PENMAN

BOOKS
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D Block, Central Market, Opp PVR Cinema,
Prashant Vihar, Delhi 110085, India
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First Published by Penman Books 2021
Copyright © Vishal Manocha
All Rights Reserved.
Title: Groom to the Next Version of You V.0 to V.1
Price:
`
000 | $
00.00
ISBN: 978-93-90617-75-3
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever,
electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying recording, or by any
informational storage or retrieval system without the expressed written, dated
and signed permission from the author.
LIMITS OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: The author and
publisher of this book have used their best efforts in preparing this material.
The author and publisher make no representation or warranties with respect to
the accuracy, applicability or completeness of the contents. They disclaim any
warranties (expressed or implied), or merchantability for any particular purpose.
The author and publisher shall in no event be held liable for any loss or other
damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other
damages. The information presented in this publication is compiled from sources
believed to be accurate, however, both the publisher and author assume no
responsibility for errors or omissions. The information in this publication is not
intended to replace or substitute professional advice. The strategies outlined in
this book may not be suitable for every individual, and are not meant to provide
individualized advice or recommendations.
The advice and strategies found within may not be suitable for every situation.
This work is sold with the understanding that neither the author nor the publisher
are held responsible for the results accrued from the advice in this book.
All disputes are subject to Delhi jurisdiction only.
CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & GRATITUDE
..................
xi
Chapter One
Why Have I Written This Book?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1
Engineer’s Mindset
................................
6
Why Did My Personality Change?
....................
7
Chapter Two
The Rationale Behind this Title – Groom to the Next
Version of You V
.
0 to V
.
1
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
13
Chapter Three
History of Grooming
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
17
Ancient Egypt
...................................
18
The Romans
....................................
19
Middle Ages to Elizabethan Era
....................
20
Victorian Era
....................................
21
The 1900s
......................................
24
Story of Early Men – Carry Beard
...................
25
Kings’ Pride – Their Beard and Moustache
...........
26
Saints – Long Beard Was Their Pride
................
27
vi
GROOM TO THE NEXT VERSION OF YOU V.0 TO V.1
Unbearded/Clean Shaven Looks
...................
28
Queen’s Crown – Long and Beautiful Hair
............
30
Chapter Four
Myths Pertaining to Male and Female Grooming
. . . . . . . . .
31
Grooming Is Only Limited to External Appearance/
Good Looks
.....................................
32
Short People Cannot Look Groomed and Confident
....
33
Frequent Changes in Hairstyles Aren’t Possible
.......
34
Only Women Should Wax Body Hair
.................
35
Only Salons Can Help Us Groom Well
...............
36
Eyebrow/Facial Hair Only Can be Removed with the Help
of Traditional Methods
............................
37
Chapter Five
Internal and External Grooming
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
39
Confident From Within
............................
40
Body Language and Communication
................
42
Interaction Skills
.................................
43
Courage - Facing Challenges
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43
Personality Reshaping
............................
44
Power Dressing
.................................
44
INTERNAL GROOMING
Chapter Six
The Revolutionary Grooming Cycle
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
49
Scenarios built around Confidence and Development
..
50
Chapter Seven
Levels of Confidence and Grooming
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
57
The Journey with Philips
..........................
59
The Journey with Havells
.........................
64
C
ONTENTS
vii
The Levels of Confidence
.........................
68
Chapter Eight
Grooming Habits and Routines
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
69
Choices You Make
...............................
70
The Behavior We Carry
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72
Productivity
.....................................
73
Super Small Adjustments
.........................
74
Instant Gratification
..............................
75
Chapter Nine
The Connection between Passion and Grooming
. . . . . . . . .
77
Passion
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
77
Demand
........................................
79
Your Mojo
......................................
81
Chapter Ten
The Connection between Self-Confidence and Grooming
. .
83
Grooming Your Mind
.............................
83
Enjoy and Celebrate Successes
....................
85
Add Humour to Your Life
..........................
85
Groom Yourself to Attain Physical Fitness
...........
85
Chapter Eleven
Groom to Position and Present Yourself Well
 . . . . . . . . . . . .
91
Power Dressing – Integral Part of Grooming
.........
92
Body Language and Tonality
.......................
96
EXTERNAL GROOMING
Chapter Twelve
Boys and Beards
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
103
Top Four Beard Styles According to MensXP
........
103
viii
GROOM TO THE NEXT VERSION OF YOU V.0 TO V.1
Top Four Trending Hairstyles
.....................
107
Widely Accepted Beard Styling Tools
...............
111
Chapter Thirteen
Girls and Curls
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
115
Top Seven Trending Gorgeous Hairstyles
...........
115
Widely Accepted Hair Styling Tools
................
120
Chapter Fourteen
Skin and Body Care
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
123
Skin Structure with Layers
........................
124
Issues with the Current Skin Condition
.............
124
Everyone has a Different Skin Type
................
126
Widely Used Devices for Skin Care
.................
126
Chapter Fifteen
Trends in Grooming Space
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
133
Health and Wellness Products’ Forecast
............
134
What are Nutraceuticals?
........................
134
Chapter Sixteen
Building a Self Brand
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
139
Social Media Presence
..........................
140
Signature and Logo
.............................
141
Email Etiquette
.................................
143
Blogs
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
144
Chapter Seventeen
Vishal School of Grooming, Self-Development and
Expressions
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
147
Purpose behind the School of Grooming
............
147
Aim – Vishal School of Grooming
.................
148
The Requisite of a School of Grooming
.............
148
C
ONTENTS
ix
The Modus Operandi of Vishal School of Grooming
..
150
What Will You Learn at Vishal School of Grooming?
..
153
Chapter Eighteen
Vital Grooming Skills
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
157
Facing the Camera – Video
.......................
157
Branded Video Creation & Editing
..................
159
Copywriting
....................................
159
Book Writing
...................................
160
Coaching & Mentoring
...........................
161
Leadership connected to Grooming
................
162
Listening Skills
.................................
163
Groom to the Next Version Pledge
.................
164
Chapter one : WHY Have I WRITTEN THIS BOOk?Book?

