Search Results: Desiree Johnson
Helix Hair Labs is bringing innovation to the natural hair space with their newest hair tools to protect your hair while you sleep. Rebecca Allen and Carly Stapleton are co-founders who are using research, development, and testing to the forefront of the consumer conversation around hair wellness. Their two new products, the sleep sleeve and silk slip tie, help address help protect your hair damage and help maintain any style of hair regardless of texture or hair type. The products are designed to be versatile and complimentary to any hair routine for easy maintenance and protection whether you are sleeping or exercising. We sat down to chat with the burgeoning entrepreneurs to learn more about their new business entering the market.
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Why do you think there has been a renewed conversation around hair health?
I think what we observed was really that everybody was losing their hair. Specifically, through the pandemic, you know whether that was illness-related or stress related. Compounded by all of the other reasons we’re always losing our hair whether that’s life cycle related or just genetically predisposed. It’s it felt like there was much more front-facing conversation happening about hair loss because of the pandemic in part, and that that was playing out on social media as well.
What inspired the name Helix Hair Labs?
We wanted the brand to be grounded in efficacy, science, and observed reality. I think particularly in hair care, there is a lot of well-intentioned, but wishy-washy information out there. Helix alluded to the various textures of curls and the actual shape of a double helix gives shape to the hair
How is your branding process and how does it reflect who your company is?
We wanted a brand that felt fresh and organic with a futuristic vibe. We used a lot of clinical outer space inspiration like a white laboratory on the inside, a space station rather than the deep part of space. The bright clinical clean space station and bringing in organic elements to it. I wanted it to feel gender-neutral. We want our products to evolve and everybody to feel invited in. When we were conducting our initial interview series, we met with people in their 50s and 60s and we found that regardless of age, many people are experiencing the same types of hair challenges. We didn’t want to be just another Gen-Z zebra or millennial brand and focused on being as inclusive as possible.
How did taking a scientific approach to shaping your product development?
We spent a lot of time getting in the bathrooms of people with all different types of hair who were managing it in all different ways and understanding what their routines were, and what the products they were using were both web products and tools and devices. We wanted to create a comprehensive mapping of how people were cycling through their hair. Once we got into the development we had a lot of ideas about ways that we could improve points in people’s routines and provide specific tools that would either create efficiencies in their routines or efficacy in their routines. We’re rigorously making sure that these products work for everybody with a specific texture and making sure not to overlook people with 4C hair. We believe with any tools is that when you design with the customer in mind that you actually can make better products for everybody.
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What common hair challenges do your products solve?
Everything that we’re bringing to life falls into what we call the Helix code and that is that you want to grow your healthiest hair, style it with minimal damage, and then protect it. Our mantra is to grow, style, and protect with every product. What we’ve brought to life first falls into our class and protect bucket. For example, our silk slip tie is 100% Mulberry silk and it’s kind of a cross between like a scrunchy and a Hermes twilly. To customers with curly and coily hair, you can achieve whichever style you want. Similarly, our sleep sleeve is for protecting your hair at night or during exercise. Depending on your hair length, you can secure it at a different length, so it’s versatile and it’s working for a lot of different people in their preferred way to wrap and protect their hair.
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What are the best ways to use your products?
I’d say for the sleep sleeve, the best way to use this is when your hair is done and you are going to bed and you want to protect it from damage while you’re sleeping, right, like friction while you’re sleeping, and also preserve your style. There’s no wrong way to tie it if that is totally personal preference. The other way that people can wear it too is if you are doing an overnight treatment on your hair and you want to just wrap it so that you’re not making a mess.
We designed little cutouts to make space for your ears and then you can wear it with the crossover in front and the logo market back should fit comfortably over your ears.
