BILAL ALKHATEEB,

 hairstylist

What are your earliest memories in Kingston?

I have so many great memories from my early days in Kingston. I fell in love with Jamaican music; the weather change was amazing. but the most memorable was learning patois and understanding the Jamaican accent.

What is the most memorable meal you have enjoyed in Jamaica?

Jamaica has so much amazing food! I love oxtail and fried chicken and rice and peas. My most memorable meal, however, was my introduction to Boston Jerk back in 2003. I would visit Portland just about every month.

What would you do if you were mayor of Kingston for a day?

Free haircuts for everyone! Joke! I think I would address the traffic issue. Some of my clients blame the traffic for their lateness, so this must be addressed.

What would be your recommendation to a first-time visitor to Kingston?

A good experience for first-time visitors to Kingston would be the Bob Marley Museum; it’s a nice Kingston attraction but it represents a great part of the island on a whole. The nightlife is also a great experience to be had.

What are the elements of a great blowout?

A good blow dryer for optimal heat and the right before and after products respective to hair type and end purpose.

For women who are losing their hair due to illness or genetics, what’s your advice to them for looking their best?

Women who are thinning for any reason should use less shampoo, deep condition to moisturise the scalp and maintain healthier hair. This will help to lessen breakage. They can also use organic oils to add vitamins.

Your international celebrity hair crush is…

Your international celebrity hair crush is…

Zayn Malik. He always has the latest haircut, nicely shaped and very well-faded. I also love Halle Berry; she looks awesome with any hairstyle she tries. She’s the boss!

Which bygone vintage period influences your hair aesthetic and why?

Which bygone vintage period influences your hair aesthetic and why?

I wouldn’t say I’m particularly influenced by time periods. I tend to like European trends. I love what I do, it’s my passion. So I usually tend to just go with what I feel like creating in any particular moment.

How do you turn mistakes into eureka moments?

How do you turn mistakes into eureka moments?

This is a difficult question. It’s not often that seasoned professionals make big, irreversible mistakes. Having said that, I can usually fade out a mistake or just incorporate it in the overall look.

Name some of the more difficult things to master in your field.

Name some of the more difficult things to master in your field.

Two things come to mind. One is threading eyebrows. This is not easy; you would greatly benefit from an innate skill to do this. Accuracy and minimal pain while maintaining the shape the client would like are things that come with a lot of skill and experience. Another difficult thing to do is cutting hair with a razor. This also requires a lot of experience; it’s very easy to cut yourself.