Funding · Commerce & Consumer Brands

Truth & Hair secures ₹2.5 crore from Varun Alagh

By Startup Enthusiast · 31 January 2026

What they do

Founded in 2018 by Saumya Alagh and Shailesh Singh, the brand offers texture-based products with hyaluronic acid and collagen

On Shark Tank India Season 5, Varun Alagh invested ₹2.5 crore for 25% equity, adding distribution and scaling expertise

Post-show, the brand saw 5–6x traffic growth and nearly 4x revenue, with 5–6 new launches planned for 2026

Truth & Hair appeared on Shark Tank India Season 5 and received an investment of ₹2.5 crore for 25% equity from Varun Alagh.
Varun Alagh, founder of Mamaearth, offered capital along with distribution and scaling expertise.
The brand was founded in 2018 by Saumya Alagh and Shailesh Singh.
Saumya previously ran NYNM (Naturally You and Me), a curated marketplace for curly hair brands.
NYNM was India's first platform to introduce international curly hair brands and build a curly hair community.
Truth & Hair's hero product, Hair Mascara, launched in July, provides quick root coverage without salon visits.
The product line includes texture-based shampoos, conditioners, hair makeup, and styling products.
Post-Shark Tank, the brand saw 5–6x growth in website traffic and nearly 4x revenue growth.

India had almost no brands for curly or textured hair before Truth & Hair, making it a pioneer in an underserved market.
Shark Namita Thapar noted that Hair Mascara was only seen internationally, highlighting the product's novelty.
Shark Vineeta Singh advised Saumya to show up more as a trichologist and educator, indicating the brand's educational role.
The investment from a founder like Varun Alagh signals confidence in the niche haircare segment.

Truth & Hair is a texture-first, science-led haircare brand for straight, wavy, and curly hair.
It offers products including shampoos, conditioners, hair makeup, and styling products.
The brand uses ingredients like hyaluronic acid and collagen in clean formulations.
Its hero product, Hair Mascara, targets quick root coverage without salon visits.
The company operates in India, focusing on the underserved textured hair market.
It grew from Saumya's earlier venture NYNM, which built a curly hair community.
Post-Shark Tank, the brand experienced significant traffic and revenue growth.

Plans to launch 5–6 new products in 2026, focusing on hair beauty and hair makeup categories.
Investing in R&D, innovation, and styling solutions beyond shampoos.

Varun Alagh (lead) — Founder of Mamaearth, offered capital plus distribution and scaling expertise.

Product: Hair makeup and styling products including Root Touch-Up Hair Mascara, Curly Styler, and Flyaway Wand designed for multiple hair types
Customers: Consumers seeking hair beauty and styling solutions for straight, wavy, and curly hair textures
How it makes money: Direct-to-consumer D2C model with focus on science-led formulations and hair texture diversity
What sets it apart: Founded by trichologist with products formulated for multiple hair textures rather than single type
Operations: E-commerce and retail distribution with consumer education on hair texture and scalp health