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Read next: How Entrepreneur Gabby Goodwin is Growing Her Beauty Empire at Age 15
Daphné Eastmond is making her entrepreneurial debut with Frizz + Co, a luxurious hair-repairing mask that gives a deep and rich conditioning treatment that will have your curls singing all week long. She worked with chemists to develop the product from the ground up where she researched and meticulously looked for ingredients that were biodegradable and lightly scented. Her goal was to keep her consumers top of mind and create a product that could be integrated into someone’s lifestyle and support a healthy self-care experience.
As a woman and Black-owned business, Eastmond takes pride in sourcing and developing her first product to help people fall back in love with their curls and gain a sense of renewal after chemical or heat damage. We sat down to chat with her about her entrepreneurial growth, lessons learned, and how she created her first product.
When you reminisce on your hair journey growing up, what comes to mind and why?
My hair journey has been honestly a love/hate relationship. For as long as I can remember., especially in my adolescent years when the only thing I wanted to do was to fit in. I would do anything to try and defy the laws of physics to get my hair straight when obviously that was the opposite of what my hair naturally was. I tried everything, chemical relaxers, braids, wigs, weaves, and the objective was to fit in and I was just never really happy trying to.
I feel like starting Frizz + Co was kind of a love letter to my girls where I reached a point where I was like, OK, this is the hair that I have there’s nothing I can do to change it. How can I learn to love it? Through this business, I’ve met so many incredible women that had or still have a struggle that was similar to mine. I feel I felt really understood in this community and I’ve been so excited to be working on this on a daily basis.
What were some lessons you learned in your entrepreneurial journey?
I feel like I’m at a stage where I still have so much to learn, but I think the most powerful thing was the power of community and knowing how to surround yourself with like-minded people or people that are as motivated as you that want to grind, that want to build their own business. I felt like it could be a little bit isolating, you know, being an entrepreneur and trying to build your own business. This has become a priority for me and I can totally admit that sometimes I have no idea what I’m doing.
What are the staples of wash day that every textured naturalista should know?
In my experience, this has been a ritual that I’ve dreaded at times so much so that I would rather do anything else than wash my hair. What I tried to do with Frizz + Co is try to incorporate this wash day ritual into the self-care kind of space where you are in control. What does self-care mean to you? Is it a playlist? Is it lighting candles? Is it having a glass of wine? You know, just set the tone that makes it feel nice. That’s kind of one thing that I would say could be my staple.
How did you conduct research to determine what your hero product would be?
I conducted a survey with a small group when I was in Montreal where I discovered many people had damaged curls from heat and chemicals. That’s when I decided that a repairing hair mask could be a good place to start. It was a lot of trial and error because everyone has a different hair type and texture. It’s so hard to cater to everyone. When I was testing the product out, I asked specific girls that all had different hair textures to the point where one even had chemically relaxed hair to see the overall results.
Getting everyone’s feedback from you is really important in how I can shape this product into the best product I could and I have to admit, the chemist that I was working with was really knowledgeable in the space. She knew instantly what ingredients were gonna work and, when we were brainstorming, we had a choice of going into the more traditional ingredients like coconut oil or can we go in a different path with maybe less known ingredients that may need a bit more education. But I felt like that was a bit more interesting than having another like coconut-based product.
Why did you choose to make your debut Frizz + Co product a hair mask?
When I transitioned into natural hair, I just remember the importance of doing a hair mask on a weekly basis. I felt like, I don’t have the money to do a full range of products, but can I create one staple product that I feel will make the most difference in someone’s hair? What is the one product you have to use on your bathroom shelf and in my opinion, that was a hair mask. I decided to focus my efforts on trying to build my reputation around this really great hair mask. Once I can develop a range of secondary products around that mask that just enhance the brand.
What are the best practices for using a hair mask?
The routine is always starting with clean hair. I apply the product on towel-dried hair. If I have a bit more time it’s I’ll wrap it in a cute plastic bag to seal in the heat in and then put a microfiber towel on it. Leave it in for as long as possible whether that’s 30 minutes- 1 hour just to let it soak and keep a consistent weekly routine.
