In 2013, Nidhi, a former software engineer, embarked on a new journey—one rooted in tradition, self-care, and empowerment. Inspired by her grandmother’s Ayurvedic remedies, she created her first handmade Anti-Hairfall Oil, which quickly gained popularity among friends and family. Encouraged by their positive feedback, she launched Nidhi’s Grandmaa Secret, in the year 2023,a brand dedicated to natural, chemical-free hair care solutions.
From a single product to a complete range of handmade herbal hair care essentials, Nidhi’s journey is a testament to resilience, passion, and the power of taking the first step toward a dream. Today, her brand is loved by thousands for its trusted formulations infused with 13 Ayurvedic herbs, offering effective solutions for hair fall, nourishment, and growth.
When did you started your journey as entrepreneur?
I started my entrepreneurial journey in 2013 with a brand names Nosnores anti snoring device. Later I created Nofat.in (catering to slimming products) and then my last brand was Kayos, where we sold health products like collagen and mct oil.
Nidhi was a software engineer and worked in a corporate job until 2017 and Nidhi’s Grandmaa secret is her first entrepreneurial venture.
How can we, as individuals, balance our personal dreams and responsibilities while also creating a meaningful impact on the lives of others, and in turn, contribute to a more empowered and financially independent society for women?
There is time for everything. When there was time for me to remain with my son I did that because he needed my full attention at that time. When go was better settled in his life I pursued my dream of working professionally. But I never imagined u would do a startup like this. But u guess when you are true to yourself and your customers then you build a community around yourself who then help you build your dreams.
Also I feel Saas-Bahu relationships in India are frowned upon mainly because of the TV serials. But in reality Saas bahu can be biggest strength of each other. If women within family can’t support each other then there is no point supporting women outside.
How can the combination of traditional, natural remedies and modern technology create more sustainable, health-conscious beauty products that support both individual wellness and environmental responsibility?
Our ancient home kitchen which are inspired from ayurveda is one of our biggest back bones. People are consuming haldi (Curcumin) today in west as an anti-inflammatory supplement and we Indians consume it daily. We only need to repackage our home remedies to inform and excite new age audience to try these products and others will follow.
What role does consumer education play in shifting the beauty industry away from synthetic chemicals and towards more holistic, natural alternatives, and how can brands contribute to this shift effectively?
Consumer education is very very important. Even today people ask me why did you drink hair oil on shark tank when it is not for human consumption. People don’t know that majority of the hair oil market is filled with oil with mineral oil and other harmful chemicals which are not suitable for scalp leave alone preventing hair fall. We drank our 13 herbs hair oil just to educate users that this is so pure and chemical free that we can drink it as well. You need to find innovative ways to convince audiences all the time.
In a rapidly growing e-commerce world, how can small, family-run businesses maintain authenticity and quality while scaling, without losing sight of the values that set them apart from larger, mass-produced competitors?
Infact at the initial stages it is better to be perceived as small family run business as people find it more authentic than bigger players. We can be candid, personal and showcase our usps in a mkre personal way. If given a choice I would always let people perceive us a small family run business.
How can brands that emphasize traditional, natural ingredients balance the need for effective results with the increasing demand for eco-friendly and sustainable packaging solutions in the beauty industry?
Natural products are equally effective for lifestyle related ailments like hair fall. They are cost effective and comes with minimum side effects. Also since we are small company it is easier for us to revamp our packing quickly as compared to bigger companies. We have plans to move to more sustainable packaging in the days to come.
What role do ancient practices, like those used in your grandmother’s recipes, play in shaping the future of the wellness and beauty sectors, and how can modern consumers be educated to appreciate the benefits of such timeless approaches?
As Anupam Mittal said during our pitch there is a tail wind towards natural products because people want to move away from chemical products and want to adopt chemical free products. All we need to is inform users about our benefits and processes keeping our CAC under control.
This we do by engaging with our community on social media. I feel social media is backbone of our industry and it had made a level playing field with our competitors. People trust the founders when they come online and it’s easier for us to communicate with consumers directly as compared to any if company.
