World renowned beauty expert and www.lifeandmore.in columnist, SHAHNAZ HUSAIN who pioneered the herbal beauty care movement and took the Indian herbal heritage of Ayurveda worldwide, completes 50 years in the beauty industry in 2021. The Padma Shri septuagenarian talks to SAURABH TANKHA about her ever-supportive father, transformations in the beauty industry over the years and her fears
When did you decide to enter the field of beauty?
I was married at the age of 15 and by the time I was 16, I had become a mother. Soon my husband was posted at Tehran as head of STC. I became bored with the drudgery of endless routine. Then the mental upheaval began. I was always interested in beauty and in making others beautiful, so I decided on beauty as a career. I was barely 21 then. I trained in leading beauty schools of the West and started my first herbal salon at my own home, in a small way, in 1971.
What was the reaction back home when the daughter of the chief justice of the Allahabad High Court and granddaughter of the commander-in-chief of Hyderabad army shared this news?
I was fortunate to have a broadminded, Oxford-educated father, Chief Justice NU Beg who put me through schooling in La Martiniere in Lucknow and an Irish convent, Queen Mary’s in Allahabad. My father inspired me to follow my dreams. When I opened my first herbal clinic at my own home, it was from him that I borrowed Rs 35,000. Behind my success lies his faith that I would succeed. He was a constant source of support. My family’s encouragement, support and understanding made me what I’m today.
You have been the pioneer of the herbal beauty care movement in India. How has the scenario of the industry changed over the last five decades?
When I started my career five decades ago, beauty treatments were “colour and cover.” I introduced “natural care and cure.” Superficial beauty treatments and hairstyling were “treats” women went in for. No heed was paid to the health of the skin and hair and the potential dangers of chemical treatments. In fact, there was hardly any awareness of other detrimental effects on beauty, like exposure to UV rays, environmental pollutants, artificial heating and cooling, etc. The “back to Nature” trend had not yet begun. When I pioneered the herbal/ ayurvedic beauty movement, I offered a new concept of customised beauty care, based on individual needs and problems. I drew from the powerful healing properties of plant ingredients and natural substances and adopted the principle of “care and cure.” Apart from general beauty care, I introduced clinical treatments and therapeutic products for the treatment of specific skin and hair problems.
Earlier the beauty industry in India, including the beauty services industry, was largely unorganised and fragmented. Only some basic beauty and make-up products were available. Today, the scene has changed. Awareness of beauty products and treatments is at an all-time high. This is attributed to exposure to global trends and lifestyle changes, higher disposable incomes and the trend towards fitness and youth. Today’s Indian consumer is aware of quality and the ingredients in products and wants to exercise this awareness by opting for high quality and safe herbal products. Many kinds of beauty products for every need are available. Personal care products for men, anti-ageing treatments, spa treatments are all part of the Beauty and Wellness business. Today, Artificial Intelligence is guiding the choice of customised products in online sales.
Ayurveda has its roots in the Indian subcontinent while you studied it in Iran. Do the basics remain the same or are they any different? Also, once you returned to India, did you study Ayurveda here?
I did not study Ayurveda in Tehran. I studied cosmetology and cosmetic therapy in Helena Rubinstein in London, Lancome in Paris, Christine Valmy in New York, Swarzkopf in Germany and Lean of Copenhagen. I studied Ayurveda in India. I also learnt ayurvedic treatments from ayurvedic physicians.
When you want to build your network, be it in any industry and don’t know “anyone”, where should you begin?
First of all, you should believe in creativity and innovation and build a network with something new, or specialised. I can provide the example from my own experience. I began extending my salons and outlets through a franchise system, by which I trained the franchisee and gave them the right to open Shahnaz Herbal salons and retail outlets, by which they could carry out my treatments and sell my products. Today, we have a global network of franchise salons, schools and retail outlets. Of course, before starting the franchise system, you have to build up brand identity and brand loyalty.
A business advice you would want to share with young entrepreneurs.
First of all, professional qualifications and training is the order of the day. So, it is essential to acquire professional and vocational training in the field. If you can get advanced training and also specialise in some aspect, it can be an advantage. Believe in yourself and your own abilities. Keep learning. Have the courage to say “I don’t know this, but I can learn it.” Start in a small way, but think “big.” You have to think that nothing is beyond you.
What are you most proud of?
I am proud of the fact that I have been able to market our ancient civilisation in a jar. I have promoted Brand India and Ayurvedic Beauty Care worldwide. I am proud of the fact that I became a case study in Harvard Business School for brand creation and now I am a subject in Harvard and part of the curriculum on “emerging markets,” in recognition of the international market for Ayurveda created by me.
What irritates you about other people, and how do you deal with it?
I have learnt to accept the fact that we are all different. That is what makes people interesting.
What is your greatest fear?
My philosophy has always been, “Do your best and leave the rest to the will of God.” This total surrender to the will of God makes me stay grounded and gives me inner strength.
Who has impacted you most in your career, and how?
When I started my business, it was my father who taught me to have faith in my own abilities. From him I learnt that you can be what you will yourself to be. I don’t believe in destiny. You can make your own destiny. He also taught me to never stop trying, because if you never stop trying, you never fail.
What is your greatest achievement outside of work?
I value my work for the physically challenged and the under-privileged. I wanted to make a positive contribution towards empowering them, so I started my free beauty training courses for the speech, hearing and visually impaired, as well as for acid attack survivors. I also wrote a book on beauty, which has been put into Braille. We have contributed to Government Skill Development projects by training and certifying over 40,000 under-privileged women. I also formulated the Chemoline Range for cancer patients, based on Ayurveda, to alleviate the effects of chemotherapy and radiation on the skin and hair. The products are given free of cost to cancer hospitals in India and abroad.
Do you think a leader should be feared or liked?
I think a leader should be liked, by inspiring others to believe that nothing is impossible.
What do you like to do for fun?
Due to the current Covid crisis, we have not been going out. I used to like going for coffee to Starbucks or to Select CityWalk. I enjoy listening to music – soft melodies in dim lighting. If ever there is an evening of leisure, I love to paint, expressing my thoughts and feelings with a riot of colours. Writing poetry is also something I love.
Your favourite memory from childhood…
One of my endearing childhood memories is the way we celebrated all festivals in our family. My father always instilled in us that religion should not divide people; it should bring people together. I still remember that he used to say, “Nature does not differentiate; she spreads her beauty all over the earth.”
Your biggest regret, and why…
I have no regrets. Like my father, I believe that whatever is beyond our control is the will of the God. We have no right to question or challenge it. Just realising this truth makes me feel very humble. It helps one to accept life.
The last book you read…
Our Final Invention by James Barrat which is about the dangers of Artificial Intelligence becoming superior to human intelligence.
