Sasha Sahnoon is a lawyer and the CEO of Slash Beauty, a company she founded in 2018 after a life-changing incident left her temporarily blind. In an interview with Just4WomenAfrica, Sasha recounts the pivotal moment in 2016 when she purchased eyelashes online, only to wake up the next morning in severe pain with her eyes feeling “funny.” Rushed to the hospital, an ophthalmologist diagnosed her with keratitis, a condition caused by scratched corneas in both eyes. The culprit was traced back to the eyelash glue, which contained Formaldehyde.
A New Purpose
While attending law school in the UK in 2017, Sasha felt a strong urge to find her true purpose in life beyond the legal field. With the guidance of her aunt, she discovered her passion for beauty products and decided to start her own business selling safe, high-quality lashes. Initially, she considered naming her brand “Sasha’s Lashes,” but realizing she might expand into other beauty products, she opted for the more inclusive name, “Slash Beauty.”
Overcoming Challenges
One of the significant challenges Sasha faced in setting up Slash Beauty was distribution and ensuring her products reached customers efficiently. To guarantee the highest standards, her manufacturers provide Safety Data Sheets (SDS), which offer detailed information about the chemical substances used, outlining potential hazards and providing guidance on safe handling, storage, and disposal. Importantly, these sheets confirm that her lash glue does not contain Formaldehyde, assuring customers of its safety.
Balancing Law and Entrepreneurship
Sasha plans to take Slash Beauty international, believing that the world needs to “feel, experience, and touch” her products. When asked if she would give up her legal career to focus solely on her business, Sasha revealed that she enjoys doing both and has no plans to choose one over the other.
Slash Beauty’s product line includes lip liners, lash glue, lashes, lip glosses, and eyeliners, all designed with the same commitment to quality and safety that Sasha values so highly.
Sasha Sahnoon’s journey from lawyer to beauty entrepreneur is an inspiring tale of resilience and innovation, demonstrating that it’s possible to turn personal adversity into a thriving business while pursuing multiple passions.
