From law school to Glam House: How a passion for makeup became a neighbourhood brand

In September 2025, Khushi Gupta opened Glam House, a unisex salon, studio, and academy in Khurram Nagar, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Offering skin care, beauty, makeup and hair services, the venture reflects Gupta’s two-track journey: an ongoing BA LLB alongside a growing career in beauty and wellness.

That split between law lectures and salon shifts now defines her routine.

From classroom to salon floor

Gupta, the founder-owner, says she discovered her interest in makeup several years ago, and later formalised it through a professional course. She worked across studios as a makeup artist and salon manager, and trained under a leading Lucknow-based artist.

As her bookings grew, so did her exposure to day-to-day operations such as pricing, staffing, inventory, and client handling, which, she says, built the confidence to plan a business of her own after discussions with family.

The big early hurdle was the cost of setting up a salon that could compete on experience. Interiors, chairs, wash units and specialised tools can quickly escalate the budget, and in a walk-in neighbourhood business, ambience is often the first marketing.

To bridge the gap, Gupta turned to a state-backed credit programme she first came across on YouTube videos, then verified at her bank branch.

A first-six-month cushion

Gupta opted for the Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan (CM YUVA) Yojana, a state-backed youth self-employment loan routed through banks. According to her, the process included a one-week entrepreneurship training programme with five days of sessions followed by an assessment.

She adds that the scheme offered a six-month moratorium at the start, so no equated monthly instalments were due while the business found its feet.

Bank representatives, she says, guided her through documentation, reducing friction for a first-time founder. The credit also cushioned early cash flows.

Gupta notes that the loan helped fund interiors, pay vendors for fit-outs, and cover initial salaries and rent during the first two to three months when customer footfall was still building. The headroom, she says, allowed her to focus on service quality and client acquisition rather than firefighting day-to-day expenses.

Balancing law school and entrepreneurship

Alongside the salon, Gupta continues her five-year BA LLB at BBD University, Lucknow. Examination schedules often collide with peak bridal season, she says, so a typical day can include writing a paper in the morning and returning to prepare brides in the afternoon.

Mentors and colleagues have played a key role in making that jugalbandi, meaning two demanding tracks, workable.

Her advice to first-time founders, especially women, is to explore structured government credit before taking personal loans. According to Gupta, the scheme’s training, handholding and initial repayment pause are designed to reduce risk for new entrepreneurs.

She adds that women can apply independently, engage directly with bank representatives and, with basic documentation, start small businesses without waiting for external validation.

Building a neighbourhood-first brand

Glam House is positioned as a neighbourhood-first brand that aims to scale through word of mouth, consistent service and a pipeline of academy-trained artists.

For Gupta, success means steady growth without compromising on training or client experience, a path she believes becomes more achievable when early capital is patient enough to let a new business focus on getting the basics right.

What is CM YUVA Scheme?

Under the leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath Ji, the state government aims to transform youth from job seekers into job creators.

To achieve this vision, the Directorate of Industries and Enterprise Promotion, under the Department of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises and Export Promotion, is implementing the ‘Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan’ (CM YUVA) Yojana.

Under this scheme, young entrepreneurs are provided with up to Rs 5 lakh in 100% interest-free and collateral-free loans to start their industrial or service-based ventures. In addition, beneficiaries also receive a 10% margin money subsidy on the project cost.

CM YUVA is not just a financial assistance scheme; it also provides mentorship, guidance, market access, and essential resources to help youth become self-reliant entrepreneurs and generate employment opportunities for others.

Click here to know more about the CM YUVA Scheme.