Farouk Shami, founder and chairman of Farouk Systems and the visionary behind CHI and BioSilk, sat down with NEW YOU for an in depth conversation about color, courage, and the conviction that innovation belongs in the hands of artists. What followed was a masterclass in entrepreneurial grit, purpose driven leadership, and the power of staying relentlessly curious.


NY: You were born in a small village in Palestine. Can you share a memory of your childhood home and how it shaped your outlook on life and beauty?

Farouk Shami: I was born in a small village in Palestine, before the creation of Israel. It was a simple agricultural community. Life was beautiful and uncomplicated. We played in the yards, in the dirt, under the blue sky and green pastures.

The biggest influence in my life was my mother. She embroidered and dyed silk into brilliant colors. I would sit with her as she created reds, yellows, blues, and greens. It was like watching a rainbow come to life. That joy of color stayed with me. Even today, when I think of my childhood, I remember color more than anything else.

NY: You came to the United States with just $71. What motivated that leap?

Farouk Shami: I came to this country with $71 in my pocket.

At the time, that felt like a fortune. I thought it would last forever. I quickly learned it would not. I worked in restaurants while attending college. Then one day I visited a beauty school. I thought I would just learn to cut hair at night to make extra money.

What I discovered changed my life. I fell in love with the profession. When I started working with hair color, it brought me back to my childhood. I was playing with color again and getting paid for it. That was the moment everything shifted.

NY: Was there a defining challenge that fueled your determination?

Farouk Shami: Yes. My love for color almost ended my career. I developed severe allergies from ammonia and harsh chemicals in salons. My doctor told me I had to quit or risk serious lung damage.

Instead of walking away, I decided to solve the problem. I was told there was no such thing as hair color without ammonia. I refused to accept that. I invented the first ammonia free hair color and called it Sunglitz. That was the beginning of my company 40 years ago.

NY: What advice would you give the next generation of beauty innovators?

Farouk Shami: Be innovative. If I can do it, you can do it. If you can think it, you can create it. Focus. Choose the profession you love. When you love what you do, creativity follows.

From a small village surrounded by fields of green to a global brand powered by science and imagination, Farouk Shami’s story is proof that entrepreneurship is equal parts resilience and vision. He did not just build a beauty empire. He reengineered an industry from the salon chair up.