In a world where fatherhood is often overlooked in stories of busy work lives, ambition, and personal success, Dinesh Nair is a reminder that being a father isn’t a role that exist outside of ambition, it lives right at the centre of it. With one hand holding a makeup brush, and another holding his daughter’s tiny palm, Dinesh balances precision, patience, and love in equal measure. His path is anything but ordinary. A dentist, a luxury bridal makeup artist and entrepreneur who co-runs Blush Bridal Couture alongside his wife, Hanujah. Yet, at the core of all his success is something even more tender: his role as a father.
Today as we celebrate Father’s Day, we take a closer look at how Dinesh weaves together these contrasting roles, with grace, and unwavering dedication. His story is one of the evolving identity, passion-driven pivots, and the silent sacrifices that come with parenting in the modern.
A Creative Spark Born Out of Necessity
While many career paths are shaped by academic plans or social expectations, Dinesh’s journey into the world of makeup began as a practical and passionate decision, he and his wife, Hanujah, started doing makeup professionally during their medical school days to support their education, and what began as a side skill soon blossomed into a thriving career.
Dinesh’s story is also a reminder that creativity doesn’t always have to come with a safety net. Coming from a family with no business background, venturing into entrepreneurship was definitely a challenge. But with a deep sense of purpose and shared ambition with Hanujah, Dinesh transformed an improvised skill into a thriving brand that celebrates South Asian beauty with modern elegance.
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your journey? From dentistry to makeup artistry, and now entrepreneurship?
A: Makeup was always a happy place for me since my stage performance days, but the skills turned into a business when my wife and I needed money for medical school. That’s when we took it one step further and started doing makeup professionally. The rest is history. I come from a family with no business background, yet somehow I’m full of startup ideas and love building something from scratch.
Living in Two Worlds, And Loving Both
Many assume that Dinesh left dentistry behind to pursue makeup, but that’s far from the truth. His life today straddles two worlds that require entirely different skill sets, and yet he finds joy and fulfilment in both. For him, its not about abandoning one path for another but learning how to honor every part of himself.
Balancing two demanding professions requires immense time management and energy, but Dinesh sees it as a blessing. His story challenges the idea that success has to come from one linear path. Sometimes, the best journeys are the ones where we make space for all of who we are.
Q: What inspired this transition from the medical field to the world of beauty and bridal glam?
A: There was no clear transition. I currently do both and enjoy each profession. Not many are lucky enough to switch between two jobs they genuinely love.
Fatherhood: The Role That Redefines Everything
If there’s one identity Dinesh holds most dearly, is being a father. His words about fatherhood are filled with warmth, emotion and most importantly vulnerability. Qualities that are not always highlighted in stories about dads. For him, fatherhood is more than presence, it’s connection. The tight hugs after long working hours, the glint in his daughter’s eyes when she sees him walk through the door and the deep responsibility of shaping a soul from the beginning.
His emotional openness reflects a new generation of dads, ones who are not afraid to be soft, to feel deeply and to speak about love with pride. On this Father’s Day, Dinesh’s story reminds us that strength and sensitivity aren’t opposites; they can, and should, coexist.
Q: What does fatherhood mean to you, personally?
A: Raising a child, moulding them from the very beginning, the tight hugs when I come home after working for hours nonstop, and having a little human who sees you as their safe place, I never thought I’d enjoy fatherhood this much. I’m already crying thinking about the day she’ll get married.
It’s rare to hear a parent speak so openly about the emotional weight of parenting, and Dinesh’s words tug at the heartstrings. His vulnerability reminds us that fatherhood isn’t just about providing, its about being a source of comfort, love, and unwavering presence.
Q: How do you balance being a hands-on dad while running a growing beauty business?
A: It’s difficult. Having just one child is very demanding because they expect you to be around and play with them. The parent guilt is sometimes unbearable when I travel for work, but I make it during my off days with brunches, play area visits, and baking together.
