HAIR FLAIR
Q: Why Salon KESS?
A: My plan was to open a salon in Australia and call it KONDAY. But then I decided to stay on in Sri Lanka and open it here. ‘Konday’ wouldn’t have sounded too good so I changed it to KESS!
Q: How much have you changed over the years?
A: I’ve aged but I’m still the same person. I’m crazy, behave like an airhead, want to have fun but am very grounded when it comes to doing what I love, which is cutting hair.
Q: What’s hot and not about hair? A: ‘Hot’ is having a person sit on my chair, and emerge looking sexy and glam. ‘Not’ is chemically straightened hair.
Q: Why didn’t you undertake the entire gamut of hair, makeup and so on, like others in your field? A: This Jack of all trades is an Asian thing. I grew up in the 1980s when one had to specialise; and I believe that specialising is when talent gets honed. Being everything to everyone doesn’t help anyone.
Q: What’s your hairdressing secret?
A: My engineering background. Cutting involves mathematics and subconsciously, I calculate angles… then mould the structure, break it, tweak it and make it look new.
Q: Three things you can’t do without...
A: My dogs, exercise and tea.
Q: Tell us about the most rewarding moment in your career...
A: To see my team including the minor staff buying their own homes, meeting their aspirations and improving in life. What a feeling that is!
Q: What is it about hair that excites you? A: Everything – because it has endless possibilities.
Q: And the loves of your life... A: My dogs – Malli, Sudu, Menika, Chooti, Tikiri, Dooby and Pincha.
Q: Who has inspired you the most?
A: My mother. The creative genes are from her.
Q: What is your signature trademark?
A: Effortless style.
Q: Who’s the quirkiest person you’ve met?
A: Sunethra Bandaranaike – she’s funny and crazy, and loves and lives life the way she wants to – she’s inspiring.
Q: How do you keep fit? A: CrossFit.
Q: What brings you the greatest joy? A: Watching my team grow.
Q: And what gives you an adrenaline rush? A: A fantastic haircut.
Q: What’s the one thing you would like to change about yourself? A: My teeth – which were pulled out by the school dentists when
I was young – are crooked.
Q: Who would you like to be for a day?
A: The president. I want to eradicate poverty, make sure everybody works and there’ll be no more lazing around.
Q: What’s your biggest weakness and greatest indulgence?
A: Dogs are my weakness and shoes were my indulgence though not anymore.
Q: Your most memorable moment...
A: I was about 19 and returning to Sri Lanka from Milan carrying my newly won Apprentice of the Year Award. At the airport, the man seated beside me was obliviously crushing his cigarette into my trophy!
Q: Something no one knows about you...
A: Text messaging is impossible because I have dyslexia.
Q: With whom would your fantasy date night be?
A: Lenny Kravitz – I love his music. I want to dress like him and have hair like his.
Q: How would you like to be remembered?
A: In the Dhamma I believe in, there’s no ‘me.’ So I don’t really care about being remembered. I only want to make a difference in the lives of people while I’m here on Earth.