5 out to be a no-brainer for me. I was still interested in those

old games like Kancha, Gilli Danda etc. However, by coming
to a bigger town, the standard was raised. I had friends with
whom I could play cricket. But in a nutshell, I continued to
be a poor grade scorer and kept getting humiliated for my
bad performance.

This book talks to all of you who:

•Moved to a bigger town or a city but there was no
change as such with regards to living your life the
way you want to live.
•All those people who loved to play games throughout
their life but were asked to study subjects even though
they detested them.
Here, I would like to tell you something important. My
parents were doing it all for my betterment, but they were
not aware of my interests and my strengths. I was looking
for something else and they were unknowingly following
some people, who themselves never had successful careers.
‘Groom to the Next Version of You V.0 to V.1 is written for
all such parents who wish to let their kids live a life as per
their own strengths.
There will be people, friends and relatives around you,
who will influence your and your family’s decisions. And
that was exactly the scenario affecting my sister’s and my
life. After getting admission into a new school in Panchkula,
it was even tougher for me to cope up, as my fundamentals
till 6th standard were much below the requirement. And as
per the traditional schooling system during those days, I
was moved to the section where a majority of them are weak
students.

6 GROOM TO THE NEXT VERSION OF YOU V.0 TO V.1

Now just imagine the predicament of a student who is
already struggling to get good grades (as per the parent’s
wishes), and was moved to a section, where the struggle
becomes even bigger, where the confidence level stoops
down further as he is labelled with a tag of being ‘below
average’.
ENGINEER’S MINDSET
This book is actually written for people who are my past
version and who are currently struggling when it comes to
glorifying that great moment knocking at their door. It is a
dream for me to walk onto the stage and talk to hundreds
and thousands of people, especially those coming from a
small town and having an engineer’s mindset.
Basically, there are four types of personalities:
• Engineer’s Personality : Such people operate with their
mind, as for them, everything is logic-based. They
spend a lot of time in the planning state, rather than
going into action mode. We can say that their IQ
(Intelligence Quotient) level is high.
• Social Worker’s Personality: They think from their
heart. In all the decisions that individuals make,
emotions play a major factor. Thus, their EQ
(Emotional Quotient) is high. These people believe
in giving to the people and are big charity organisers.
• Soldier’s Personality : They get gratification from
outside themselves and like to be a leader. This
personality type likes challenges and they are always
hungry for more.
Chapter one WHY HaVE I WRITTEN THIS BOOk?

7 •Rockstar’s Personality : These people are fun-loving

and love to engage themselves in games, excitement,
jumping around, playing pranks. They love partying
all the time.
So in my initial years (age 0-16), I had a rockstar personality
but was forced to become an engineer’s personality for six
years of my life. The first three years went into doing a
diploma, followed by the next three years doing B-Tech.

WHY DID MY PERSONALITY CHANGE?

We usually see that when a father’s wishes remain unfulfilled,
he dreams that his son would achieve them one day.
This is exactly what happened in my case. My father
was an engineer with an engineer’s mindset. He finished
his 3-year diploma but couldn’t do his B-tech because of
financial constraints. As he was not able to do it, he wished
me to achieve it. So, against my will, I was forced to take up
the 3 year diploma course in Mechanical Engineering at the
early age of 16, right after finishing my 10th boards.
Knowingly, unknowingly I had to opt for engineering,
even though it was never of interest to me. The struggle of
grooming continued even over there as I was surrounded by
people with an engineer’s mindset, who themselves lacked
confidence and personality. The Environment once again
was not conducive for me to understand where my passion
lies. Now there came a dramatic moment of my life wherein
for the first time, something that I did surprise my parents
beyond their imagination. The first semester of the diploma

