Anatoly Lazarev: The Impressive Stylist Redefining Beauty in Belarus

From Engineering to Hair Styling: The Journey of Anatoly Lazarev

Once a village boy named Tolik, studying energy construction, realized that working as an engineer at “Metrostroy” would not fulfill his aspirations. He embarked on a creative quest, trying his hand at modeling, dancing, and hosting. However, nothing seemed to satisfy him. By chance, he stumbled upon a hairstyling course. After a year of training, he became a teacher at the hairstyling school and soon joined the Belarus national team. He went on to become the national champion, a silver medalist in Moscow, Ukraine, and Poland, and the titleholder of “Master of the Year” at an international championship. He began training young masters and organizing trips to championships and seminars, even to Paris. Eventually, he opened L’Studio – Anatoly Lazarev’s beauty salon, aiming to make Belarusian women even more beautiful.

The Art of Hairstyling and Beyond

Anatoly Lazarev, a renowned hairstylist, trainer, and creative director of his salon, shares his insights on the world of hairstyling and beauty. He humbly states, “I can’t call myself a stylist with a capital ‘S’. Stylists are responsible for creating a complete image, including hairstyle, makeup, and clothing. We have people with an innate sense of style in our team, which can be developed alongside changes in the inner world. The more beautiful a person is inside, the deeper they can appreciate beauty. Hairstylists should work with such individuals to develop their taste and artistic vision.”

The Power of Public Speaking and Eastern Philosophies

Lazarev’s eloquence is natural, stemming from his childhood love for public performances. He believes in the Eastern wisdom that everyone has seven talents, and it’s essential to uncover them. He feels capable of managing the audience’s energy from the stage and charging people with positivity. When asked about his views on Eastern philosophies, he replies, “I believe in both the East and the West. The truth lies somewhere in between.”

Belarus: The Bridge Between East and West

Lazarev sees Belarus as a connection point between the East and the West. He emphasizes the importance of listening to one’s heart, regardless of where knowledge comes from. In 2011, he opened a beauty salon, aiming to bring a touch of Hollywood to Belarusian women. He notes that it’s challenging for women not to visit a hairstylist they admire. In today’s information age, we are constantly exposed to beautiful images, inspiring us to look our best. However, it’s difficult to see ourselves objectively. A stylist’s task is to understand psychology, read character and mannerisms, and suggest new ideas based on facial features.

Men’s Grooming and Business Challenges

Lazarev believes men shouldn’t obsess over their appearance. He argues that it’s challenging to focus on fashion when responsible for a business or family. Men should inherently possess a strong core. He notes that Belarusian men are overly conservative and prefer not to stand out. However, he shares an example of a businessman client who could style his hair differently for various occasions.

Opening and developing a beauty salon came with challenges. As a natural leader, Lazarev found it difficult to work under someone else. He faced financial risks but was determined to protect his dream. The beauty business has its specifics, such as investing in people. Salons invest time and effort into training employees, but there’s always a risk of them leaving and taking the client base. Lazarev focuses on creating a positive environment within his team, fostering a sense of family and mutual support.

Trends and Personal Preferences

Lazarev discusses current hair trends, such as coloring techniques like ombre with purple hues, bronzing, and balayage. He mentions the trend of pink hair, especially popular in Tokyo, where styles and textures are uniquely blended. He owns a book called “Face of Fish,” which showcases color combinations inspired by fish faces. However, he prefers not to follow trends but to create them. He shares an example of a unique hair color created accidentally in his salon.

When asked about his personal preferences, Lazarev admits he prefers natural beauty but supports self-expression. He believes in women changing their looks frequently to highlight their versatility. He applies the same principle to his children, encouraging creative expression. As a stylist, he values women with refined taste and artistic vision. He focuses on inner beauty and tactfully offers styling suggestions to friends.

The Anatoly Lazarev Style School

Lazarev recently opened the Anatoly Lazarev Style School, fulfilling one of his goals. He believes in sharing knowledge and trains his trainers to do the same. The school offers various courses, including basic hairstyling, styling, and makeup, all working in tandem. They recently received an offer to collaborate with a photography school, which Lazarev sees as an excellent opportunity to develop a sense of form, imagination, and style. His principle is “perfection through understanding.” He has his methodology for training masters, focusing on psychology, energy, and physiology to ensure students’ success and well-being.