What are the benefits of using a product with natural ingredients?
When I started working on this product, it was really important for me to use all-natural ingredients because I felt like first, it was a staple for a quality product. Second, as a consumer, I know that I’m personally looking at the labels of the products and wondering what’s in there? There’s a huge lack of transparency where some brands can promote ingredients being clean and organic but we don’t know if they are harmful to us. I wanted a product that was super effective that didn’t compromise your health or even your curl health. The natural ingredients will naturally do their things, whereas synthetic synthetic ingredients can provide short-term results and will make your hair look nice, but ultimately down the line, you know they can be drying
What can we look forward to from Frizz + Co in 2023?
Building on brand awareness and developing more products. I really like the idea of having a technical product with a range of products around it to sort of enhance the product.
Check out: How Young King Hair Care is Bridging the Curly Industry Gap for Young Black and Brown Men
Meet Joni Odum, President and CEO of Firstline Brands, who is a graduate of Hampton and has been a critical aspect of the evolution of Firstline Brands. As one of the first Black-owned brands carving out a lane for natural hair products, Joni has helped carry the torch lit by her father to ensure the brand offers timeless accessories and products to elevate any hairstyle. They are pioneers for brands like Evolve, WavEnforcer, Camryn’s BFF, Dri Sweat, and Sleek, which are featured in major retailers all over the world. We spoke with Joni to discuss her family’s legacy and the evolution of their products since 1986.
Can you tell us the origins of Firstline?
My father founded this business. He was a pioneer in those days because there was no dedicated space for this particular market, the multicultural textured hair care market. He filled a gap for an underserved market and established distribution years ago.
How did you get into the hair care industry?
I grew up with an entrepreneurial spirit, you know, with my dad being in this business, I spent summers working in the warehouse in our manufacturing facility at that time, loading products in acrylic bags and then preparing them for shipment, whether they were a wig cap or a do-rag. I was in the warehouse and then would spend time helping with the administrative side of the business. I spent a year at Neutrogena in LA, then a year at their corporate headquarters in global strategic marketing, and then landed at McNeil Consumer. I was managing the brand marketing expenses for the Tylenol Franchise and working so closely with the Marketing team.
How did you transition from finance to your family business?
My dad saw an opportunity for me to lead the product development side of our business, marketing, and then help gain new distribution. I was passionate about culture building at the company and inspiring others to lead, so he put me in that lane, and it served me and the company well. About 15 years later, we broadened our portfolio of brands more than we had years ago. We now have five main brands and are in distribution across many other retail stores. We’ve been in Walmart, Walgreens, and Sally Beauty for over 20 years. In recent years, we have been able to deepen our partnerships across retail chains & specialty stores nationally and in some international territories. I’m happy I had his leadership and grateful we’ve worked so closely together.
Many black-owned businesses end up getting bought out by larger brands that have to sell or, you know, cash out in some way. Why is it important to you all to remain a black-owned business?
We are 100% black-owned. It’s important to me to show leadership in that market, especially being the daughter and carrying on the legacy that my father left for my sister and me. The community matters and being that physical brand and voice you know still resonates and speaks to the customer in terms of delivering quality and excellence.
What new style and accessory trends are you seeing most popular with your customers?
We’re targeting these different patterns and prints that appeal to multicultural customers.
The pandemic created a need for alternatives to day-to-day hairstyles when going into the office. As people transitioned into remote life, we saw many opting to embrace beauty like a snack—something quick and easy that they could do instead of having to spend this long process of styling their hair. We’re trying to develop things people can use in just a few minutes to achieve a beautiful look.
What can we look forward to coming down the line, whether it’s a new brand, whether it’s new products, what can we look forward to from your brand this year?
Our focus is on creating everyday items that meet your everyday needs. We also come up with a few items that the consumer is going to love and that he/she didn’t know she needed.
