Nayana Karunaratne is a Top-of-the-mind name within the circles of Sri Lankan hair salon industry and its clients.
Being a reputed and internationally renowned beautician with decades of experience and exposure, Nayana has established Salon Nayana in 1980 and founded the Sri Lanka Association of Hairdressers and Beauticians (SLAHAB) in 1996.
Salon Nayana was formed with a view to elevating the profession of hairdressing in Sri Lanka to be on par with global standards.
The Salon has grown over the decades to have a strong distribution network with an array of branches in every major town in Sri Lanka and also in India.
Nayana is on a quest to collaborate with salon professionals and academies and share professional knowledge with them on maintaining standards.
To appreciate skills and recognize individuals who are in the sector, SLAHAB annually conducts National Awards competition from 1996.
For the 22nd consecutive year, the National awards ceremony will be held on February 18 this year at Galadari hotel. This time around awards will be conferred on beauticians, hairdressers and also Tattoo professionals.
Prior to the National awards competition, Mangala Mohotha bridal show also organized by SLAHAB will be held at the same venue on February 17 as an entrance to the main event.
Mangala Mohotha
 SLAHAB founder president, Nayana Karunaratne addressing the media |
Mangala Mohotha event commencing at 6 pm on February 17 will showcase talents of Sri Lankan beauticians and wedding designers. Sri Lanka’s number one beauticians will unleash their capacities at the event.
Chandimal Jayasinghe, Sumudu Wasantha, Theekshani Kariyawasam, Kayal Jayapragash, Indumala Rajapaksha, Namal Balachandra, Chaminda (Kulagedara), Chandima (Salon Sanda), Chathu Dulaj and more will be amongst them.
Sri Lanka’s supermodels participating as brides would support the beauticians.
The show will be choreographed by Sumudu Wasantha.
Evon professional cosmetics and Derma care cosmetics will contribute towards the success of the event. The jewellery sponsor partner is Raja Jewelers. Thus a colourful event is on the cards.
The 22nd National awards competition being the main event will be held on February 18 from 9 am onwards. This annual competition done on par with international standards is a platform for Sri Lankan beauticians to unleash their power and derive recognition.
The competition will have 11 bridal categories and three Tatoo categories. Hairstyles, ladies and gents’ haircuts, hair colouring, bridal makeup, mehndi, bridal bouquets, fantasy hairstyling, Indian bridal makeup will comprise the show. The winners will receive trophies, certificates, and cash prices. All participants in the competition will receive participation certificates.
The judges will comprise Sri Lankan and international beauticians and hairdressers. Bride and Groom is the official magazine for the event this year.
Experts’ comments
Commenting on the subject of Salons and beauticians, Nayana Karunaratne said, the industry is growing rapidly.
“I have been in this business for almost 50 years. We sell satisfaction. Apart from the doctors, beauticians are the people who touch the human body let alone Spa industry people. Hence we should engage in an honest and standardized profession. Yet some beauticians who enjoy a lucrative practice tend to compromise standards,” she said.
She further said: “Our budget for the National awards competition is almost five million rupees. We do this without government funding for the benefit of the sphere. It has been significant that every year an unknown figure winning the main award. Internationally qualified judges are not biased. The very next day results are made public via social media”.
Nayana also said a beautician should have professional qualifications. Thus SLAHAB harp on training and education in all aspects of hairdressing and beautifying.
She said the National awards competition makes practitioners sharpen their skills and enhance their creative abilities. She believes National Awards is a stepping stone for contestants to focus on international competitions.
SLAHAB Committee President, Sumudu Wasantha said, “SLAHAB is the only Sri Lankan beauty and hairstyling salon that is recognized internationally. We have produced an array of personnel who have enjoyed recognition locally and internationally.
Educating persons to maintain professionalism and to safeguard clients is our main objective. Globally the sphere has excelled to tremendous levels. SLAHAB constantly benchmark with international standards and bestow that knowledge on Sri Lankans in the sphere via training”.
SLAHAB endeavours on creating standards and making practitioners in the sphere to adhere to those with a view to enhancing the status of the sector.
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