TT's own Bally is hairstylist to the UniverseBy Darcel Choy Sunday, October 18 2009
click on pic to zoom in
Ashvin Bally prepping the newly-crowned Miss Universe Stefanía Fernández for a photo shoot in Nassau, Bahamas....
Years in the field have not diminished the passion internationally-recognised hairstylist Ashvin Bally feels whenever he steps up to his stylist’s chair. It is there when he practises in his salon in Port-of-Spain and it is there when he travels the world to do the hairstyles of the beauties vying for the Miss Universe title.
In an interview at his salon on Murray Street, Port-of-Spain recently, Bally reminisced with Sunday Newsday about his early years.
“I grew up in Claxton Bay with my parents and three brothers. It was wonderful there, it was all about community spirit, it was a street of families and the neighbours were like family and you were always nurtured by the neighbourhood people,” he said.
Bally remembers his passion for the “arts” started at the age of ten.
“At that age I realised I was gravitating further to anything with that sort of skill, relating to the hand so I started cutting my brothers’ hair and basically anyone who was in reach,” he said.
He remembered that in those days, coming from that sort of community, it was considered taboo for a male to aspire to become a hairdresser so no one encouraged him into that profession.
“So of course I went and did my academics but I was not very enthused about the professions that they would have led me to. I was inclined to hairdressing and now that I reflect on everything I was truly destined to be what I am today,” he said.
Bally started his career working with Joan’s Beauty Salon in San Fernando and he considers her very instrumental in his career.
“I worked there for almost 15 years and that salon gave me the opportunity to grow and specialise in who and what I am right now,” he said.
He revealed that he also learnt tailoring during those 15 years and modelled for House of Jacqui.
He said that early in his career he saw the potential of the marriage of make-up artistry, hairdressing, modelling and tailoring. “I began modelling because of the vision that I had which was to not see myself as just another hairstylist. So I was basically strategising in selling my career,” he said.
Bally continued his initial training at Joan’s but he pursued further advanced courses with Vidale Sassoon, Matrix, Paul Mitchell and Sebastian.
When asked what inspires him to come up with a look for an individual he said: “First impression is lasting so that plays a part, the influence of the person’s sense of style, their personality, their profession and their aura because I sense that person and I let that energy flow.”
Bally revealed that his parents were not initially pleased about his career choice, especially his father.
“He was not very excited, he was very upset. However, as time went by and as I started becoming more and more successful I knew my father was proud,” he said.
He described his father who passed away two months ago as a person who would never verbalise what he was feeling as he was a very quiet individual.
“But at his wake, one of his co-workers came up to me and asked if I was the son that met Donald Trump and it made me realise how proud he was,” he said.
Bally is internationally recognised for his involvement in the Miss Universe competition for over ten years. He got his start working with the organisation when the competition was held in Trinidad and Tobago in 1999.
“I was so passionate and excited but there was a team of hairstylists who were not very excited because they felt they were not being paid. To me I think the rewards of experience is worth more than financial and the organisation saw my intension and passion and I have been with them since,” he said.
Bally expressed his disappointment that Trinidad and Tobago did not have anyone to represent the country at this year’s Miss Universe competition in Nassau, Bahamas.
“I was a bit saddened by the fact that we did not have a representative there. I was there when the girls came in to look for their sash and Trinidad and Tobago’s was left all alone and it was so disheartening, especially when we have a track record of doing extremely well at these competitions, considering we are just a dot in the world,” he said.
As for the future, Bally has a lot of things planned including opening a second salon in Port-of- Spain.
“My passion speaks for itself with my ability to connect to people and put a smile on someone’s face is fulfilling to me,” he said.
