Noary Samarasinghe is young, beautiful and has worked for ten years in the hairdressing industry as a Cosmetologist at Ramani Fernando Salons and Instructress at the Ramani Fernando Hair and Beauty Academy. She has the hair and makeup looks of countless celebrities and models to her credit. Noary has worked with a number of local and international personalities in the glamour industry, such as Miss Iran, Miss Guatemala, Miss Colombia, Miss Kyrgyzstan and Miss Myanmar at the Miss Intercontinental pageant in 2016 and Colombo Fashion Week as a makeup artist. You can follow her at ‘NoarytheStylist’ on Facebook and Instagram.
This beautiful and vivacious girl is ambitious and passionate about her work. Her competitive spirit, determination to succeed and inability to take no for an answer is what writes her success story. Her pleasant and friendly demeanour endears her to her clients and this is a contributing factor to making her one of the most sought-after hair and makeup stylists in the city today.
How did your interest in the subject of Hair and Beauty begin?
“My father is quite artistic and at the age of 6, I would watch him decorating our Christmas tree and realised how talented he was. You could say that I basically learnt placing and balancing from him! Hairstyling and Beauty had always been my passion from my younger days and I used to love experimenting with all sorts of hairstyles on myself and my family. After I left school, I wanted to pursue either Hair and Beauty, or Fashion Designing, so I applied for both and decided to go with what destiny had in store for me. In future, I do hope to pursue another dream of mine, which is fashion design.”
How do you stay creative?
“Creativity, for me, doesn’t just stop at Hair and Beauty. Creativity constitutes part of whom and what I am; it is certainly a part of my life. I can be creative in everything, even something that I might not excel in. Even if you ask me to do landscaping, I’ll do my best like a perfectionist and succeed. I can meet any challenge and overcome it…that’s just the way I am.”
What aspect of your work do you enjoy the most?
“As a cosmetologist (makeup artist, hairstylist and beautician), I thoroughly enjoy every aspect of my work. The skin aspect of facials, the beauty aspect of makeup, the cutting, styling and colour aspects of hair, all of it gives me a deep level of satisfaction. My goal is to see good results in everything I do and I’m very insistent that the final result should satisfy me and every client I take on.”
What would you say was the turning point of your career?
“I would say there were two instances: back in 2010, a lady named Nina from MAC Cosmetics conducted a workshop on the basics of contouring and highlighting techniques with brushes. I learned a lot from her. The second occasion was when I attended a training course in Dubai in 2013. I developed my skills in haircuts, hair colour, ombré, highlighting and became more familiar with various cutting techniques. I also learned high technique skills in makeup, facial contouring and highlighting. I returned to Sri Lanka equipped with so much knowledge and made good use of what I had learned to improve my work.”
In your opinion, what is the difference between beauty and makeup?
“Beauty is pleasing aesthetic senses, how much enthusiasm a shape and form and sound can make you feel, beauty has balance and symmetry. Majority of people are under the impression that makeup is for the unattractive, but no it’s incorrect, make up is for the enhancement of hidden features, even for the attractive. People don’t always get this.”
Who do you look to for inspiration?
“Huda Kattan, Nikkie Tutorials and Georgiy Kot.
What sets you apart from your contemporaries in the field?
“I’m very competitive and adventurous enough to explore new trends. Like fashion, makeup has trends that constantly change and evolve and I am a strong follower of trends. Contouring and highlighting is a big trend all around the world and it has to be cleverly done. Sri Lanka is still getting there and the younger generation loves it. It just brings out the best in you.”
What do you do to relax when you’re not working?
“Dance is something that relaxes me fully. I’m a professional Latin dancer and I have competed locally and internationally with European and Asians, winning 1st place in Sri Lanka and in Asia. I became the 2010 and 2012 Asian champion held in Malaysia and Singapore, respectively; I had the opportunity to complete with top international couples. I also recently competed in China where I made it to the top 12.”
Thank you for your time, Noary. So what are your plans for the future?
“My passion for my profession will guide me to the best decisions and plans for my future.”
Text: Rohitha Perera
Photography: Nadun Baduge Weddings
Outfit: Ramona Oshini
Model: Iresha Asanki; Winner Miss Sri Lanka 2013
Location: Cafe Noir Sri Lanka
Makeup & Hair: NoarytheStylist