EXPERT SPEAK
“Education is the missing piece”
Asha Hariharan, Director of Education, Enrich AHA, discusses with Kanishka Ramchandani the core values of education that professionals need to succeed in today’s competitive scenario.
Asha Hariharan, the doyen of hair education in India, was instrumental in the launch of the Indian edition of Modern Barber Challenge. With her nuanced approach, technical prowess and decades of experience in the field of hairdressing, colouration and barbering, Hariharan helped lay a strong foundation for creative expression for barbers. This foundation rests on the cornerstone of education.
As one of India’s top educationists and consultant to leading cosmetic, hair brands and salons, Hariharan’s contribution towards the country’s hairdressing and barbering is worthy of applause. A graduate of the American Maryknoll Sister’s School, Hariharan studied her craft from the top schools like Vidal Sassoon, London; Pivot Point, USA; Rever, Hong Kong; Christian Chaveau, Paris; Frederique Deleage, Paris; Swenson School of Trichology, London; and the Sara Beattie School of Business, Hong Kong.
For more than 40 years, she has worked on building products, education and brand visibility for lead players in the hair, beauty and colour cosmetic world. When she was not busy leading her salon chain Beyond the Fringe, formulating new product lines and being featured in top magazines, she was working on creating an education-first academy – AHA – along with her husband, Samir Hariharan. Today, she helms Enrich AHA as Director of Education, guiding newcomers and hair professionals on the path of excellence.
What are your views on the way hair education is progressing in India?
I feel we still haven’t reached the international level yet. There’s a difference between doing a show, a seminar and an educational session. A show is about being spectacular and entertaining. A seminar lies somewhere in between and depends a lot on the grasping power of the audience and the communication skills of the trainer. But education is something else entirely.
In India, when we say ‘trainer,’ what do we mean? Are you a source of information, or can you truly teach? Can you mentor others technically and scientifically? Can you coach others to become mentors themselves? These are four different stages of being a trainer, and the Indian market doesn’t yet understand the difference.
True education is about learning skills so that you can apply them in multiple relevant ways. Fundamentals give direction. For instance, if a client says they want volume in their hair, what does that mean? Many people confuse root lift with overall hair volume. As a trainer, one must break this down and teach the difference—when to use certain blow-drying techniques, where to place the brush, what ‘on base’ or ‘one-and-a-half base’ really means. All this requires understanding science.
Why do you think many trainers today lack shop-floor experience?
Because it’s easy to become a ‘trainer’ in the Indian scenario. Many salon professionals don’t earn well and look for cheap, easy training programmes. As a result, we have a lot of trainers with baggage and bad habits. They lack on-the-floor and real-world experience to be able to teach.
“TRUE EDUCATION
is about
LEARNING SKILLS
so well that you
CAN APPLY
them in
MULTIPLE WAYS
.
When I was actively working, we did eight services a day. My students today can do 45 foils in 30 minutes. This rigorous training translates into awards and on the floor success. Our own teams go through stringent assessments at Enrich on a frequent and regular basis. Some struggle with lines and precision when cutting. Some protest at the unkind standards but our education is relentless. I want my people and students to perform at a level that keeps them on top of their game.
Is it true that scientific knowledge enhances creativity in hairdressing?
Absolutely! Creativity becomes more meaningful when rooted in science. For instance, in my salons, I insist that clients return in a week after a colour service. I want to assess porosity, oxidation and pH levels. It’s about fine-tuning, not redoing. Some managers—who come from corporate backgrounds, not salons—mislabel such things as ‘redos.’ That affects the stylist’s confidence and metrics.
If both the manager and the stylist were educated scientifically, the conversation would be more nuanced. We will tell a client: “Come back in a week, and if needed, we’ll add a few more foils for free.” This creates trust and professionalism.
Do you see yourself continuing in hair education?
Always! That’s where my heart lies. Education brings me joy. It’s like cooking—if you know what you’re doing, even baking cookies doesn’t feel like hard work.
Creativity is big in India now, especially with the visual emphasis brands and media are bringing in. Education however still has a lot to piece together into its offerings.
You are now closely working with entrepreneurs such as Montie Thanki and looking at international collaborations. What do you hope to gain from that?
Montie has promised Indian artists exposure to international barbers. India has some brilliant trainers but they are few. I also encourage learning from international trainers—they are clear, structured and bring new perspective. They are systematic and know which concepts come first. That’s how education should be.
What is your opinion about the barbering industry in India, and the Modern Barber Challenge?
I’m in awe of Indian barbers. While they may lack finesse or balance at times, their speed and efficiency are phenomenal. Barbers the world over may take 45 minutes for a look; our barbers can do it in 15 to 20. They don’t realise they’re artists and how good they are because they’ve never had the luxury to think that way. Barbering could have been India’s easiest success story, if we had supported them early. But we focused on women’s cuts and colours, Now, my team and I at Enrich train over 600 hairdressers including how they dress and speak. English is encouraged but never forced. For generations Indian artistes are made to feel ‘not up there’ if they don’t speak fluent English and that is so wrong. How they communicate and consult clients is key even if it is in an Indian language.
What tips would you give aspiring applicants to the Modern Barber Challenge?
There are two things. Firstly, those entering the industry should know it’s a great time to do so. Gents’ fashion is booming—clothes, shoes, hair, everything. A good sharp haircut can completely change a man’s look and his confidence.
Secondly, for those already in the industry: re-strategise your approach, reinvent yourself, revisit what you love. Polish your skills and prepare for your next phase of success.