By Imna Longchar
Dimapur (Nagaland) Aug 31: Dinloungam, a 29 – year old native of New Jalukie, under Peren district, and a resident of United North Block, Naga Colony, Burma Camp, Dimapur, is highly skilled in hair cutting, excelling himself with a diverse frame in his chosen profession.
Son of late Tiganlung and Gangongliu, Dinloungam who is third amongst five siblings, actually had a passion to be a uniformed personnel since his childhood but as his destiny had something in store for him, he decided to opt in for the other “option” as his profession.
Narrating his journey as a young boy then and now as a person who is satisfied with his present profession, to this correspondent, Dinloungam, shared that he had a passion for hair cutting ever since he was in class six.
He said during his schooling days, after seeing his skills in hair cutting, many of his neighbours and well wishers used to approach him for hair cutting and styling which boosted his morale.
An alumnus of Hill Cross English School, and Jiribam Higher Secondary School, Manipur, where he passed out and later studied at Sakus Mission College, Dimapur, unfortunately couldn’t complete his degree,
Dinloungam also shared that in order not to waste time or stay idle, he decided to follow his childhood passion by enrolling himself for a 3 months course on hair cutting and styling at the prestigious “Toni and Guy Saloon” Chennai, after which he started working at different salons including the well known“Green Trend”, for four years till February 2020.
With the alarm of Covid pandemic across the globe including India, he had to relocate to his native place, Dimapur, Nagaland, where he opened up the saloon under the banner and style “New Looks Beauty Saloon” in May this year providing services including shaving and massage.
Attending to nearly about 15 customers daily which according to him is sometimes very difficult to attend to, Dinloungam, also disclosed that it is his reasonable amount which he charges for his services-Rs.50 and Rs.40 for a haircut and shaving respectively and also charging an minimal amount for massaging depending on the timing.
Sourcing himself a minimum of Rs.12,000 to 13,000 monthly through his saloon, this young hair stylist cum entrepreneur like any other young minds also have plans to expand his business by opening up branches including a “unisex saloon” in the happening pockets of the commercial areas but expressed that at present he wanted to first experience his “startup” from within the locality which according to him is quite responsive.
In the context of Naga youths many of them being employed in beauty industry across the country and beyond, Dinloungam expressed his happiness over the hardworking Naga youths making a niche for themselves outside the state but lamented to see a sorry state back home here in Nagaland that all businesses are dominated by the outsiders.
He later said he envision a hope for a “new Nagaland” with more inputs from the Naga youths who according to him are the architect.