We’re looking forward to introducing you to Ishan Dutta. Check out our conversation below.
Ishan, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Intelligence is great but intelligence on its own is overrated. Some of the most intelligent people I know literally achieve nothing of note.
Energy is also excellent to have. But it’s more important to work smart rather than work hard. Focus really well on the 20% which is going to get you the 80% of the results.
Of the three qualities, integrity is the most important. That means being true to your word, true to your customers, true to people who work with you. Develop a reputation for that and it will be your biggest asset over time.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Ishan Dutta and I’m the founder of Ugly Duckling Color. We’re a Los Angeles based hair color company selling professional hair color and hair care to stylists and colorists.
We’ve been around 10 years now, and we’re particularly known for our blonding products. We’re literally the go-to brand for anyone looking to take their hair blonde. People come to us because we have really, eally unique formulations and an amazingly wide range of quality products for anyone looking to take their hair blonde.
Bleach which will lift black hair, products with Bond Protect built in. And above all, toners. All manner of toners – pearl blonde, intense pearl blonde, purple based, platinum and silver blonde, silver grey etc. Plus some very specialised hair care and hair treatment products. For example, our hair care is all acid-based. That means less frizz and healthier hair cuticles.
Other than products, we are really well known for all the training material that we make available online at no cost. Step by step videos, tutorials, articles and blogs, as well as self-help consultation tools. These are all aimed at helping our customers figure out exactly what they should be doing to their hair, which products they should be using and how they should be using. them.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
As fas as work with beauty products is concerned, I learned the most in my 10 years at L’Oreal. I worked on pretty much all beauty products in my years there, hair sprays, shampoos, color and also perfume as well.
That work stood me in really good stead when I wanted to create my own products for Ugly Duckling. I was able to figure out what the gaps were, the unmet needs so to speak. That helped me a lot.
If you’re talking about learning how to do marketing in the modern age, the person who taught me the most was an American stylist called Elona Taki. She really helped me a lot in the early days. It was thanks to her that we got onto social media so fast and so well right from the beginning. The way we do our social media outreach is entirely influenced by what I learnt from her.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Never.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
As with any person there is a big hidden part of the iceberg out there.
My family, my 2 children and my wife are like my rock.
I have a lot of cultural interests which are for my personal consumption only. Music, history, world history etc.
Other than that what you see is essentially what you get.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What will you regret not doing?
Not giving 100% to make my brand and business grow to the fullest extent possible
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.uglyducklingcolor.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uglyducklingcolor/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ishandutta101/
- Twitter: https://x.com/uglyducklingLA
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uglyducklingcolor
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@uglyducklinglosangeles7634
Image Credits
Hair by ELona Taki, Brittney Perez
