Total Care Salon: An old guard in new hands
The salon is an integral part of the larger Sri Lankan unisex spa and salon chain established by the esteemed Ramani Fernando
When the pandemic brought the world to a standstill, Nayeem Yakub Khan found solace in the familiar hands of Sujit, his trusted hairstylist from Total Care Salon, who had begun providing home services.
The salon, committed to providing a unique and homely experience, has been a haven for its patrons, including Nayeem, since 2003. But one day, during a routine house call, Sujit shared heart-wrenching news — the owner of Total Care Salon had decided to close the establishment and return to Sri Lanka.
Like many other businesses, Total Care Salon struggled to profit while maintaining the hefty operational costs during the pandemic.
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For Nayeem, this revelation was nothing short of devastating.
"Total Care has always been more than a salon for me," he said. "Their service was undoubtedly world-class, but what truly mattered was the homely feeling they offered every time I visited. I wasn't sure how to bid farewell to that cherished atmosphere."
Recognising Nayeem's deep attachment to the salon and its heritage, Sujit proposed an idea — Nayeem could acquire the salon and become its new owner. With a background in Marketing and International Business from New Zealand and established businesses in chemical import and sports ticketing, Nayeem initially had his doubts about running a salon.
But the warmth and family-like ambience of Total Care Salon were too precious to let go.
"I had to think and research a lot. I knew nothing about running a salon. But finally, I decided to buy the establishment with two of my friends, Seemab Yusuf and Asgar Dada," he explained.
Total Care Salon is an integral part of the larger Sri Lankan unisex spa and salon chain established by the esteemed Ramani Fernando. "Ramani Fernando's empire encompasses over 15 locations and an academy in Sri Lanka, with franchise salons in Bangladesh and India," Nayeem said
"We have two exceptional hair stylists, Muffeez Rauff and Ashker from Sri Lanka. Both of them received training from Ramini Fernando at her academy, and they have been with Total Care since it first launched in Bangladesh in 2003. They remain dedicated to our clientele to this day," he added.
From the exterior, Total Care Salon defies the conventional appearance of a modern salon. Housed in a charming two-story building named "Darling," the establishment boasts a beautiful white gate and intricate designs adorning the first-floor balcony railings, which was initially part of a private residence.
When Nayeem purchased the salon, he sought a space that would capture the cosy, comfortable, and homely ambience Total Care is renowned for, and "Darling" perfectly fit the bill.
"Total Care has always been housed in independent buildings, and I'd say that this is the signature aspect of our brand, in harmony with our customer service," Nayeem explained.
Inside, the ground floor caters to male clients with a separate massage room and hair-cutting section. On the other hand, the first floor is dedicated to female clients soliciting various services, including massages, spa treatments, bridal makeovers, hair colouring, and hairstyling. Two different floor managers supervise each floor.
When we visited Total Care Salon, we saw an in-house stylist meticulously styling the hair of a middle-aged woman. Nearby, a young woman in her early twenties, the daughter of the former, patiently flipped through a magazine. She was waiting for her turn to get her hair done.
"Most of our clients are long-time regulars, with several spanning multiple generations within the same family. I have a few clients that I've been serving since 2003," said Muffeez.
From 2005 to 2012, Muffeez had to travel between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as Total Care launched new outlets in Sri Lanka. "During this time, if a regular patron from here visited Sri Lanka, they'd call me and get their hair done from me at our outlets in Sri Lanka. This warmed my heart."
Total Care Salon is one of the few unisex salons in Dhaka, a feature cherished by clients like Abonti Tahsin, who extolled its convenience for families.
What sets Total Care apart, according to Abonti, is its unwavering commitment to consultation. "They never recommend any services, especially hair colour, without first consulting me, and I genuinely appreciate that."
At present, the salon boasts a dedicated team of 45 professionals, comprising 20 men and 25 women. The two seasoned stylists, Muffeez and Ashker, have served the salon for nearly two decades, earning a well-deserved reputation as client favourites.
Margaret Bennett, a loyal client of Total Care Salon, said, "I've been coming here for almost 12 years now and always get my hair done by Muffeez. He is, hands down, one of the most excellent stylists in Dhaka."
Another delighted customer, Nazia Hasan, expressed, "I found Ashker after two years of searching for a hairstylist who understood my needs. He's definitely going to be my stylist as long as I'm in Dhaka."
Total Care offers extensive services, including haircuts, hairstyling, hair dyeing, hair treatments, bridal makeovers, and more. Their in-house makeup artist is Tasneem Khan.
"We have a strong bond among the staff. We consider this establishment one big family, and we're here to extend that homely and family atmosphere to our clients," said Muffeez, summing up the ethos of Total Care.
Price Range:
Haircut:
- Expert stylists: Tk2500-Tk3000
- In-house stylists: Tk1600-Tk2000
Hair Colour: Tk18000-Tk22000
Makeover: Tk6500-Tk8500
Manicure & Pedicure: Tk1700-Tk2500
Address: Darling, House no 16, Road 28, Block K, Banani, Dhaka, Bangladesh
