Qatar’s Doha Hosts Ilham Mestour’s Exclusive Hairstyling Programme at M7

According to the programme details, Qatar’s capital Doha hosts an exclusive hairstyling programme led by internationally recognised artist Ilham Mestour at the M7 venue in Msheireb Downtown. The initiative highlights Doha’s growing reputation as a hub for creative exchange in the Gulf.

Programme Overview

The MESTOUR Method runs for five days from October 11 to 15, with Keeta serving as hospitality partner. It brings together an eclectic selection of restaurant partners to fuel the creative experience. Participants arrive from Paris, London, Amsterdam, the United States and other destinations, forming an international community of professional hairstylists.

Creative Process and Participation

Each session begins with Mestour demonstrating unconventional hairstyles, working through intricate constructions, unexpected silhouettes and techniques she has refined over nearly three decades in the international fashion industry. Participants then recreate and reinterpret the looks themselves, while Mestour moves among them, adjusting proportions, refining techniques and encouraging each stylist to discover a personal creative language.

Mestour says, “After almost thirty years in this industry, I have so much I want to share,” and adds, “But most of all, I want them to trust their own eye, find their own way of working and take what they’ve learned into something that’s truly theirs.”

Local Hospitality Partnership

Beyond the hairstyling stations, the programme incorporates a distinctly local dimension through Keeta, which has assembled a constellation of restaurant partners to curate hospitality. Coffee is served by Blackout Coffee, cheese platters come from Trays, and buttery croissants and pastries are provided by Nawar’s Bakery, a homegrown business founded by female entrepreneur Mariam al-Thani. Nando’s Qatar and Calify also participate, offering varied flavours and dining experiences across the five days.

The collaboration reflects Keeta’s expanding engagement with Doha’s creative community, bringing local businesses into spaces where fashion, culture and international talent meet, allowing hospitality to become part of the wider exchange rather than merely an accompaniment.

Mestour comments, “I’m really grateful for Keeta’s support. I love that they’re bringing local restaurants and businesses into this experience,” and continues, “It’s lovely to see people from different backgrounds come together and support each other. For me, those connections matter, and I hope we can continue building on them long after these five days.”

Reflections and Impact

Mestour notes that Doha is familiar creative territory, referencing her previous collaboration with M7 on Amazigh Hair Couture, which explored the intersection of hairstyling, cultural heritage and identity and established a relationship with the city’s creative community that has brought her back.

She explains, “Doha has a special place in my heart. Working on Amazigh Hair Couture at M7 meant so much to me because it brought together hair, culture and identity,” and adds, “Coming back with The MESTOUR Method feels very personal. I’m here to share what I’ve learned, but also to meet people, exchange ideas and learn from them.”

The significance of The MESTOUR Method lies somewhere between the careful construction of a hairstyle, the exchange of ideas across different creative cultures and the conversations over coffee, turning M7 into a meeting point for those who understand that creativity rarely exists in isolation. For five days in Doha, Keeta fuels the people behind the craft, while Mestour reminds them that the most interesting thing they can create is something unmistakably their own.