Routine, Rituals, and Small Moments That Ground Him
Even with a full calendar, Dinesh ensures that the day begins and ends with his family in mind. He carves out moments, small but significant, that helps him stay grounded amidst the chaos. Whether its saying goodbye at the school gate, editing makeup reels next to Hanujah on the couch, or preparing his meals before a busy day, these rituals shape the rhythm of his life.
It’s not about balance being perfect, its about being intentional with the time that exists. Dinesh’s routine reflects a life that honors both hustle and heart.
Q: What’s your typical day like juggling fatherhood and work? Any morning rituals or routines with your child?
A: I wake up by 7:30 AM most days to say goodbye before school, prep my meals, head to the gym, then either go to the clinic or attend to a bride, the makeup studio, or our bridal boutique. Sometimes I squeeze in an evening treadmill run before heading home to reply to emails, inquiries, and finally wind down with my wife, usually with her watching a series while I scroll or edit reels.
A New Sense of Purpose
Becoming a parent has a way of shifting one’s priorities. For Dinesh, fatherhood has added a layer of purpose to his work. While creativity and passion still drive him, there’s now a greater understanding of what’s important, the future of his child. From building his brand to saving for her education and future, every effort now carries a long-term meaning.
This shift isn’t uncommon among parents, but what makes Dinesh’s perspective unique is how openly he speaks about it. Success isn’t just about growth, but its about building something his daughter can be proud of.
Q: Has becoming a father changed the way you approach your work or your brand in any way?
A: I never used to work for money, but I’ve slowly started to understand the importance of saving for my child’s education and future. So yes, I’m definitely more driven with purpose these days.
The Soft Lessons From a Small Teacher
Often, its the little ones who end up teaching us the biggest lessons. For Dinesh, his daughter has been a quiet teacher in her own way. In a world that often rewards speed and productivity, she has taught him how to slow down, and in that stillness, to find joy.
Q: What’s the most unexpected lesson fatherhood has taught you?
A: Slowing down is something I never knew I needed, and yet a toddler taught me.
Partnership in Business and Life
Running a bridal brand alongside your spouse comes with its own unique challenges and strengths. For Dinesh and Hanujah, the split is more practical and personal, he handles suppliers and sourcing, she handles brides and boutique details. Their teamwork, both in business and at home, is what keeps their world spinning.
Their dynamic showcases the beauty of shared dreams and mutual respect, foundations that are just as important in parenting as they are in entrepreneurship.
Q: You co-run your business with your wife Hanujah, what’s that dynamic like? How do you split roles at work vs. at home?
A: With the boutique business, I’m in charge of scouting suppliers, doing the purchases, while she’s hands-on with the clients and present at the store to ensure every bride gets the outfit of their dreams.
When Work Takes Over
Not every day is perfect, and Dinesh is honest about that. During high-pressure wedding seasons, he sometimes works 72 hours straight, barely seeing his family. These sacrifices are rarely seen on social media, but they’re real, and its not easy. His sacrifice reminds us that showing up as a father doesn’t always mean being physically present, it also means building a future for your child, even when it comes at a cost.
At the end of it all, what Dinesh wants for his daughter isn’t perfection, its resilience. He wants her to see the grit behind the glamour and the late nights behind the beauty reels. As a father, all he wants is for her to know that nothing comes easy, and she doesn’t need anyone’s applause to feel proud of herself.
Q: What do you hope your child learns from watching you build and evolve your brand?
A: Nothing comes easy, and no one is going to cheer you on, so learn to do that for yourself.
Celebrating Father’s Who Do It All
Dinesh Nair is not just a makeup artist. He’s not just a dentist. He’s not just a businessman. He’s a father who wakes up early to say goodbye before she leaves to school, who bakes with her on off days, who celebrates small, quiet moments just much as grand achievements. This Father’s Day, we honor fathers like Dinesh, who shows the world that strength isn’t about doing it all perfectly, but doing it all with love. Who build their dreams while holding space for their children’s futures.
To Dinesh, and the fathers everywhere, you are celebrated, you are seen and you are shaping generations in ways the world will one day thank you for. Happy Father’s Day to all the amazing dads out there!
All information and images has been provided by Dinesh.
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