What you want in life is not that important; but how badly you want matters the most: Shahnaz Husain
Unfazed by her high
profile celebrity status in the glamourous world of cosmetics, the staple diet
of iconic Shahnaz Husain is simple dal, roti, salad and yoghurt but icing on the
cake is daily intake of never dying spirit of ‘Survival’. It is that indomitable spirit which had kept
her afloat during the most trying circumstances of life when she was in an incarnation
of a journalist writing regularly for Iran Tribune to eke out bread. The driving
force was undiluted zeal to raise her family, but regular typing for hours at a
stretch on typewriters had left her fingers scrappy and tips numbed.
In
a detailed interview to Neeraj
Bajpai, Shahnaz
Husain, Founder, Chairperson and Managing Director of Shahnaz Husain Group of
Companies, shares experiences and journey of her life.
Excerpts:
Please tell us some interesting anecdotes of life which gave lifetime lessons?
I decided to work for the prized beauty
training institutions of the West to learn cosmetic chemistry and cosmetology.
I was not a graduate, having got married straight after school. But I loved to
write, so I started writing articles for Iran Tribune on various subjects. I
was asked to contribute 1000 words per week and the response was so good that
they asked me to handle all the features in English and soon I was doing the
entire English magazine – cover to cover. There were only manual typewriters
those days and I would be typing furiously to meet the deadlines. I remember
that my fingers became sore and started bleeding. I tied bandages and continued
typing, oblivious to the pain. Finally, I had to seek medical treatment and the
Russian doctor told me, “If you don’t stop typing, I will have to chop off your
fingers.” I will never forget the emotional upheaval. I knew I could not stop
writing. I needed the money for my education. I looked at my fingers and
quietly murmured, “Doctor, how much?” – I thought even if he cut off the minced
part – I would still have enough left. I was that desperate to continue, so
that I could pay the fees for my studies. I needed to earn the money to pay for
my education. He was amazed that my first thought or anguish was not about the
fingers I would lose! This incident made me believe that in life it is not what
you want that is important, but how badly you want it. It made me believe in
myself and my own abilities.
While
training in London in Cosmetology, I came across instances of damage caused by
chemical treatments. In a way, this changed the course of my life and career. I
wanted to find a natural alternative that was safe and without risks. My study
of Ayurveda convinced me that it could offer the ideal answers to modern
cosmetic-care. I returned to India and started my first herbal salon in the
verandah of my home in New Delhi in 1971. I adopted the concept of “herbal care
and cure.” It was totally a unique and path-breaking concept. I rejected the
existing salon treatments and devised my own. I also began to formulate my own
products using plant ingredients and natural substances based on the Ayurvedic
system. Today, the salon treatments and products have become breakthroughs in
natural beauty care. We have become known, not only for our treatments for
general beauty care, but also for our therapeutic products and salon treatments
for problems like acne, hyper-pigmentation, scars, premature ageing, dandruff,
hair damage and hair loss etc.
I began to extend my salons on a unique
franchise system. I started encouraging housewives to start a beauty salon in
their own homes and thus would achieve financial independence. This way they
could have a career and also be close at hand to care of home and family. I
trained them and gave the Shahnaz Herbal Franchise so that they could carry out
my specialized treatments. It was the beginning of my franchise system and
beauty training academy. The fast paced extension of the Shahnaz Husain Salons
and other ventures is due to our franchise system. Today, the Shahnaz Husain
franchise has become a successful business model, with tremendous international
goodwill and demand. We operate in more than 100 countries with
our franchise ventures and direct product
distributors. From one herbal salon to a worldwide chain of ventures has been a
phenomenal journey.
My father
inspired me to follow my dreams. When I started my business, he taught me to
have faith in my own abilities. He said there is no such thing as destiny. You
can make your own destiny; you can be what you will yourself to be. When I
opened my first herbal clinic in my own home, it was my father from whom I
borrowed Rs.35, 000. Behind my success is my father’s faith. He was a constant
source of support.
Q. Where do you find yourself now and after five or 10 years down the line?
Q. What are the expansion plans for the Group?
We
plan to expand our presence in major countries like U.S.A, U.K., Canada, Middle
East, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, South East Asia, New Zealand, Russia and
CIS countries. Our future plans include concentrated international branding,
strengthening and widening our global chain of franchise ventures and
appointing distributors in unrepresented new markets. I never rest on my
laurels. I always look for new frontiers to cross and new mountains to climb.
Q.
Any ambitious plan to enter politics?
No plan to enter
politics.
Q.
What is your message for young generation especially on retaining natural
beauty?
‘Internal good health
and external beauty’ are two sides of the same coin. True beauty comes from
sheer good health and physical fitness, so along with external care, pay
attention to nutrition, exercise and follow a healthy lifestyle. Opt for herbal
and natural ingredients for beauty care and stay away from chemical treatments
and products.
Q. How will you describe beauty?
Beauty
is a total impact of physical beauty power, brain power and spiritual power. It
is the blending together of physical, emotional, mental and even spiritual
qualities integrated into one as a whole.
Q. What is your criterion of judging beauty?
In
my book- “The Book of Absolute Beauty”, I have written that a beautiful woman
is one who has learnt to value her physically, mentally, emotionally and even
spiritually. She has a radiance and vitality that comes from sheer good health
and physical fitness. She has energy, vitality, a flawless skin, shiny hair, a
slim and supple body, self-confidence and self-assurance. Today, beauty
consists of holistic care that includes diet, exercise, and relaxation, along
with external care.
