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PEOPLE

STARYUM.MY, Sunday 17 FEBRUARY 2008

By NIKI CHEONG
niki@thestar.com.my

CONTENT

T WOULD be an injustice to
associate a clich to someone as
unique as Albert Nico.
Unfortunately, the phrase From
rags to riches is the simplest and
best way to describe the celebrated hairstylist.
In fact, it is hard to imagine that
Nico's immaculate complexion,
perfectly styled hair and trendy
clothes was ever anything but what
it is today.
This was hardly the case though.
At the age of 15, a friend suggested
that he start looking for a job
because it looked like Nico wasnt
going to pass his form three examinations (a prophecy that would
prove true). He took almost any
part time job he could get his hands
on waiter, dishwasher, selling
food by the road.
It was his job as a shampoo boy,
however, that would change his
life.
My ex-boss Chris Fong offered
me a job at his salon Hotheads.
Until that point, I never thought of
being a hairdresser, Nico explains.
He spent five years sweeping the
floor, washing cups and shampooing at Hotheads, all the time practicing his hair styling skills on
friends of his grandmothers.
I did it to make extra money
and learn I didnt go to any academy so I had no chance to practice,
he says. Putting in this extra effort
proved to be a fruitful decision,
especially when five years later,
Fong decided to hand over the
business to Nico.
At that time, I didnt know anything about cutting hair but he
(Fong) wanted to give up. I was 20
years old and I told myself that this
would be my chance, Nico adds.
From then, I became a boss.
Never one to rest on his laurels,
Nico ventured into all aspects of the
fashion industry. When he took
over the business, friends who ran
a modelling agency suggested that
Albert try out for an audition. He
knew nothing about modelling
then, but was game for the challenge.
I was so blur. They told me to go
for the audition and just wear

Style
Fashionably bleak

The Other Half

Lipstick jungle

10

From hair
to eternity

Hairstylist Albert Nico goes from rags to riches.

something nice and fashionable,
he relates. When I arrived at the
Federal Hotel ballroom, there were
hundreds of models. I just sat there
until they called my name, and
asked me to do a catwalk. After I
walked, everybody clapped!
Nico basked in that ovation and
eventually got the job.
Those days, I didnt think I was
good looking. If I was, I wouldnt be
doing jobs like cleaning cups!
Still, it was hard work modelling
in up to nine shows a day while
running a salon. But Nico persevered and even started doing

When I was
young I thought
I was very
unlucky other
children had a
good life but
mine was
complicated
ALBERT NICO, HAIRSTYLIST

Entertainment
Colin Hanks

13

Grooming
Clinique's 3 steps

16

Coordinator
RUBIN KHOO
rubin@thestar.com.my
Contributors
NIKI CHEONG
LOGESWARY SUBRAMANIAM
Advertising
JUNIZA YASMIN HUSSEIN
juniza@thestar.com.my
(03) 7966-8230

MAILBOX

make-up and fashion styling.

Then, not many people did hair
and make-up together, so there
was a good demand for me.
After 10 years, Nico hung up his
modelling shoes and focused on
Hotheads. He moved the salon to
KL Plaza in 2000, where he styled
celebrities like fashion designer
Bernard Chandran, former Miss
Malaysia Elaine Daly and actress
Samantha Schubert among others.
Late last year, Nico moved his salon
to a larger spot on the ground floor
of KL Plaza and rebranded the place
as Albert Nico Boutique Salon.
Its about branding myself.
When I go out, everyone knows me
as Albert Nico, not Hotheads, he
explains. The salon is still run

through Hotheads the business as it

holds too much memories for Nico
to give it up .
Indeed, after 27 years in the hair
and fashion industry, Nico is one of
the best hairstylists in the country.
Sure, things were never smooth
sailing but he persevered through
them with a lot of hard work, and a
little bit of luck.
When I was young, I thought I
was very unlucky. Other children
had a good life, but mine was complicated, he shares, explaining that
his grandmother brought him up
after his parents split when he was
still a child.
But now, I have made it for
myself ... thanks to God for giving
me the genes I have my mum is
smart, and my grandma has a good
heart.
It is hard then to deny that
despite all the obstacles family
problems, academic failure and
cheating business partners among
others that Albert Nico does
indeed live a charmed life. He has a
grandmother whos supported him
all the way, friends who were there
during his lowest moments and the
confidence to take on the opportunities that has come his way.
I have no regrets ... Im proud of
myself for having done so many
things and I havent forgotten about
where Ive come from, he says.
Im still who I am from the
moment I started doing this. Until
today, I am still doing what I used
to do sometimes I still sweep the
floor.
But there is something I told
myself I will never do again wash
plates and cups.

Write to:

Young Urban Male.my

Star Publications (M) Bhd
15 Jalan 16/11
46350 Petaling Jaya
Selangor.
yum.my@thestar.com.my

You can visit the Albert Nico Boutique Salon at Unit

D1 & D2 Mazzanine Floor, Block D, KL Plaza, 179,
Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur; go to www.albert
nico.com or email info@albertnico.com for more
information.