Hair studio boss is headline act for touring star
AHAIRDRESSER from Rochdale has worked with Grammy-award winning R&B singer Ashanti on her latest tour.
Hair by Ilmaas, a studio based on Whitworth Road, Rochdale run by Mohammed Ilmaas, styled singer/ songwriter Ashanti’s hair during the whole of her 2022 UK Anniversary Tour.
Ilmaas, 34, took his first opportunity to style singer Ashanti’s hair in February 2020, creating a variety of looks which she loved, and so she approached him for her latest tour this year.
The tour celebrated the 20th anniversary of Ashanti’s self-titled debut album and chart-topping global smash hit single ‘Foolish’.
She performed her globally adored hit songs ‘Rock Wit U’ and ‘Only U’ to her UK fans in London, Greater Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds.
Ilmaas, who has worked at his Rochdale studio for 6 years, said: “It was a huge pleasure to hear from Ashanti and her team and I was excited to take up another opportunity of styling Ashanti’s hair.
“I was grateful for the opportunity that was handed to me by Godrey, director of Geestar Empire, who recommended myself to Ashanti and trusted me to style her hair with success.”
Ilmaas opted for bespoke hair pieces customised for Ashanti, which the singer said she ‘ loved’ and she posted the pictures of her perfected looks on Instagram and Snapchat, crediting Hair By Ilmaas for his work.
Winner of the best hairstylist award five times, Ilmaas spent his time on tour backstage to touch up Ashanti’s hair during breaks whilst adding hair pieces or accessories to maintain the star’s perfected look.
He said he felt as if he was ‘on top of the world’ to style his dream artist’s hair, whose music he had been listening to since he was a young child.