What excited you about being an entrepreneur?
I love seeing people do what they love and making an impact, and our team most inspires me. You inspire them to greatness in whatever area that drives them and let them be authentic. I’m passionate about developing new & innovative products. My dad knew to put me in that space. I also love working with people. I love meeting gaps and needs for the customer.
Read next: How Young King Hair Care is Bridging the Curly Industry Gap for Young Black and Brown Men
We love a good trend and nothing has been more popular over the past few months than the “Olaplex Trend”. This trend began during the spring season as Olaplex expanded its collection and curlies were experimenting with strategic ways to use the product.
What is the Olaplex Bun?
The “Olaplex Bun” focuses on slathering your hair with your chosen Olaplex product (for naturalistas No. 3 is our holy grail”> and then creating a simple slicked back bun that allows the product to absorb into your hair.
Read next: Is K18 Better Than Olaplex for Damaged Hair?
What are the benefits of the Olaplex Bun?
The appeal is that you can maximize your Olaplex product by allowing it to penetrate your hair follicles as a deep conditioner you can leave on for a few hours or overnight. If you’re a regular Olaplex user then you know it usually can sit on your hair for 10-20 minutes and then is washed out afterwards. For new users wondering what the Olaplex hype is about, let’s break down what Olaplex is and what naturalistas love it so much.
What is Olaplex?
Olaplex is a scientific system that is designed to help repair, protect, and strengthen damaged hair regardless of your texture or type. It’s very commonly used to treat damaged hair while you are at the salon, but you can buy your own bottle from popular retailers like SHOPNaturallyCurly, Amazon and Sephora. Each bottle ranges in focus for a specific hair treatment whether it’s to repair broken bonds, eliminate frizz, treat colored curls, or help with hydration. If you’re looking for an easy way to help make your hair easier, healthier, and stronger, this is a great system to invest in. The entire line consists of shampoos, oils, and masques, but for this trend we’re going to use their popular No.3 product.
@olaplex Yoga-plex?? Yeah that works ? #olaplexbun #olaplex #yoga #workout #youcandoboth #fyp ♬ GASLIGHT – INJI
@olaplex @Cokothenatural shows us how she rocks her curls in the newest hair trend, the #OLAPLEXbun ?The trendiest way to selfcare! #olaplex N°.0 & N°.3 available @sephora & @sephoracanada ✨#hairtok #olaplex #curlyhair #curlyhaircare #naturalhair #hairrepair #naturalhaircare #hairtips #hairgoals #hairinspo #Tiptok #spring #fashionforyou ♬ Lo-fi hip hop – NAO-K
@theamandabelair Oh my god ? @olaplex #fyp #hair #hairtutorial #curly #curlyhairtutorial #olaplex #olaplexno3 #olaplextreatment ♬ original sound – ScaryMommy
Trying Out the Olaplex Bun Trend
I have been an avid Olaplex No.3 user for a few years now since I started dying my hair. It’s a small bottle that packs a tiny punch so I use it 1x a week and sparingly. Since it runs about $28(without tax”> I definitely try to make it last as long as possible, so needless to say I’m crossing my fingers about this trend’s results.
You can use the trend on freshly washed hair or second day hair so I decided to use it between my wash days. If you don’t want to use the No.3 bottle then TikTok users have also the option to use the No.6 Bond Smoother.
One of the pivotal parts of this process is having to rewet your hair and dentagle it section by section. If this is too tedious it might just be easier to hop in the shower, but if you have the time then you can work the product in section by section.
You’ll then apply your Olaplex to each section of your hair and focus on either the tips or the entire section. I noticed my hair immediately responding to the No.3 which I don’t always get to see in the shower because I’m just waiting to wash it out. Seeing it’s immediate effect on my curls was very surprising and made me hopeful.
