Shobha
Bath + Body Gift Guide
Shobha, the undisputed threading and waxing guru, now has her own product line including her famous pain-free sugaring gel, Ayate exfoliating cloth, Exfoliating Soaps, Rosewater Toner and more. Learn why celebrities such as Ellen Barkin are devoted Shobha fans!
Summers in India taught Shobha Tummala, a Michigan-native, the secrets of South Asian beauty, including the centuries-old methods used for hair removal. Today, she is the Founder and Creative Director of Shobha, overseeing two salons where both men and women can indulge in the beauty traditions of her Indian heritage, right in the heart of Manhattan.
Spending summers with her grandmother in the city of Hyderabad, Shobha was immersed in India’s natural and spiritual beauty culture. "My grandmother made all my beauty products herself," says Shobha. "Hair conditioner was created from crushed hibiscus petals picked from a tree in our backyard; soap from a mixture of shaved sandalwood and lentils. Moisturizer was just the cream from fresh milk."
Upon returning to her grandmother’s each summer, she was scolded for not maintaining the traditional personal care she was taught between visits. "My grandmother could tell if I had been using store-bought products from the color and texture of my skin and hair—it was unbelievable!" says Shobha.
It is also in India where Shobha experienced the benefits of threading, the customary way to remove facial hair. The painless efficiency and precise definition that threading afforded made Shobha swear off wax, until she returned to the US and found there was no one in her area that threaded. Thus, the idea of Shobha was inspired.
In March of 2002, Shobha opened her flagship salon, Shobha SoHo. "I wanted to create an environment where both women and men could benefit from the beauty secrets I grew up with, in an exotic yet familiar ambiance that reflects my origins," says Shobha. In addition to threading, the salon also offers sugaring, an all-natural gel made from the fusion of melted sugar and lemon juice, which is used to remove hair from the body.
In October of 2003, Shobha opened Shobha Madison, to cater to her uptown clientele that had been traveling downtown to the SoHo location.
Shobha is dedicated to empowering women through employment and education, and is committed to various philanthropic organizations that support a range of women's causes.
