With his roots in the salon business since 2001, educator and hair artist Marcos Viana has spent more than two decades mastering the cut, the colour, the art of making hair feel glamorous but yet very personal. After becoming an educator in 2007, he has trained professionals in South Korea, India, Turkey, France, the United States and beyond. A treasure trove of knowledge and expertise in colour, cutting, straightening and balayage, Marcos combines technical mastery with insights from global fashion and street style. Today, as part of PH7 Academy in Dubai, he uses this experience to shape the next generation of stylists in the region. Marcos shares with us, his thoughts on global hair trends, the timelessness of balayage and how PH7 is helping stylists elevate their craft in a buoyant beauty landscape.
Delna Mistry Anand: From your perspective, what hair looks are defining the moment here in the UAE, and how do they compare with what you see in Paris, London or New York?
Marcos Viana: The Middle East is a completely different market to the fashion capitals. Big trends in the US right now are warm tones like coppers, peaches, reds, mahoganies. On the catwalks of New York you’ll also notice hair left looser and more natural, with minimal backstage styling. In contrast, here in the GCC the look tends to be sleeker, with more polish. It doesn’t always follow global hair trends. One reason is that Dubai still doesn’t have an officially accredited fashion week, though with the way the city is growing, I believe it won’t be long before that changes.
You come with an incredible body of work panning the world’s fashion capitals. How has that international exposure shaped your creative approach and the way you teach at PH7?
I travel regularly and have had the chance to train or work in places as diverse as Brazil, South Korea, India, France, Italy, Latin America, Trinidad and Tobago, Morocco and Tunisia. That exposure shapes everything I do… it gives me perspective on different techniques, hair types and trends, which I then bring into the classroom at PH7.
Balayage continues to be one of the most requested techniques. Why do you think it remains timeless, and what can stylists expect from your upcoming workshops at PH7?
Balayage is ever popular for a reason, it can transform a look completely. It enhances features rather than just covering greys or adding one solid colour. Some balayage techniques are time-consuming, so we teach faster methods using foils to cut application time significantly. This reduces the time clients spend in the chair, without compromising results. We also focus on client consultation, because often a guest will bring an Instagram photo and ask for the same look, but it may not suit them. We train stylists on how to guide those conversations. And, of course, we work with Truss products, which are very gentle on hair.
Beauty education is evolving quickly, with new techniques and technologies emerging constantly. How is PH7 staying ahead of the curve?
Education is key! We believe you should never stop learning. We as educators are constantly training ourselves, whether through Truss, Pivot Point or other global leaders. Personally, I draw a lot of inspiration from South Korea, which I find very forward-thinking in hair artistry. Here at PH7, we make sure our students are exposed to that same innovation.
For young stylists dreaming of working in luxury salons or backstage at fashion weeks, what’s your best advice for building a unique creative voice and a standout portfolio?
Always go above and beyond for your team, and leave your ego at the door. This isn’t an industry where you wake up one day as a master hairdresser. We all start from the bottom… I still remember my early days sweeping the salon floor, and in fact, I still do it sometimes. To me, teamwork equals dreamwork.
And finally, what excites you most about where hair artistry is headed, both here in the Middle East and globally?
I see the return of waves and even perming… the 80s are coming back, and remember, you heard it here first! Korean trends are also hugely influential in the Middle East, especially around curls. We’re preparing stylists to embrace these shifts and lead the way with techniques that are both creative and practical, here at PH7.
related posts
.jpg)