You’ll swoop your hair into a slicked back bun and make sure to brush down your edges if you plan to keep this style throughout the day. I planned to leave it on overnight so I sprayed extra water and tried to smooth it down as much as possible since I couldn’t add any other product on top. It didn’t drip off or fall off of my scalp and was styled very smoothly with my hair. It did begin to create a soft cast on my hair towards the end of the night that made my hair a little stiff, but it wasn’t anything too alarming.
When it washed out it was shiny, detangled, and felt very strong. It really set up my hair for success for the rest of my week.
Final Thoughts
This is a great, simple, and easy trend that gives you the benefits of a deep condition without having to wait around for wash day. It was great that my hair maintained the style throughout the day so it wasn’t a hassle or inconvenience. I might just make this a weekly routine because of how well my hair was hydrated and conditioned after this experience!
Read next: 3 Types of Hair Treatments – And Who Should Use Them
Black-Owned Gift Guide: Brands to Support this Holiday Season
The holiday’s are here and we’re in the gifting mood! We’ve been so excited to see amazing Black-owned businesses thriving and growing in the beauty space. There have been small businesses making waves across the internet to brands breaking the barriers of the big box retail space like Target, Wal-Mart, and Sephora. Whether you’re looking for a fun sample kit that introduces someone to a new brand, makeup, hair care products, accessories, or self-care items, we’ve scoured the internet to bring you exciting holiday gifts you’ll want to purchase immediately. It can be challenging to get the perfect gift for your loved one’s, but this guide can help make your holiday splurging a bit more satisfying.
Haircare
Omosilk
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As the CEO and founder of Omo Silk, Omoye seeks to provide comfort, quality, and confidence to her customers with a hypoallergenic product that is gentle for all textures. Her products are especially formulated for newborns and features a wide array of options like crib sleeves, headbands, pillow cases, and wig caps. Prices range from $10.99-$69.99 depending on the type of accessory you purchase.
YGN
If you’re looking for luxury accessories that will brighten up any holiday outfit, look no further than You Go Natural’s holiday collection ($40″>. The newest styles feature a brand new style of turban, the turbanette, as well as new fabric; a ribbed velvet, paisley velvet burnout, crushed velvet, and a pleated jersey.
Read more: How Monique Little is Making Protective Styling Easy with You Go Natural (YGN”>
My Mommy Wisdom
My Mommy Wisdom is a certified cruelty-free product line and a leader in the Black-Owned Baby Goods industry. The founder Chelsea promotes healthy and holistic living for both mommy and child. They feature an array of bundles, boxes, haircare ($17-$50″>, mommy care, and baby care products that help with everyday challenges like eczema, sensitive skin, and feminine washes.
As I Am
If you’re looking to take a new approach to your hair care this season, look no further than the As I Am’s The Hemp Seed Oil Bar Collection ($6.99″> which includes a shampoo, conditioner, co-wash, and leave-in conditioner and each bar comes in a reusable, 100% biodegradable tray. These vegan bars are infused with calendula, ceramides and betaine but the hero ingredient is Hemp. Hemp is rich in Omega Oils 3, 6 and 9 which moisturize and cleanse the hair.
Oyin Handmade
Give the person you love the gift of moisture and conditioning with a collection that features award-winning formulas. Oyin Handmade’s Conditioning Care Package ($49.99″> keeps your hair cleansed, conditioned, moisturized and styled from start to finish. These products can be used on the days you wash your hair and even on your non-wash days.
Bread Beauty Supply
BREAD’s “best-of-bread” set ($28″> is giving the best of their two award-winning products together in a holiday bundle that will have you cheering. The set includes the best-selling hair-oil 100ml (full size”>, and mini hair-cream 50ml.
Read more: BREAD Beauty Supply Founder Maeva Heim Shares the Secret Behind Must-Have Products
Bask and Bloom Essentials
We can all use a little extra TLC to our curls during the holiday season and the Super Bloom 2-in-1 Pre-Poo/Deep Conditioner ($32″> is a one-stop shop that is a great gift for any curly girl. This multi-purpose treatment is highly concentrated with vitamin-rich oils, nourishing butters and botanical extracts, such as ashwagandha and turmeric. It delivers intense hydration to strands and restores the scalp during both the pre- and post-shampoo steps of a hair routine.