Q. Your tips for all weather beauty?
Beauty should be
according to individual skin types and the season. Dry skins and winter
requires more creams and moisturisers, while oily skins need light moisturising
and non-oily products. In summer, astringents, refreshers and toners should be
used more.
I never divulge the names of my clients. I believe that beauty is a personal matter and not ethical to discuss the names or cosmetic treatments of our clients, whether they are celebrities or not. However, I can speak of the few who went on record to mention me. I created Shamoist for our late Prime Minister Ms. Indira Gandhi. In fact, it had become one of our fast moving products. She regularly used Shabase, our sandalwood protective cream, and told me that it was a great boon during her election tours. One of my most celebrated clients was Princess Diana, for whom I created a special line of coloured herbal kohl. I remember she had come to Harrods, the famous London store and asked for Shaeyes, our herbal kajal. We were showcasing our products at Harrods at that time. Diana was using black kohl those days and was fascinated with our herbal kajal. So, I created a special line for her with herbal kohl in different colours. She was an icon of beauty, grace and elegance. Another favourite client was Dame Barbara Cartland, the famous author. It was her interest inIndia London and Paris
I never divulge the names of my clients. I believe that beauty is a personal matter and not ethical to discuss the names or cosmetic treatments of our clients, whether they are celebrities or not. However, I can speak of the few who went on record to mention me. I created Shamoist for our late Prime Minister Ms. Indira Gandhi. In fact, it had become one of our fast moving products. She regularly used Shabase, our sandalwood protective cream, and told me that it was a great boon during her election tours. One of my most celebrated clients was Princess Diana, for whom I created a special line of coloured herbal kohl. I remember she had come to Harrods, the famous London store and asked for Shaeyes, our herbal kajal. We were showcasing our products at Harrods at that time. Diana was using black kohl those days and was fascinated with our herbal kajal. So, I created a special line for her with herbal kohl in different colours. She was an icon of beauty, grace and elegance. Another favourite client was Dame Barbara Cartland, the famous author. It was her interest in
Q. What do you advice to young children to develop good habits to retain healthy skin and good personality?
Beauty
cannot be achieved in a day. It is the result of regular care and a healthy
lifestyle. The importance of good health should never be undermined. That is
the true foundation of beauty. Experts are sounding the alarm at the sedentary
life children lead these days, not to mention their junk food diets. Children
are spending more time in inactivity, looking at computer and television
screens, or cell phones. Lack of physical activity means poor blood circulation
and inadequate oxygenation. This can be the cause of lack of energy, chronic
fatigue and lethargy. Exercise, on the other hand, builds up stamina and
strength and improves blood circulation to the organs. Every tissue of the body
needs oxygen. Children who are physically fit sleep better and are also more
capable of handling emotional stress. It’s a wake up call for parents!
Q. What is your advice to old women so they don’t feel depressed over losing glare in advanced stage of their life when skin is wrinkled and body is frail?
A
woman, who has been following a healthy diet and lifestyle, finds it easier to
cope with changes, as she ages. Actually, regular exercise helps to delay aging
changes and has a beneficial effect on both body and mind. Along with exercise,
adopt a healthy eating pattern, with an emphasis on fresh fruits, unrefined
cereals, salads, sprouts, lightly cooked vegetables, yogurt and skimmed milk,
clear soups, fresh fruit juices. Your
diet should be low in fats, sugar and starch, but high in vitamins and
minerals. This kind of diet will raise your level of fitness and also help your
skin and hair. Along with regular skin and hair care, salon facials, keep an
open mind. Cultivate interests and hobbies. Learn something new. These give
another dimension to the personality and make you feel more active and
youthful.
Q. Your advice to Cosmetics Industry and Government for policy issues in this sector?
Herbal
beauty care is driving the growth of the cosmetic industry. Therefore, Ayurveda
needs attention, in terms of growing and research of medicinal herbs and
flowers. Export of Ayurvedic formulations can be developed as an organized sector,
by integrating it into the entire global vision for Ayurveda. Centres of
Vocational training in beauty also need to be developed. Along with this, traditional
Ayurvedic treatments can be developed further.
Cultural and Creative industries related to Ayurveda and Yoga provides
great potential for income generation and self-employment. Government can help
in exploring markets and in preparing products for the global market, especially
in terms of improving quality.
Q. You are a moving encyclopedia of cosmetics and herbal products. Please tell us something apart from this questionnaire.
Over
centuries of usage, it has been seen that natural ingredients have many
beneficial properties and actually help to enhance the beauty of the skin and
hair. Another important advantage is that they have shown a lack of harmful
side-effects. Synthetic preparations and chemical ingredients, on the other
hand, can cause allergic and irritative reactions. They can also cause a
build-up of toxins in the system, over a period of time. The safety factor
cannot be ignored and makes herbs ideal for cosmetic care. Herbs also have
powerful healing properties and many benefits for skin and hair care. In fact,
they have definite protective, preventive and corrective actions. They also contain vitamins, minerals, enzymes
and other valuable substances, which are imperative for the health of the skin
and hair. Herbs help to improve the normal functions of the skin and scalp,
including that of cell renewal. Thus they have the power to revitalize and
rejuvenate. So, look at nature with enlightened eyes and make your choices.
Q. Please tell us about your favorite movie/ film actor and actress / picnic spot / books / leisure activity?
Favourite Movie – Gone with the Wind
Favourite
Film Star and Actress – Amitabh Bachhan and Kareena Kapoor
Favourite
Picnic Spot – Hyde Park in London
Favourite
Book – The Power of Now
Favourite
Leisure Activity – Writing poetry and painting
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