We were lucky to catch up with Vaneesha recently and have shared our conversation below.
Vaneesha, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?
VNSK Beauty began unintentionally, but with deep intention behind it. At the time, my TikTok page was called ‘Holistic Habits’ – a space I created to share self-care practices rooted in natural wellness, mainly revolving around hair care. I was going through a minor health scare that triggered some hair shedding, and having dealt with intense hair loss in the past, I acted quickly to prevent it from worsening.
This time around, I recovered my hair much faster. I had already been using a weekly oil blend I had developed and refined myself over the last three years, along with homemade masks and a hair-focused diet. I started sharing my journey online – everything from what I ate to how I oiled my hair, and the response was overwhelming. My videos started going viral, and suddenly people were turning to me for hair advice.
What started off as something fun, and as an escape from a minor health scare, grew into something more. At this time, my account was completely anonymous, I hadn’t even posted my face yet because I was so nervous to put myself out there. When I started sharing my journey and saw how many people were resonating with it, I decided to offer my personal oil blend. I knew it had the potential to help others the way it had helped me.
I still remember the very first video of the oils, which my sister and I filmed together in my grandmother’s kitchen. We had a full setup: around 50 bottles, all labeled by hand. I wore a lab coat to reflect how seriously we took hygiene. Even though we were preparing everything at home, we made sure to follow strict standards and take every precaution – we wanted to ensure the highest level of care and cleanliness for our very first customers. I truly didn’t think those bottles would sell out so fast, if at all, but that same week they were all gone. That moment marked the beginning of a true community. Orders started coming in not just once, but repeatedly from the same people. I had built a loyal customer base that began to feel more like a circle of friends. To this day, some of my very first buyers continue to support the brand, and that kind of trust means the world to me.
As the business continued to grow, I had to start producing the oil in larger batches – and as someone who’s never been fond of math, I never expected how much of it I’d end up using to calculate precise dilutions. The truth is, anyone can mix a few oils together, but creating a formulation that actually works is a completely different process.
My blend was the result of months of dedicated research. Every ingredient, and the quantity of it, was chosen with purpose. There’s a science behind why one oil is used more heavily than another, and why certain oils are combined in specific ratios. This isn’t just about addressing hair loss – the formulation was designed to help with conditions like psoriasis, dandruff, and a range of other scalp and hair concerns that our blend continues to support today.
As the business grew, I had to grow alongside it – launching VNSK Beauty pushed me out of my comfort zone and forced me to learn entirely new skills. I taught myself how to code to build our website, figured out how to set up (and repair) multiple dispensing machines, learned the intricacies of social media over time, and most importantly, discovered how to create and nurture a genuine community.
It’s been three years since I started VNSK Beauty, and the journey has been nothing short of beautiful. I began as a university student with shattered confidence due to hair loss, I never imagined that my personal struggles would lead to something so meaningful. I never thought my pain would one day become a source of healing for so many others. For almost two years, I hid under a hoodie, feeling like less of myself because of my hair. To now walk with confidence, and be someone who extends a helping hand to others going through the same thing, feels incredibly full circle. We’ve had countless customer success stories, and every message, every before-and-after photo fills my heart with indescribable joy. It truly feels like my heart does a somersault every time I read those words. And this is just the beginning. There’s so much more to come for VNSK Beauty – I’m beyond excited to continue expanding our haircare line, focusing not only on effective topical treatments, but also on supporting internal wellness as part of a holistic approach to hair and self-care. What started as a quiet, anonymous TikTok page has now grown into a movement – a community rooted in healing, honesty, and hope.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
From a young age, I’ve always been passionate about holistic healing and the body’s natural ability to restore itself. In high school, I experimented with veganism for its numerous benefits, and I used dance as a way to express myself and release daily stress. I was also drawn to practices like yoga and meditation, which eventually led me to explore Ayurveda, which is the study of life. ‘Ayur’ means life or longevity, while ‘veda’ translates to knowledge or science. I even considered pursuing a career in naturopathy, a field rooted in holistic medicine, but my family encouraged me to explore dentistry, which ultimately led me to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences. Despite this shift, my passion for holistic health has remained a guiding force throughout my journey.
Around the age of 17, I began to experience significant hair loss. Growing up with luscious locks, this sudden change left me feeling deeply insecure. I went from having a full head of hair to barely a third of what I once had, which affected my self-esteem in ways I didn’t fully understand at the time. While my friends posed for photos, I found myself avoiding the camera, self-conscious of my thin hair and visible scalp. No 17 year old should have to go through that.
Although I didn’t have a specific diagnosis, my hair loss was due to a combination of factors: stress at home, intense academic pressure, and poor nutrition, which led to low iron levels. In the summer of 2019, after my first year of university, I began oiling my hair. Within just a few months, I noticed my roots growing thicker. I distinctly remember having bangs all of a sudden – I hadn’t cut my hair, but they were there. This was the first sign of regrowth, healthy regrowth.