ManeTRxx
Popular influencer turned entrepreneur Felicia is bringing all her expertise to your doorstep with her newest brand, ManeTrxx. Her products are all about helping to enhance the result of your current hair regime with herbal ingredients that can help boost shine, volume, and stimulate the scalp. The ManeTrxx bundle ($85″> is a great way to experience and sample the powerful results of each of these products.
Makeup
The Lip Bar
If you’re looking to help step up your skincare game this holiday season, The Lip Bar has you covered with a tons of great seats and bundles in bold shades and vibrant blushes you’ll love. Thw TLB X Kierra Sheard Kelly Divinely Feminine Collection ($55″> celebrates a collaboration between The Lip Bar and Kierra Sheard Kelly have linked up to celebrate women with high standards and high favor with our Divinely Feminine Collection. This collection features a special selection of our signature best sellers to get two divinely snatched looks all in one kit.
Black Radiance Beauty
Black Radiance is a makeup brand that supports the beauty and diversity of various ethnicities and skin tones. They feature an array of goodies like bronzers, mascara, blushes, highlighters, and lip gloss. Their latest Bold & Sexy Palette ($15.49″>
features 18 multi-purpose shades that can be used for eye shadow, blush, highlight and contour shades, making it the perfect palette for your glamorous beauty routine.
Bossy Beauty Cosmetics
The brand that combines the glamour of beauty with the desire of ambition and drive is here with two new palettes called Elegance Meets Strength ($45″> and “Beauty Meets Drive Combo Palettes ($45″>. These stunning palettes are not only gorgeous to look at but the pigments are deep, rich, luxurious, blendable, buildable, vegan, and cruelty-free! They comprise six eyeshadow shades as well as a blush and highlighter.
Selfcare
Golde
Golde is a superfood that doubles as self care because they desire to make wellness accessible, easy, and fun. Each of the products help to boost your daily routine whether it’s skincare or digestion. Their latest holiday must-have item is the Beauty Cocoa Kit ($36″>
which is a health alternative to your standard hot chocolate drink with healthy ingredients like bamboo extract, biotin, and collagen.
GaBBy Bows
We can all use a little inspiration and no one has a better entrepreneurial story than Gabby Goodwin. If you have a little reader in the house this is a fantastic book that can inspire the children in your life to dream as they follow the amazing story of the kid CEO and inventor of GaBBY Bows! Gabby Invents the Perfect Hair Bow ($19″> is a heart warming story that you’ll want to read again and again.
Puzzles of Color
Puzzles of Color has been taking the puzzle industry by storm with their vibrant, diverse, and detailed puzzles that span different ethnicities, cultures, and genders. Their latest puzzle “Old Classic” $26.99 comes from their third collection and showcases the representation of black female empowerment and the essence of living life. Their puzzles are also designed to be hung and framed as a stand-alone piece of art so you can brighten up your home after your hard work.
Brown Girl Jane
Founded by Spellman graduates Malaika Jones, Tai Beauchamp, and Nia Jones, Brown Girl Jane was created to elevate the self-care experience for women of color by providing plant-based solutions options for your daily routine. The Wanderlust collection trio ($168″> are a series of mood boosting fragrances that are scientifically formulated to deliver luxury and wellness with delicious scents like pear nectar, sage, suede, and amber in three different scents.
Flawless by Gabrielle Union
As we transition into a new season, Gabrielle Union and Larry Sims, co-founders of Flawless by Gabrielle Union, want to make sure you have everything you need to hydrate, define, repair, and protect your hair! The Donata Skinfood + Flawless bundle ($35″> is not only on sale, but is a winning combination that features moisturizing formulas that will renew and restore your hair, scalp, skin and spirit!