8 GROOM TO THE NEXT VERSION OF YOU V.0 TO V.1

got over and the results were declared. In those days, the
results used to be put up on boards. I had come along with
my close friend, Tarun, and we started checking for our
names from the bottom of the list. Tarun found his name
somewhere in the middle. But to our surprise, we both
couldn’t locate my name till the 39 name from the bottom
th

in a class of 40 students. The name at the top gave me the

shock of my life such that no one had ever imagined. When I
saw my name at the top of the list, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
It took some time to sink in that I was actually the topper in
my class. I double-checked to be sure that I wasn’t mistaken.
When I went back home and told this to my parents, they
thought I was bluffing and called up Tarun to confirm.
You can’t imagine what happened next. There wasn’t a
relative or an acquaintance who wasn’t told about this. They
were jubilant beyond words. To add to this, I was given a
scholarship of 100% fee waiver. My parents were just blown
away with this success of mine. From then onwards, they
started putting me under pressure to maintain this position
in all six semesters. I was studying more than 3-4 hours a day
to make it happen again. I continued to perform exceptionally
well by scoring either the first or second position in my
class.
What do you think happened after I completed my
diploma? My parents were obviously expecting me to have
a promising career, and before I knew it, I was enrolled for
a B-Tech in Derabassi, Punjab, a town near my birthplace
Mubarikpur Camp. There was no change in the scenario
here as well, which meant, I still had no scope to develop my
personality or groom myself.
chapter one WHY HaVE I WRITTEN THIS BOOk?

9 During B-Tech there was an internship as a process that

one needs to go through. My dad with his Boss’s help gets
me a summer training at Maruti Udyog, Gurgaon. For the
first time, I got a chance to move into a metropolitan city
and witness a culture I had never been exposed to before.
The crowd in Delhi-NCR was cosmopolitan, coming from
all walks of life, from all parts of India. They were all super
confident and were having a great command of English. I
was bullied a lot during these 6 months as I was not able
to cope up. I started feeling lonely but it was evident that
someday, I shall be able to master this skill and stand in front
of them with my head held high.
As such, I scored good marks in B.Tech as well, and in
the end, got a campus placement in Sonalika Tractors. I was
asked to move to Hoshiarpur and then to Rohtak. In this
way, I was within the vicinity of Punjab and Haryana most
of the time till I turned 20, and barring the internship in
Gurgaon, had no exposure to big cities, thus hindering my
process of grooming.
Let’s summarise my story till here.
6 years, 600 exams, 1000+ assignments and uncountable
quizzes and viva, though not a single lesson on the most
important subject in life - Grooming.
Engineering life is said to be the most challenging and
happening phase of anyone’s life. The life lessons that you
learn stay with you forever, more than the subjects and class
lessons. It’s like you have been thrown into a river and asked
to swim and find your own way. It often leaves students in
a desperate situation, and they have no option but to mould
themselves.

10 GROOM TO THE NEXT VERSION OF YOU V.0 TO V.1

From managing your room to learning to read
thermodynamics, the strength of materials and talking
about girls who are not part of Mechanical Engineering,
working only a night before to clear the exams, you are just
not worried about any type of extraordinary, personality
enhancement skills. Most are busy in our own world of
numbers and rules. As a result, a majority turn out to be
introverts and shy.
Be it interacting with the opposite sex or giving a speech
in public, it is avoided as much as possible. We are known
for a sloppy wardrobe, an utter lack of dressing sense and
personal hygiene, some worse than the others. Not only
outer grooming, nobody ever told us about the importance of
inner grooming - a healthy heart and mind. Inner grooming,
if taught at an early stage, can really help many engineers.
I have written this book for all such people who don’t want
to follow such traditional methods of schooling. Students
and their parents are now more aware and want to challenge
the status quo.
This brings me to my Mission and Vision statement,
which you will hopefully be able to relate to your journey
and your way of living:
Mission: I want to build a community and create a pool of
people, who would like to imbibe a revolutionary method
of schooling as compared to the traditional method, that
would benefit the child’s overall development rather than
imparting just bookish knowledge. The need is to teach
the upcoming kids in their early phase of life on ‘How to
GROOM themselves to th
eir best version’, thus aiding me
in my mission to groom and transform one million lives.

Chapter one WHY HaVE I WRITTEN THIS BOOk?

11 Vision: My vision is to change the world’s view on

Traditional Methods of Schooling. Build a School of
Grooming which becomes exemplary to many for teaching
those vital skills of life that develop the mindset of the
young generation from the initial stages itself. Build a
young generation that is clear about their life goals and 10
times more confident than their parents
CHAPTER THREE
HISTORY OF
GROOMING

G rooming has been rooted in a cyclic history of

waxing and waning, oscillating from Apollonian
aesthetic to Dionysian rustic look. Here, each cycle
marks the predominant philosophy of its time whilst also
differentiating itself from its predecessor.
Grooming has been one of the fundamental elements even
before 1000s of years ago. Natural herbs and plants played
a significant role during the prehistoric era. Aloe Vera for
skin, different techniques to make kohl for eyes like burned
almonds, using fragranced oil as a perfume, bathing with
milk were some of the methods followed for body adornment.
Early men were never un-groomed or looked shabby. That
was an era when females having long hair or men having
groomed beards used to be the norm.

