We met Ms. Kaniz Almas after a while to sit and discuss the details of the event.

North South University Social Services Club (NSUSSC) along with Persona, organized the event 'Corporate Grooming Workshop', the first of its kind, held on the 25th of June. The event was divided into different segments. HR managers of several reputed firms were invited to talk about grooming and how much importance they gave to well-groomed candidates seeking jobs. They discussed about the ways fresh graduates should dress up for interviews and also for regular office. There was also a question-answer session scheduled with the audience. After the session, Ms. Kaniz Almas came up on stage and gave her advices and opinion to the senior students of NSU, who would soon be joining the workforce. It was decided that she would style the hair of 2 students, one boy and one girl on the stage in front of the audience! And the rest of us (there were almost 16 boys and girls) would be given makeovers and they have to walk and get up on the stage and our photographs (before the makeover) would be shown on the screen!

So, on the first day, I met some amazingly nice people from NSUSSC. All of us were equally excited about the whole thing. On the 24th evening, we went to habibs@persona for our first session of the whole makeover. We had our photographs taken (for the purpose of showing it to the audience), we had our hair washed and cut. Few of us had our hair highlighted or coloured. The boys had their beards trimmed/shaved. Soon after we thought that that was the end for the day, we were informed each of us needs to have our nails manicured and pedicured. That was a pleasant surprise. At least for me it was!

So, I came back home on the 24th, all excited about my new hairstyle and hair colour! After preparing for the next day, I decided to get some good night's sleep in order not to have dark circles on the day of the big event! The next day, we were instructed to be there at habibs@persona by 10am. At first they used a glow pack on our faces. After the pack was removed, our skin felt very clean and fresh. Soon after that our main hairstyle and makeup started. There were 10 girls, 2 wore sarees, and 4 wore salwar-kameez, 2 in executive suits and 2 in formal pant & top. 2 other girls, Rezwana and N.Nandita had something else planned for them. Rezwana was the one who was supposed to get her haircut on stage and N.Nandita was decided to be the one who was inappropriately dressed for office. Ms. Kaniz Almas wanted her so that she could demonstrate the do's and don't of office wear.

Upon reaching NSU, the famous ramp choreographer, Luna came to teach us how to walk on the ramp. It wasn't really the usual 'catwalk' or anything but just basic stylish walks! We observed her for sometime and then rehearsed. Finally, the moment arrived when we entered the main event. As we entered, proudly showing off our new look, our friends cheered and the screens showed photographs of us, before and after the makeover. It felt really great, for a moment there on the stage, we truly felt like the professional models. Once everyone around us started taking photographs, we felt like celebrities standing on the red carpet!

After weeks of hard work (of the club members) and 2 days of luxury, accompanied by a little bit of hard work and sacrifice (of the models), the event turned out to be a successful one. Many of us had to skip classes, quizzes due to it and nonetheless it was an amazing experience for all of us. I guess, most of us were happy about our new look and would like to keep it.

From the event, we not only had fun but also learnt that personal grooming is an essential part of life, which will be taken into consideration for the time when we get into jobs too. I would like to thank the entire team of NSUSSC for welcoming me, despite the fact that I wasn't a club member and for making me a part of their amazing team, and a very special thanks to Ms. Kaniz Almas and the team of Persona for being so patient with us and for giving us the privilege of indulging in a lot of luxury! I don't know about others, but I have decided to get my wedding makeup done at Persona because I personally am extremely impressed with their service! It is said “the best things in the world are free”, how true it is!!! Getting the chance to be a model for a show of our very own university and getting a free makeover surely brought a wave of refreshing change in our otherwise tiring and monotonous lifestyle. I am sure all of us would now give special attention to our grooming!

Quiz

This week's quiz:

Can you identify the American in the photo who was ranked several times as the richest man in the world?