As the year went by, I became increasingly dedicated to restoring my hair, driven by a passion to understand the science behind it. The progress I saw with oiling only fueled my commitment to continue. With my background in Life Sciences, I immersed myself in researching hair growth – nutrition, oils, herbal botanicals, and more. I devoted countless hours to this journey, and through it, I not only restored my hair but also rediscovered my passion for holistic wellness and my belief in the body’s natural ability to heal itself.
Within a year, my hair had grown out past my shoulders. The new growth was dense and thick, I could feel the change when I touched my scalp. This was more than just growing my hair back; this was self development. It taught me the importance of self-love and the necessity of prioritizing my own well-being. Having spent my childhood as the responsible eldest sibling and daughter, I was conditioned to put others first both at home and outside of home. In many ways, hair loss taught me to place myself at the center of my own life. Regrowing my hair became an act of healing, strengthening my belief in the power of personal transformation: the greater the test, the greater the testimony.
By early 2022, I launched VNSK Beauty on TikTok. Our signature oil blend has helped hundreds of people, both women and men, not only regain hair they had lost but also increase hair density and maintain overall healthy hair and scalp. The most fulfilling part of this journey has been building a community of like-minded individuals who share this experience. There’s a sense of connection in walking this path together, and the support we give one another is truly what sets VNSK Beauty apart.
What differentiates VNSK Beauty is our genuine care for our customers. I am committed to being transparent, sharing every aspect of my journey with my followers. I’ve received messages from customers who have sought out holistic practitioners and discovered the underlying causes of their hair loss. By addressing those root issues, they’ve seen improvements not only in their hair but also in their overall well-being; improved energy, better skin, and stronger nails. It warms my heart when customers reach out, saying that they’ve incorporated my recommended juices, smoothies, or tips alongside their oiling routine and are seeing real change.
The cornerstone of VNSK Beauty lies in our formulation. Our products are rooted in science, backed by research, and hand-formulated to deliver results that promote long-term scalp health. I didn’t just create a product, but I crafted a solution born from my own pain and healing process. What truly sets VNSK Beauty apart is the heart, the research, and the community that infuses every bottle.
Above all, I am most proud of the loyal, supportive community we’ve built. Many of our first customers are still with us, and their success stories continue to inspire everything we do. VNSK Beauty is more than just a haircare brand – it’s about reclaiming confidence, healing from within, and transforming pain into power.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
What helped me build my reputation in such a saturated market is authenticity.
From the start, I’ve prioritized meaningful engagement with my community. When someone reaches out with a question, I ensure my responses are never surface-level; they’re rooted in thorough research and enriched by the lessons I’ve learned firsthand. I know what it feels like to search for answers and feel unheard, and I never want anyone who reaches out to my brand to feel that way. I want every person who connects with my brand to feel genuinely supported. One of the messages I hear most often is, “You’re the only brand that actually takes the time to reply.” That means everything to me – because I believe offering care and connection should be the baseline, not the exception. My content reflects that same philosophy. I don’t just promote my product, but I make it a point to share holistic, accessible tools for hair regrowth and wellness. From DIY hair masks and nourishing recipes to product-free tips, book recommendations, and educational insights – my goal has always been to empower and educate, not just sell. I believe that trust is earned by consistently providing value, and I pour genuine passion and love into every piece of content I create. Building this reputation hasn’t been about trends, rather it’s been about consistency, integrity, and staying rooted in my mission: to help people feel confident, informed, and supported on their journey to healthy hair. That’s what sets VNSK Beauty apart, and I think people feel that.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
There have been many lessons I’ve had to unlearn along the way, each of which has shaped the person that I am today. From a young age, I was fascinated by natural healing. I’d mix tonics, create face masks, and stay curious about ingredients long before I even understood formulation. I still remember my grandmother telling me never to mix oils and to always stick to one. But even then, I questioned it. Who knew that two decades later, I’d develop a blend of ten different oils — a blend that even she uses today! Growing up, I was “the golden child”. The academic achiever, the one who had everything together. There was a lot of pressure to succeed and stay on a very specific path: take AP classes, attend a prestigious university, and become a dentist. I followed that script for a while, but over time, the weight of constant performance led to burnout. At the same time, I come from a family dynamic where I was taught to put everyone else first, even at the expense of my own well-being. I had to unlearn that deeply ingrained belief. Life forced me to put myself first and to prioritize healing, peace, and purpose over perfection. And as crazy as it sounds, I genuinely feel and look younger now than I did as a teenager. That’s what deep, internal healing does. My oil blend signifies this; it’s an expression of that healing. It represents transformation, not just on the outside, but within. Another major lesson I had to unlearn was the idea that there’s only one path to success. Choosing to build a business, especially one that started from scratch, wasn’t something my traditional family had envisioned for me. There was skepticism, resistance, and a lot of “what ifs.” But my belief in myself, my purpose, and the community I’ve built has shown me that stability and fulfillment don’t have to come from a conventional path. If there’s one thing I know for sure now, it’s that anything built with love, intention, and resilience is possible, and often, it’s those exact things that end up making the biggest impact.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vnskbeauty.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vnskbeauty/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568524357272#
- Other: TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@vnskbeauty?lang=en