18 GROOM TO THE NEXT VERSION OF YOU V.0 TO V.1

ANCIENT EGYPT:
Man’s association with grooming can be traced back to as
early as 10,000 BC. The Ancient Egyptians were the pioneers
in all the fields, personal beautification being one of them.
The various products they used had a two-fold purpose. It not
only enhanced the beauty of the Egyptians, but also helped
them to shield and protect themselves from the scorching
heat of the sun. In case of kohl, it made the eyes look pretty
and attractive and was applied in a way that protected the
eyes from the glaring sun rays.
The blazing heat would cause foul smells. In order to
camouflage such body odours, the people would liberally
use fragrance oils like myrrh, thyme, marjoram, chamomile,
lavender, lily, peppermint, rosemary, cedar, rose, aloe, and
even olive oil.
In addition, they would pamper their skin with Aloe Vera
and bathing milks. Both men and women wore make up,
although the higher classes would put on more make up as

chapter three HISTORYOF GROOMING

19 compared to the lower classes. The women also preferred
removing body hair, considering it as a symbol of purity.
This gave birth to the use of a paste made up of sugar, water
and lemon juice, similar to the wax that is used today.
Source:
fabbon.com
They idolised Cleopatra, considered to be the epitome of
beauty and elegance and followed her who used a lot of
products to take care of her beauty.
THE ROMANS:
The Romans believed in overall hygiene and took grooming
to the next level. The private and communal baths which
were prevalent then, are a testimonial to their affinity with
bathing. They particularly favoured steams, with an intention
to remove the impurities of the body, and would generously
add fragrance oils and perfumes to their bath. They would
use a mix of flour and butter to soothe their skin in case of
breakouts.
The Romans were one of the first to start using hair dyes.
The colour that they usually preferred was blonde, with an
intention to make them appear young. However, the dye that
they used was so strong, that they ended up damaging hair,
leading to excessive hair loss.
20
GROOM TO THE NEXT VERSION OF YOU V.0 TO V.1
They continued the trend set by the Egyptians and also preferred
hairless bodies. However, they started using razors, tweezers, pumice
stones, and depilatory creams.
Source:
en.m.wikeipedia.org.
Source:
northwindprints.com
MIDDLE AGES TO ELIZABETHAN ERA:
Due to the staunch rules of the Church and the downfall of the
Roman Empire, grooming took a backseat for a while, as the
Church condemned the use of products for beautification.
So, the people made minimum use of products during this
time. However, it marked the advent of mirror that we use
to d ay. Source: beautifulwithbrains.com
Source: worldhistory.org
Eventually, after Elizabeth I of England came into power,
grooming soon gained popularity. Several products like
rosemary water for hair, sage for dental care, wine baths,
different masks for skin care, were widely used. Somehow,
pale skin became a raging vogue, leading to the usage of a
deathly makeup containing arsenic and lead, causing several
untimely deaths.
VICTORIAN ERA:
By Victorian era, the awareness and the demand for beauty
products had picked up momentum, so much so that even
the common people were attracted to it. With the advent
of technology, for the first time in the history of grooming,
such products started being produced on a large scale. Due
22 GROOM TO THE NEXT VERSION OF YOU V.0 TO V.1
to this, the usage of soaps and other beauty products became
the norm. Anti-aging products were developed and widely
used.
Source: timetoast.com
A woman’s appearance was as equally important as her
education, logical thinking and individuality. The fashion
influences that came with the Victorian era, allowed
women to show off such unique and empathetic styles.
Hairstyles were the key to elegance and purity. The hair
was often worn up while ringlet curls were used to adorn
the face. It was vital during the Victorian era that all hair
styled should be neat, without a single strand out of place.
Brushing your hair many times before going to bed, was a
common saying during this period.
So just like the Queens, it is advised:
24
GROOM TO THE NEXT VERSION OF YOU V.0 TO V.1
•
T
o aim for 6-8 hours of sleep at night to maintain
healthy skin
•
T
o bathe in the sun once in a while
•
T
o sit in well-ventilated rooms.
•
T
o look for unique old hairstyles which would help to
create a great impression
•
T
o use light makeup, as quite a few pieces of evidence
often suggest members of the higher class using
subtle dusting and rouge on the cheeks to boost their
complexions.
THE 1900S:
The 1900s saw the birth of Hollywood. People were in awe of the celebrities
with perfectly groomed hair, spotless skin and charming personalities. These
people were idolised and their dressing and grooming styles was widely
copied. The awareness of one’s looks was heightened. There was a boom
in the perfume industry as well. Razors, that could be used at home, were
introduced, and although they were basic, they were reliable and safe enough
to be used.The opportunity was tapped by the grooming industry, who
did extensive marketing and ensured that the public at large was enraptured
by the image these celebrities presented. They introduced a multitude of
products ranging from whitening creams and cosmetics to perfumes,
unabashedly using the image of the celebrities to boost their sales. The
fashion magazines also gained popularity. By the time it was 1960s, there
was a surge in a particular style called the ‘Mad Men’ style. Men in
crisp suits, with

25slicked back, side parted hair styles, clean shaven faces, acted as the flag
bearers of the fashion industry. Womenswear continued with the reviously
preferred elegant outfits, while introducing the more vibrant and outhful
styles. The end of 60s saw the hippie style which gained popularity
STORY OF EARLY MEN – CARRY BEARD
ROOM TO THE NEXT VERSION OF YOU V.0 TO V.1
During the pre-historic era, men used to have beards to have
a manly look, just like a royal lion. The notion behind this
was that a beard creates a manlier and stronger personality.

