Haifa Addas

The journey that led to the birth & concept behind INSTAGLAM. I grew up with a passion and great sense of appreciation for beauty and glamour. I was also lucky enough to be surrounded by women who inspired me on a daily bases. My mother, a makeup artist and hair stylist, had an influence on me in every aspect of my life. My grandmother, who was Miss Lebanon at a very young age and who still had her hair and makeup perfectly done until her last days, was an example that a woman can take good care of herself and her image at any age, anytime and anyplace. As a child I lived in many different countries and learned many cultures – Saudi Arabia, the Levant, Europe and Canada – which led to a multicultural upbringing in which I discovered that the demand for beauty is universal. The desire to look good and feel good about oneself is essential for every woman. As a teenager it was as if I was preparing myself for INSTAGLAM; I was always applying makeup for my friends, cutting and dying their hair, recommending beauty salons and hairdressers and makeup artists, and I would help them book appointments in different places around the world. As I grew up and entered the work life, I worked as a marketer for luxury brands like L’Oreal, Lancôme, Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani and Helena Rubinstein, and I worked with celebrities for leading Pan Arab magazines, where I got to take care of the celebrities’ beauty needs while they were in town. I also met so many talented professionals, each unique in her/his own way. I truly came to understand that these professionals have visions, skills, abilities and ambitions. Whether they were beginners or half way through their careers, these artists all have talents to share and grow. Half way through my journey, It became pretty clear to me that no matter where, when, or who, everybody needs to be pretty and glammed from time to time, and more importantly, everybody has the right to look great and to feel great about themselves, regardless of their age, circumstances and size of their wallet. Which is where the idea for INSTAGLAM came in. An online portal that can bring beauty experts together under one roof, and closer to anyone’s reach. INSTAGLAM envisions revolutionizing and simplifying the way we use beauty services, turning around the usual clients-go-to-experts model the other way around. It is my vision and my hope that as many people as possible, if not the entire world, can get a chance to enjoy the soul-enriching rewards of beauty and glamour. It is also INSTAGLAM’s vision to give artists the opportunity to reach their potentials in every way possible.Be it thorough our exposure or the opportunities that they may find through us, I hope the experience is fulfilling and rewarding in every aspect of their life.