Shot & Edited for Sobhita Dhulipala for The Estd.


For Sobhita Dhulipala (@sobhitad), hair has never been about trends or elaborate routines. “The women in my family had coarse, thick, long hair—it was something they were known for in their neighbourhoods,” she says.

Sobhita’s maternal family is from Tenali in Andhra Pradesh, where hair care meant little more than using coconut oil. But after moving to Mumbai in her teens, it slipped down the priority list. “When something’s neglected, it does suffer,” she reflects. For years, she didn’t realise the frizz was actually textured, wavy hair.

Now, with a better understanding—and as Nexxus’ (@nexxusnewyork) brand ambassador—she’s not overhauling her routine. She’s just making space for what was always there.

For #TheEstablished, Sobhita unpacks the stories and lessons behind learning to work with her hair, not against it.