KINGS’ PRIDE – THEIR BEARD AND

MOUSTACHE
King was the one whom the public viewed as a protector.
So, it was very important for the kings to keep themselves
presentable and well-groomed. Kings with beards and
moustaches were regarded as the symbol of style, personality,
experience, and professionalism. That was the reason why
kings preferred beards and moustaches.The humbleness and the experience
were dependent on facial hair.That’s why, most of the Monarchs decided to
keep on their beards and decorated their moustaches.

SAINTS – LONG BEARD WAS THEIR PRIDE

The reason for body-hair is that it protects our skin from chemical and
harmful pollutants. But, for aesthetic appeal, we generally shave the
pubic hair or trim them, as per requirement. Saints are those who have
given up all the worldly life and do not believe in cutting their hair
or trimming their beard. Well, this is a general fact which everybody
knows. But, let us know the scientific reason behind this. As per
scientific research, it is said that hair generates an electromagnetic field
that helps to absorb Vitamin D from solar energy. They coil the hair
on top of their heads to stay protected from sunstroke. The beard is
the pride of saints as it is the symbol of courage. Beard is the significance of
staying out of the vicinity of worldly life and taking the courageous, rofound
step as they are the Gurus of their disciples.

Now let’s compare these bearded Royals to the

Unbearded ones :
UNBEARDED/CLEAN SHAVEN LOOKS
Sometimes you feel that you don’t look macho because you
don’t have a beard. Many men have modest or less hair
growth which is normal. So it is absolutely fine if you spot a
light beard is one of the trends. As such, many clean shaven
men look super cool.
One of the best examples is the most acclaimed
footballer, Cristian Ronaldo. Though he doesn’t sport
a beard, no one can match his personality. Think about
the Bollywood stars like Varun Dhawan, who made an entry
without a bearded look and still have been so successful.
It hardly matters. To be honest, if you are not able to get
a beard or you have a patchy beard growth, it’s good to go
with a clean shaven look. Moreover, even if you do have a
good hair growth, it is your prerogative whether you like the
bearded look or clean shaven.

Some of the key benefits which one will get out of being
clean shaven:
• It can help you look younger.
•It will definitely compliment a formal appearance.
•Can help remove some dead skin like acne and pimples.
•Sometimes, women prefer clean shaven men over
bearded ones.
Now, clean shaven look has always been in trend and is
evergreen. Also, it can be considered to be an inexpensive
way of maintaining your look. When it comes to beard,
one has to spend a crazy amount of money to maintain
it. Weekly visits to the parlour are inevitable. It may even
require a touch up at home in between as well. Considering
the maintenance factor, clean shaved look is comparatively
hassle free.
So it’s clearly a choice between the two. You may sport a
beard or can opt for a clean shaven look. Both of them have
their own advantages and disadvantages.
So just like kings, it is advised and preferred:
•To make face/appearance the shifting site of
masculinity, and grooming, its vital tool.
•To have rugged looks and expressions of physical
might.
•To become conscious of identity, look good and appear
confident.
•To feel empowered and equipped to be their own
man.
To have an edge over others by letting go of the
modern-day clichés.

QUEEN’S CROWN – LONG AND BEAUTIFUL

HAIR
Long hair is the symbol of beauty. Today’s women would
love to know the secrets of the long and healthy hair of the
queens. The queens in ancient times used to have long and
lustrous hair, which would attract the kings. Owing to the
lack of chemical-based products, they were well-versed
about the natural products/Ayurvedic products available
and their benefits. For the nourishment of their hair, they
used these ingredients:
•Pure coconut oil
•Multani mitti mixed with curd, lemon, and honey
•Paste of soaked fenugreek seeds
•Henna as a conditioner
•A mix of amla, shikakai and areetha
•Curd masks during winters to cure dry hair
CHAPTER FOUR
MYTHS PERTAINING
TO MALE AND
FEMALE
GROOMING
“Grooming is not an art, it’s a vital skill, which can be
learnt and passed on to many. Groom to the next version
of you V.0 to V.1”

G rooming is not just a daily regime, but it’s a versatile

method of individual articulation. It means changing
yourself for the better internally as well as externally. It is
all about your overall personality development. Wearing
beautiful attire and looking confident in the dress is not
the only aspect of grooming. Numerous blogs and articles
have been written regarding grooming but there is no
particular protocol in which the bloggers or writers have
mentioned predefined grooming habits.
There are several myths related to grooming which have
led to the notion of predefined grooming habits for male and
female. Let us discuss those myths and let me eradicate some
misconceptions you may have regarding the same.
My friends/colleagues always considered that being
SMART or DAPPER wasn’t my cup of tea. These were some
of the key issues which led them to believe so.
GROOMING IS ONLY LIMITED TO EXTERNAL
APPEARANCE/GOOD LOOKS
Grooming your appearance allows you to come out of
the shell and show your persona to the world. External
appearance is important as it creates the first impression,
but after a point, it is your internal persona that matters.
Proper attire, etiquettes, body language, correct tone of
your voice, prompt response, thoughtfulness, being a good
listener, communication skills are a part of grooming. Being
5’6”, I was always considered a short guy with an average
personality. As such, I couldn’t do anything about these
attributes. But that doesn’t mean that I have to shun myself
or have a lack of confidence. Slowly and steadily, I worked
on polishing myself through body adornment as well as
a more reformed mindset which helped me come out of
this cocoon and helped me groom to the next version of
myself.

