The Beauty Entrepreneurs
We speak to Dubai’s top salon owners on what it takes to launch a successful business in the beauty space
WDEEMA ALMHEIRI
CO-FOUNDER OF THE BEAUTY SOCIETY @thebeautysociety.ae
Talk us through your career. I went through several ups and downs to get to where I am today, it definitely isn’t something that happened overnight. I started growing my platform slowly and being selective with the brands I decide to work with. Building my own brand and image was always a goal of mine and I’m grateful for the opportunities that have come my way and for the ability to branch further into the beauty space.
How did you find yourself in the beauty space? Finding myself in the beauty space has come naturally to me since it’s a big part of my life. Self-care and maintenance have also been something I’ve prioritised and always looked for the best services and products before it was a part of my business.
What inspired you to launch your own salon? My sisters and I have had this idea for years. It started with a name The Beauty Society that we reserved in 2018 and we decided to wait for the right opportunity. That opportunity came when we moved to a community that we felt didn’t accommodate our beauty needs and wanted to fill that gap in the market.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received on your entrepreneurial journey?
The best advice I’ve received and believe in is to not be afraid to take risks. Failure is what will enable you to learn from your mistakes.
Talk us through your personal beauty routine.
I try my best to stay consistent with my beauty routine and it’s become easier now that we finally launched The Beauty Society. I use organic hair treatments to help strengthen and soften my hair and go for regular trims to promote hair growth. I love the feeling of a clean fresh set of nails and often switch them up whether it’s nail art or just a simple colour shade. Lastly, I go for facials every month to keep my skin clear and glowy.
This is The Entrepreneur Issue – what does being an entrepreneur mean to you? Building and learning about yourself throughout the process is one of the key parts of becoming a successful entrepreneur. You have to be consciously learning from your experiences. I believe that the staff are the backbone of your business. In order to excel you have to see yourself with the team and not above the team.
DEENA ALAWAID
FOUNDER OF COLLECTIVE. SALON @collective_hair
Talk us through your career. I studied at HDC in my hometown of Halifax, NS. I moved at 21 to Dubai to focus on my career. Although I was based in Dubai, I spent most of my time travelling for fashion weeks and cruise shows working amongst the top stylists in the industry. In 2022, I decided to dive into the business side of our industry with the launch of Collective. I am still based in Dubai focusing on editorial, the business and still travel with private clients during fashion seasons. I also am an ambassador for top hair brands such as Dyson and L’Oreal.
How did you find yourself in the beauty space?
I originally decided to study marketing at university as I wanted to pursue a career in the beauty industry. I, later on, realized I had a passion for the more hands-on side of the industry and enrolled in hair school. Looking back at it now, I guess I should have always known, I used to ask my parents for Barbie dolls just so I could cut their hair and give them makeovers.
What inspired you to launch your own salon?
I noticed the industry in this region was so different to everywhere else in the world I had been. We lacked a space for like-minded individuals to come together and grow both as a team but also as individual artists. I wanted to create a hub for these individuals. A place which was safe, inspiring and allowed unlimited growth both inside and outside of the salon.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received on your entrepreneurial journey? You have to be your biggest supporter. Promote yourself and your brand the way you would do so for a friend, a sister, a colleague. Nobody is going to believe in your brand or want it to succeed as much as you do; build it and believe in it.
Talk us through your personal beauty routine. A few years ago when my life started to become more chaotic and I was travelling a lot more, I found myself picking up a skincare routine which made me feel like it was the one thing which was familiar no matter which city I was in. I like to keep it simple but efficient. I am currently using a routine which includes SKKN, Rhode, Dr. Barbara Strum and cos Rx. These have been my go-to brands for skincare. When it comes to makeup, less is more for me. A few of my go-to staples include faux filter concealer by Huda Beauty, tinted moisturized by Estee Lauder and tailored mascara by Mina Sheikhly.
This is The Entrepreneur Issue – what does being an entrepreneur mean to you? Being an entrepreneur to me means everything. It made me realize that everything I have faced in my career, whether it be positive or negative had its purpose. I always believed that being able to pass on everything you know or help others grow in your industry is a sign of being successful. When I launched Collective, I felt like I was able to grow others the way I had myself. It’s brought a whole new purpose into my life. And in a very interesting way, more motivation and drive than I have ever had before.
BUSHRA SHAKHSHEER
CO-FOUNDER OF THE LASH SHOW @thelashshow.ae
How did you find yourself in the beauty space? I think I have always been drawn to the beauty industry, I am very feminine and I like to see other women take care of themselves in whichever form that may be. I have worked in the architecture field in a super demanding job, as a project manager and one day I woke up and decided that I want to shift to something different and definitely female-related.
What inspired you to launch your own salon?
For two main reasons, there was always a lack of experience in salons with uninteresting interiors and secondly, we wanted eyelash extension to be customizable to each client, not a one size fits all approach. My best friend and business partner, Sara and I shared the same interest so we ventured into what is now The Lash Show.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received on your entrepreneurial journey? Master business acumen and trust your own timeline.
Talk us through your personal beauty routine.
Effortless, and efficient – I always have eyelash extensions on of course! I put on a face serum from Caudalie, eye cream from Charlotte and lip oil from Dior, which all takes me less than five minutes altogether!
This is The Entrepreneur Issue – what does being an entrepreneur mean to you? It is who I am, I am always thinking a few steps ahead and I have a constant inspirational and creative mindset.