Hairfall is an issue faced by most people. And, the haircare market is filled with numerous products claiming to promote hair growth. This 89-year-old entrepreneur from Karnataka is one among them. But, her product is a unique seasonal one. There is a reason for it. Here is her story. Nagamani, fondly called Mani aunty, started her business in her sixties. The USP of her oil is that it is a 150-year-old hair fall remedy. Mani has used this homemade oil for decades to maintain her thick hair. She often would share the formula with her friends and family members. In her sixties, she decided to turn it into a business. Her initial customers were a few salon owners in Bengaluru. Mary, who runs the Ambara Boutique in Halasuru introduced the brand to a non-profit trust called ‘A Hundred Hands.’ Since then, she and her team have been running a stall during the trust’s annual exhibition. All bottles would be sold out within days!
The oil is a mixture of coconut oil and four oil seeds. One is methi. Two seeds are quite expensive and are sourced from Himachal Pradesh. Making the oil is not an easy process. They hand-pound the seeds, add them to the coconut oil, and leave the mix under the sun for six weeks to soak. They neither grind nor heat the ingredients and oil. This process is the reason why the oil is seasonal. The production largely depends upon climatic conditions. During the peak period, the business sells about 60-70 litres of oil. A bottle of 300 ml oil costs up to Rs 600. The high price is due to the strenuous process and high cost of ingredients. Mani says their business is at break even. It does not bring huge profit to them. This situation might change if they go large scale, but she does not want to compromise on quality.