SHORT PEOPLE CANNOT LOOK GROOMED

AND CONFIDENT
Short people are generally under-confident due to the
inferiority complex they must be probably feeling since
childhood. The pro tip is ‘acceptance’. Acceptance of yourself
takes your confidence to greater heights. Grooming has
no relation with anybody’s appearance; it is all about your
keenness to change yourself and groom yourself. I know a
lot of people who are short in height and dark-skinned but
much more confident than people who are tall and fair in
colour.
Let’s assume that two people are standing next to each
other. One is 5’6” and the other one is 6’ plus. However, the
taller one is devoid of even the basic grooming etiquettes
while the shorter one is well aware and has inculcated them
in his lifestyle. The chances are likely that the shorter one
would stand tall and outshine, owing to his awareness of
grooming etiquettes
FREQUENT CHANGES IN HAIRSTYLES AREN’T
POSSIBLE
At the outset, hairstyling in grooming is not only for women;
men also need it. An appropriate hairstyle is a primary
requirement when it comes to outward grooming. Your body
requires maintenance and so does your hair. Over time, most
men and women become so involved in their routine that
they become indifferent about their hair or its health. They
get into an auto-pilot mode and do not bother to do anything
about it, at times for very long periods, usually opting for
quick fix well-groomed hairstyles. Once in a while, it would
be good to try something new that would enhance your
personality rather than sticking to the mundane styles.
The pro tip here is to wash your hair first and then start the
styling. However, very frequent hair wash is never advisable,
as it takes away the sheen of the hair. It is essential to trim
your hair on a regular basis to maintain an appeasing look.
You should opt for a hairstyle that enhances your personality
and is in accordance with your workplace. Hair Grooming is
an important aspect that would work wonders for your self-
confidence. It is all about feeling good. So make sure you feel
good when you are done with your favourite hairstyle, and
you are good to go.

ONLY WOMEN SHOULD WAX BODY HAIR

The biggest myth everybody has is that only women should
wax their body hair. But over the last couple of years, the
percentage of men getting them waxed has increased.
Although it is still immensely popular in females, male waxing
has been in vogue in the fields of modelling, bodybuilding,
and in the acting fraternity. Pubic hair is not appreciated
and should also be removed to maintain hygiene. For a well-
groomed male, depending on your preference of having a
clean shave or a groomed beard, and having a proper hair set
helps you to look confident.
This is again one of the biggest myths. Salons do help you to
groom yourself temporarily. But grooming is a continuous
process. The question that probably arises is the practicality
of going to the salon frequently. I would like to remind you
that you don’t need professional assistance for your daily
care. It can be easily done with the ingredients available at
home. Home remedies can give you excellent results as well
and can help you have healthy-looking skin and lustrous hair.
For example, hair care at home can be done by using a basic
yoghurt mask or banana mask, which is generally available
at home and easy to apply. Oiling your hair regularly helps
the hair to grow symmetrically with healthier growth. Hot
turban therapy is another simple yet effective method to
treat various hair problems. For skin, you can use face packs like Aloe Vera
for shinier skin, turmeric as an antiseptic for acne, milk to make your
skin softer, and orange peel as a scrub, to name a few.

EYEBROW/FACIAL HAIR ONLY CAN BE

REMOVED WITH THE HELP OF TRADITIONAL
METHODS
Facial Hair is another problem faced by females, and
generally, they get it removed by wax or threading. However,
I would like to bust the myth that this is the only method
as, nowadays, with advanced technology and extensive
scientific research, there are methods like laser treatment,
which are effective. As such, I would strongly recommend
opting for home remedies for the removal of facial hair
or eyebrow toning, as they will not give any side effects.
Sometimes, the treatments may have side effects. So, one
needs to weigh the pros and cons before deciding on any
method. Also, brands like Philips and Havells have launched
electronic eyebrow trimmers and facial hair removers. Laser
hair removal treatment is possible at home as well. A lot of
devices like Philips Lumea (IPL) are available outside India,
which can help you get rid of hair permanently. Such devices
cost you more than INR 25k, if you plan to buy one from
outside India.
CHAPTER FIVE
INTERNAL AND
EXTERNAL
GROOMING
“Having a dashing personality and an amicable
nature, gives you a definite edge over strictly
academic students.”
—Vishal Manocha.

