Rohit Solanki Riding the High Tide

Hailing from a middle-class family, Rohit chose an unconventional profession that broke all the stereotypes. Hairdresser turned Entrepreneur, Rohit Solanki speaks with Salon India about his career trajectory and his plans for future

Please tell us about yourself.

I come from a regular middle-class family, and contrary to popular belief, I have always had the support of my parents when I decided to join this industry. My father’s business was well established and there were no issues at all, however, there was one condition that I would have to finish my schooling first. I am partially Dyslexic which made for a terrible schooling and college experience. Learning was really hard and reading and numbers made no sense. I did, however, learn through a visual medium which made hairdressing or fashion design the only options available to me.

I have been in the line for 12 years now, and looking back I feel, I was a bit stubborn then. I remember I wanted to buy a motorbike which my father did not agree to. So, I decided to work in a call centre to get the money for it. It turned out that my father tricked me into this because within the first month of my job, he bought me the bike. I was thrilled, but also unsure whether to keep working or not, but my mom told me not to waste the opportunity and I carried on working. I saved the salary in order to pay the fees of a hairdressing course. I attended a six-month diploma course at the L’Oréal Hairdressing Academy in Mumbai, which was really the best! On completion, I joined the Exquise Salon in Malad. I was there for only six months as my heart was actually set on becoming a trainer. In April 2009, I joined the L’Oréal Academy as a trainer and stayed there for seven years.

You have been in the industry for long, what is the biggest challenge in a hairdressing career?