All eyes were on Kuwaiti makeup artist Fouz Alfahad at the Mane Addicts event in Dubai on Monday as she received red carpet treatment by celebrity hair stylist Harry Josh and Beyoncé’s makeup artist Sir John. Bare-faced with her hair piled on top of her head, the 24-year-old social media sensation looked as stunning as she does in her Instagram selfies—the very ones that have earned her a following of over 626K people.
Born in Kuwait, Alfahad grew up between London and the Middle East. She currently has a contract with the Kuwaiti YouTube channel TVBelMokhba to upload makeup tutorials. Her fan base consists mainly of girls in awe of her beauty and her voluminous hair. Many of these fans traveled across borders to meet her in Dubai and witness her transformation; four hours after the event began, the model’s backcombed hair fell into perfect waves, framing her contoured face and big smoky eyes. Style.com/Arabia speaks to the Middle Eastern beauty icon about her hair, beauty, skin, and Instagram secrets.
KHAOULA GHANEM: If you had to use only one product for the rest of your life, what would it be?
FOUZ ALFAHAD: I would definitely go for mascara. I use the Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real! Mascara.
Which three products are always in your purse?
A lip liner, mascara, and a press powder.
Tell us about your skin care regime.
I have combination skin, [it changes] depending on where I am. It’s very humid in Dubai, so my skin gets oily. I make sure to always moisturize and remove my makeup at the end of the day. With my job, I need to have makeup on, but if I’m not working or doing anything, I don’t wear any makeup. I also get facials every six months or so.
How do you keep your hair shiny and healthy?
I use a lot of masks and treatments. I use the Pantene Smooth and Silky Oil Replacement almost every other day; you can use it on dry hair as well as in the shower. People need to understand that it’s not just shampoo and conditioner—there are three steps to haircare. I don’t like cutting my hair, but if I notice that my split ends are getting out of control, I’ll get a trim.
Do you have any business aspirations in the beauty industry?
I want to start a makeup line or open a beauty salon so I can add all these different factors together. So far it’s just planning, nothing is really happening right now—but makeup has always been my first passion.
Can you share some secrets on gaining a large Instagram following?
It’s all about the content—you need to have good content. People are interested in what you’re doing, how you take care of yourself. You should post regularly and during peak hours, which are late afternoon and late evening. You should also interact with your followers, so they don’t get bored.
What’s your beauty secret?
Always apply your makeup in the best lighting.