G rooming is always misunderstood as related to only

outward appearance. However, it is also about being
confident, having appealing body language with impactful
communication skills. You should aim to develop such
a magnetic personality that they approach you directly,
instead of you running behind them. This can happen if
and only if you have faith in yourself. Self-Belief is the key.
I spent almost a decade trying to figure out why I was
not able to attract more people and opportunities. One
of the main reasons for this was limited awareness of
Grooming Skills. In order to overcome this, I had to read a
lot and increase my exposure to various important aspects
like dressing, body language, and public speaking, so as to
emerge as a winning GROOM STAR.
Everyone should aim to become a Groom Star if we plan
to address both internal and external grooming at the same
time. Let’s deep dive into some of the important grooming
skills.
CONFIDENCE FROM WITHIN
Is everyone around you confident about themselves? Probably,
they may also have doubts, just like you. Well, the question
could be, what’s the secret behind building confidence? Let me
break this ice. The answer is to BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.
Confidence comes from within, and you can discover
approaches to be more sure whenever possible.
This isn’t to imply that figuring out how to be self-assured
will take care of all your issues. Everybody has awful days
or moments that make you feel lost. Being confident doesn’t
mean you’re secure with yourself consistently. Building
confidence doesn’t imply that you know everything; rather,
it’s about believing that regardless of what occurs in a specific
circumstance, you’ll have the option to deal with it and gain
from the result.
There are bound to be a few instances when you feel like
giving up, when things don’t work as per your plan. But if you
want to be a successful leader and want to be in a position that
requires you to be convincing and trustworthy, being confident,
especially when the going gets difficult, is non-negotiable.
Regardless of whether you are in a leadership role or not, being
sure is imperative.
It is of utmost importance that you should be confident about
yourself even beyond the work environment. Figuring out how
to be more assured can assist you to attract an accomplice with
whom you can build up a strong connection. It can likewise
assist you in case of contention and lookout for new ways
that will cultivate your self-improvement.
Starting to change your attitude towards your surroundings
will be the first step to being confident. It is imperative to be
in a controlled state of mind and have a balanced attitude at
any given time of the day. The control over your emotions,
your mood, your attitude will help you to gain self-assurance.
BODY LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION
To be confident, it is essential to look and act confident.
Physical appearance is the key when you are learning how to
be confident. After controlling emotions and your mood, it
is essential to concentrate on how you carry yourself ! Your
body language is extremely important. For instance, you are
looking forward to meeting someone, who has admirable
body language and commendable confidence. We get such
strong vibes from them, even before they utter a word. Why
do you see them as role models? Maybe because of the way
they carry themselves with utmost confidence, the way they
make eye-contact, give a firm handshake and stand straight
in front of you.
On the contrary, what’s your body language? Are you
already feeling inferior and trying to avoid the interaction
with that person? But that shouldn’t be the case. You should
realise that you have the power to change the situation. You
are aware of how to control your emotions and empower
them by being confident. Present yourself with a positive
attitude and try to be interactive.
INTERACTION SKILLS
It is extremely important to have interactive skills. You
generally fumble or avoid those people with whom you get
an opportunity to interact. Why? The reason is you believe
that other people will judge your skills. The first thing in
the morning you have to do is SPEAK ALOUD, “I CAN DO
IT.” Start small talks with yourself. This will give you the
utmost confidence as you are not going to judge yourself
and will be able to work on your shortcomings. Language
is never a barrier. Interaction can be in any language you
are comfortable with. It is not necessary to speak in English
unless that person is not able to understand any other
language than English. Otherwise, your vernacular language
or Hindi is welcome in general.
COURAGE - FACING CHALLENGES
You already learnt how to be confident! You also learnt
about body language and interacting skills but all these
things are beneficial only when you start implementing
them practically. Being confident in front of the mirror or
speaking only with yourself will not always help. Now it’s
time to showcase your skills which you polished and have
the courage to face rejection. People might not accept your
change or they might even judge you, but be bold enough
to face this challenge. The journey might not be easy, my
friend, but the results are amazing, trust me!
PERSONALITY RESHAPING
Personality development is the development of the organised
pattern of behaviours and attitudes that make you a distinctive
person. Here, we are going to reshape your personality, which
refers to your temperament, interacting skill, character, and
environment. Our mind keeps on working with different
emotions and thoughts throughout the day, and sometimes,
we are stuck in that loop. It is important to control these
thoughts and perform some meditation which gives positive
energy. Your behaviour becomes your character, and it’s of
utmost importance to control your reaction. Instant reaction
and frustration show how anger is empowering your mind,
and because of such minute mistakes, we may lose many
opportunities.
POWER DRESSING
The first impression is the last. We all are aware of this quote
but we have never pondered about the intent behind it. Why
do we say this? Why is it important to dress up well? It is not
important to wear expensive or branded clothes at all. But
each attire has its place, and that is important to know. Each
occasion like marriage ceremonies, meetings, parties, family
get together have their own dress code. During meetings, we
are obviously not going to wear the outfit which we would
prefer to wear for a wedding ceremony. It is essential to
carry the attire well. Attire, hair and makeup all go hand in
hand. Clean and neatly combed hair and basic makeup work
well for females. For males, neat hairdo and clean shaven or
trimmed beard is good to go. We do not give importance
to these, right? But we shouldn’t forget that presentability is
paramount.
Few Action Steps before Moving Ahead:
•Every morning, start saying loudly that you have a
strong belief in yourself.
•Identify your bad body language movements. For
example, cross-armed or cross-legged.
•Ask yourself, when did you last speak to a stranger?
•Identify your three best power dresses that you would
like to always have with you.
•Identify your three personality barriers which you
yourself are not confident about.
INTERNAL GROOMING
CHAPTER SIX
THE REVOLUTIONARY
GROOMING CYCLE
To attract more opportunities you got to act like
a dream grooming machine and stay motivated towards
your big life goals”
—Vishal Manocha

Y ou must be thinking, ‘What could be the grooming

goals, and how are they connected to motivation?’
The goal to groom well is the first thing that we need to set
in our mind before we start grooming ourselves internally.
Just imagine this. You walk up to a shopkeeper to buy some
essentials for home. However, you end up buying something
which wasn’t required at all. So you ended up investing your
money and time on something which wasn’t a necessity.
The same applies to grooming while setting up the goals.
We should be absolutely clear as to where exactly we are and
where we want to reach. Carefully observe the revolutionary
grooming cycle below.

