INTERVIEW WITH JOUD ODEH

She truly believe that you need to be naïve to start a business and stubborn to keep going. Brau, a first of its kind and very unique in beauty industry, creating a bespoke beauty to ensure best results for each of their clients. While being an advocate of non-invasive beauty treatments that accentuate natural beauty. The studio offers a comprehensive treatment list focused on aesthetic beauty services that include microblading, semi-permanent make-up, brow & lash grooming treatments, and advanced skincare therapies. 

In just two years since she started her business, she already growing and expanding for its second studio. Continuing its mission in creating a multi-functional beauty studio that is both specialized and accessible for customers to enjoy.

Please tell us briefly about Brau

Brau is a premier brow and lash studio that sits at the intersect of art with beauty. We specialize in semi-permanent makeup services such as Nanoblading and Lip Blush, as well as brow and lash grooming services such as HD Brows, Brow Lamination, and Lash Lift treatments. 

 How is it different compare to other beauty centers?

 Our treatments are delivered through highly skilled master artists from around the world who have carefully honed their craft through many years of practice. We adopt our unique approach to provide customized results that meet each client’s beauty goals delivered. Our journey usually begins with a consultation with one of our master artists in order to understand the clients’ beauty goals. Using the latest technologies, we then understand face symmetry through brow mapping, and we match precise pigment colours in order to create realistic hair strokes. In short, we have made brows, lashes & semi-permanent make up our specialty, and we strive every day to provide the absolute best service in this domain.

 How do you build trust with customers considering there’s already too much well-known brand in the beauty industry?

 Trust starts with putting the client first by developing a deep understanding of the client’s needs and thinking about these needs in every business decision. At Brau, we spend a lot of time thinking and designing every customer interaction, putting ourselves in the customer’s shoes, and making no compromises on delivering on the customer’s expectations. 

What was your motivation for starting your business, considering that the market at the time was very depressed due to the pandemic?

 We launched Brau weeks before the pandemic. I couldn’t find anywhere good and affordable to do my brows in Dubai. Growing up in Dubai, the norm was for women to do their brows in hair salons, where a therapist that doesn’t specialize in brows would thread your brows and they would always come out too thin and uneven. As I started my research, the idea grew from there to include other related treatments.

I found this industry to be very exciting, with advancements in technologies, new beauty treatments are coming out every day that are less invasive and highly effective such as microblading, semi-permanent makeup, hyaluronic lip fillers, micro needling, laser facials, etc. So, I saw a gap in the market for beauty studios that specialize in women’s facial grooming treatments offered in a relaxed retail atmosphere while maintaining clinical-grade standards and procedures.
 

Do you have plans to expand in other countries, especially in Kuwait?

 We are very grateful for the feedback we receive from customers every day and for the customer affinity that we have been building over the past 2 years, and our plan is to grow the brand so we can make our services accessible to more people in our region. However, we are adamant about putting the right structure, processes, and practices in place to ensure we maintain the quality of our service, the level of attention that customers receive, and our team culture as we grow.

 Today, women pay a lot of attention to their appearance. Can you consider beauty as a tool for success?

 Taking care of yourself is a sign of self-love and respect. This gives you confidence, and we believe that confidence is one of the key ingredients for success. At Brau, we are big advocates of non-invasive beauty treatments that accentuate what you already have.
 

What’s your advice to someone who wants to start their own business?

 Don’t be afraid to take the leap, when you leave a stable job to venture out on your own, you will hear a lot of resistance from your family and friends telling you it’s not a good idea because of timing, the economy, the idea, etc. and its normal because they worry about you. It’s important to block out the noise, keep going and stay confident in what you’re trying to achieve.

Don’t overcomplicate things, I truly believe that you need to be naïve to start a business and stubborn to keep going. To start you need thorough market research, a solid business case, and a well-defined concept & brand, and if you’re 40% sure that’s good enough. 

They say hair is the crowning glory and the eyes is the window to the soul. Brow is… 

 Are an expression of your character and allure.