There’s a saying that goes, “Your life is as good as your mindset.” And while it’s true that having a strong mentality can do wonders in our lives, there’s one more thing that’s just as powerful: hard work. Meet Zeinab Al Saeed, owner and beauty consultant at OohLala Salon
—a one-stop shop for all your beauty needs in Muscat, Oman. They’re known for their vertical balayage, a technique Zeinab performs for clients herself, which 3D frames the face and gives longer-lasting results of up to 10 months, along with other services.
“OohLala offers a feel-good grooming experience with hair and beauty services that provide natural outstanding results while ensuring a friendly and comfortable environment,” the 35-year-old, Lebanese-born entrepreneur says when asked to describe her salon.
For almost 10 years, Oohlala has provided exceptional salon experience to their clients. “I want clients to step out of Oohlala and feel more confident about themselves,” she says. And if we only look at their growth as a salon, it is a testament to their service quality. To this day, they have three branches: Oohlala Qurum, Oohlala Crown Plaza, and Oohlala Gents—all managed by Zeinab.
How it all began
Her grind started when she was 16. “I started in Management Information Systems and worked in different domains,” she shares. Eventually, she found herself in marketing, branding, and events. But if she’s being honest, not once did she ever imagine being a salon owner.
“[Being in the] beauty [industry] is not my dream,” Zeinab says. “[Way back [year]], I was only helping one of my friends to get into a new business and get out from her work. Then, I ended up buying the salon and entering into the business.”
Thankfully, Zeinab’s husband was incredibly supportive when she started this endeavour. “He gave me opportunities to get my courses done and be involved in the latest techniques and trends in the market,” she recalls. In a funny—and quite extraordinary—play of fate, all her hard work and experiences prepared her to be the person that she is today.
“I usually have a hectic schedule and work over 12 hours daily. 80% of my time goes to work,” she shares, saying that aside from managing the salon, she also does hair services. Since Zeinab grew up with the drive to hustle, it’s unsurprising that she’s quickly learned to adapt as a business owner.
In more ways than one, Zeinab is meant to become an entrepreneur.
Oohlala’s signature service
One of the many things that make Zeinab a successful businesswoman is her commitment to her craft. As a hairstylist, she developed a signature service that helps women have a low-maintenance hairstyle: the vertical balayage.
“It’s a free–damage balayage. You won’t see harsh lines for your regrowth, and it has long-lasting results,” she says when asked to describe the service.
A regular balayage takes at least 5 to 6 hours to be completed. And if you’re a woman who likes to maintain their crown, you must return to the salon at least 4 times yearly. Zeinab recognises that this is something that not all women have the liberty to enjoy. “None of us wants to look like half of the head is coloured and the other half not,” she says. “When you get vertical balayage, you can come every 10 months to retouch [instead of every month].”
Vertical balayage 3D frames the face and gives women more time to focus on what matters to them by ensuring their hair looks good.
Contrary to popular belief, blonde is not the only colour that works for balayages. “It can also be darker brown, hazel, red, and any other colour the client wishes to have,” she says.
The price starts at 64 OMR. The final cost depends on the hair length, thickness, and condition.
When the pandemic hit
Serial hustlers like Zeinab thrive in situations where they can put their skills into action and grow. Enter the pandemic—when the world experienced total lockdown, with no definite end in sight.
“During the pandemic, I was depressed and pregnant and couldn’t do anything. I [really] don’t like remembering that time because it was a tough time for me personally,” she shares. Like everyone else, the COVID-19 pandemic brought challenges we had no idea how to survive. Having been used to the daily hustle since high school, it was a devastating time for her to be stuck at home and see everything closed.
“It’s not easy to see what you build over the years [close down],” she says. “In 2020, we were just celebrating the 6 years of Oohlala. And after 6 years, [you’d expect] that everything should already be settled and you can relax [a little]. But it was a very tough time, and I don’t wish for even one week of the pandemic to happen again.”
During that time, it was not an option for Zeinab to just sit back and relax. You can take the girl out of her work, but you can’t take the work out of the girl.
“I came up with an idea to do consultations online through Zoom,” she recalls. At that time, Ooh La La offered online hair and skin consultations with clients and sold their products with detailed instructions on how to apply them on their own. “We do consultations for the roots [of the hair], for example. [Then], we send them the tube, instructions on portioning their hair, and how to do the colours. We did a lot of videos on how to touch up your roots or do your nails at home.”
Aside from this, Zeinab also created the ‘Hammam in Eid’ kit to bring a little of the relaxation Oohlala offers right into their clients’ doors. “This kit has loofah, Moroccan soap, and Moroccan scrub. It teaches clients that they can do Moroccan baths for the Eid even if there are no salons open,” she shares, which became a great help for Oohlala during the pandemic, with some salons asking Zeinab if they could replicate her idea as well.
“A hard time it was a tough time. But it taught us an important lesson and showed us who supports us during a difficult time,” she says.
From “Aahh” to “Oohlala”
To Zeinab, Oman makes an ideal place for her to fulfill her personal dreams, her dreams for the salon, and her dreams for her kids.
Her dream for Oohlala is simple: to keep up the excellent service and find the right people for Oohlala. “I believe that the best way to succeed starts with the people around you,” she says. “My dream for Oohlala is to keep the right people to help me achieve my goals.”
One thing she learned throughout the years is that work will never end. “Even if you work for 24 hours, there’s still things left to do.” So, she takes some days off, puts herself on DND (Do Not Disturb) every Monday, and spends it with her kids.
“I take them on a vacation or spend it on a beach. Or take them to lessons,” she says when asked what she does on her time off. She lets her kids plan which restaurant they want to visit next or which place they want to go to. That’s how she balances her time as a mom and an entrepreneur.
No matter the circumstance, passion fuels Zeinab’s drive to keep thriving.
“I am passionate about growth. I love talking about business, motivating people, finding their strengths, and making them feel like ‘Here I am. A new opportunity is waiting here.’”
She craves progress. “I want to grow in this business and look forward to new opportunities,” she says. “I don’t want to be the same person in 5 years.”
And Zeinab certainly will not be.
Because when Zeinab takes on a challenge, she takes it on with all her heart. She doesn’t like to enter something only to fail. And most importantly, she never gives up.
She strives to rise above any situation and thrives beyond. You can check out and book Oohlala’s excellent services via Vawchoo soon.