Scenario 1
- Let’s say that you are operating from the self-
doubt zone. You feel the need to check and seek validation
from someone for whatever comes to your mind and then
take a call. It’s basically a danger zone. Therefore, you need
to set goals in such a way that you should be moving to
the next level of ‘Learning Daily’ and mould yourself so
as to overcome your lack of confidence by implementing
grooming tactics.
Scenario 2
– Suppose you are operating from a level
where you are already inclined towards learning daily. Still,
are the subjects which you are learning keeping you close
to your ultimate goal? For e.g., You have a goal to attract
better career opportunities, then you probably need to work
a lot on developing your personality. In that case, you need
to work upon the below aspects strategically:
• Practisingy our story
• Practising introduction
• Having anaccountability partnerw
Hoc an help you improve
• Making aloto fv ideos to improve your in terpersonal skills
Scenario 3
- A very common problem with a lot of people
is that they start working as per scenario 2 but are not able
to maintain consistency, and hence, they once again come
back to the pessimistic stage. What do you need to do here?
You need to look into the chapter on Grooming Habits and
Routines, as it will assist you to have momentum as per your
vision.
Pushing yourself towards exercise, food and fitness
regime would help you to make a strong comeback.
Scenario 4
- At this stage, it is vital to break all personality
barriers and come out as a winner. Now you are no more
stuck up with your old habits and routines that are letting
you lose confidence. You believe in adding value to yourself
and others at this crucial juncture. Gradually, you are
progressing towards spending me-time and understanding
the importance of it.
Scenario 5
- This is an ultimate grooming stage, or I
must say, an ultimate grooming goal one should have in his/
her life. One should aim to become a powerful personality
with great branding. People who come to this scenario have
definitely seen lots of ups and downs before achieving a
super-confident state. This scenario is basically for people
who have high self-esteem and believe strongly in whatever

they do. They have no personality barriers and are able to

communicate with charisma.
Once you have identified the scenario where you are in
the revolutionary grooming cycle, it is always recommended
to set up stringent goals and start inching towards them on
a daily basis. ‘If you have big goals, small things will have no relevance.’
Now let me share my case study with you all:
As you all must be well aware by now, I had been low on
confidence till the age of 22 and had no clue about grooming
and how to overcome this state. However, after taking
admission for MBA at Amity Business School, I could see
the difference between my personality and other classmates
coming from Delhi/NCR region. This was my trigger point
when I realised that I needed to set high goals for myself and
take some definite tough steps to surpass this drawback.
Fast forward six months spent at Amity, and I was putting
myself under tremendous pressure every now and then to
participate in presentations, debates and group discussions.
All this was happening because I was determined to crack
something big in my life. Just to put things in perspective, I
was amongst those people who were always fluent in English
and had no problem at all when it came to delivering on
stage. I was alert about everything that was happening
around me, taking note of their style, their body language,
their dressing. For starters, I began practising hard in front
of the mirror every day.
Fast forward the first year, and I was giving tough
competition to all my classmates in terms of content and
delivery. Everyone could notice that change in my personality.
The one incident that would be forever etched in my heart
is when in one of the classes of communication skills, my
Professor Smita Sinha had appreciated saying, “What a
phenomenal change in Vishal’s personality! His confidence
level has gone up considerably.” The validation boosted my
morale and I became more vigilant. I took notice of the
environment around me. I was staying in a 2BHK apartment
with friends. Incidentally, all of us had the same issues and
lacked communication skills. So I decided to spend quality
me-time working on myself to achieve my goals rather than
wasting time by chit-chatting with them. This decision
worked for me so well that it helped me to prepare myself
for the important upcoming moment of campus placements.
It was 2009, and with the recession around the corner, no
great placements were expected. Nonetheless, the news came
in that TVS motors were coming on campus and would offer
a decent package. We all started preparing hard and finally, it
was D-Day. One after another, I cleared four rounds, starting
from basic qualifications like CGPA score to preliminary
HR round and then GD 1 followed by GD2 (small group).
However, I couldn’t clear the final interview, which made me
furious with myself; a golden chance was missed.
Soon, the news came that after exactly ten days, Philips
India was planning to come to the campus. I started
preparing hard for it once again, conscious not to repeat the
same mistakes. The same procedure of interviews followed.
The news that Philips had decided to pick up only two
candidates created a flurry amongst the students. Out of a
batch of 600 students, 124 got shortlisted. However, when