We’re very excited to be hitting up our favorite stores as we’re Christmas shopping, which means it’s time to head to Target. Target has become a staple of our daily lives whether you’re looking for cute decorations, stylish outfits, or glamming it up in the beauty aisle. We’re seeing more and more legendary curl brands on the shelves of Target stores which means this is a great place to knock out your curly girl gifts. Whether you are looking for gift sets or gifting a friend with a new product, here are the curly girl must-haves to shop for gifts at Target.
1. Mielle Soothing Scalp Wash Day Duo Gift Set
Mielle Organics is bringing the holiday cheer this season with their holiday kit ($14.99″> that brings together the ultimate wash day duo. Their oats and honey formula is specifically designed for sensitive scalps, helps eliminate dryness, and provides maximum hydration for the ultimate wash day. You can shop the kit online or in stores today!
2. Rizos Curls Light Hold Gel
Rizos Curls is a Latinx brand that has been blazing the curly circuit all year with fresh formulas and vibrant packaging that grabs your attention. The light hold gel ($19.99″> is made with ingredients like aloe vera, flaxseed, thyme, and helps to achieve the ultimate hold without the crunch or flaking. As one of their newest 2022 products, it’s a must-have item for your curly girl arsenal.
3. Be Rooted Notebook Gift Set for the Fitness Lover
Be Rooted has made waves in the stationary and paper space for their innovative, diverse, and inclusive design that puts women of color front and center. For the holidays they debuted several amazing holiday sets to help empower, inspire, and invigorate your goals. Whether you’re looking to kickstart your 2023 with a focus on fitness ($14.99″> or working on your green thumb, they feature a wide range of designs and options to inspire the women in your circle.
4. CURLS Blueberry Bliss Control Jelly
CURLS is coming through with their iconic Blueberry Bliss collection that is in full stock at Target. Their control jelly ($17.99″> is here to help defrizz, define your curls, and help refresh your curls between wash day. The entire collection is designed to help repair, restore, and condition overworked curls! Each product included within the collection is carefully formulated with certified organic blueberry extract, coconut oil, and aloe leaf juice.
5. Mixed Chicks Curl Sculptor
Bounce into the holiday season with Mixed Chicks! Their Curl Sculptor ($9.99″> is a mainstay in their collection for its ability to elongate, moisturize, and fast drying abilities for textured hair. It’s fortified with B5 vitamins to help nourish the hair and can be used across a variety of textures. If you like products that are lightweight and can be used with a rod or roller sets, this multi-faceted product is great.
6. The Doux Mousse Def Texture Foam
The Doux is keeping your curls fresh to death this season. This dual-use mousse ($14.99″> provides the perfect amount of hold to define your curls or control your sleek look. The Doux Mousse Def Texture Foam gives definition, shine, and volume to every hair type and curl pattern.
7. Kaleidoscope Miracle Drops
We can all use a little miracle to help replenish and moisturize our hair from time to time. The Kaleidoscope Miracle Drops ($19.99″> works hair and scalp oil is filled with essential oils to combat dry scalp, aid in hair growth, and offers a lightweight shine to hair. They are infused with cooling peppermint to enhance blood circulation and tea tree oil helps to cleanse the scalp and combat dryness.
8. SheaMoisture Curl & Shine Shampoo + Conditioner Infused with Coconut & Hibiscus Hair Kit
This is a holiday bundle you just cannot miss. Three amazing products ($19.99″> to help cleanse your scalp, define your curls, and reduce frizz. Shea Moisture brings together the hydrating ingredients of silk protein, shea butter, coconut oil, and hibiscus extract to improve and strengthen your curly hair routine.
9. Carol’s Daughter Goddess Strength Hair Care Gift Set Shampoo + Hair Mask
We can all use a little extra TLC during the season when life slows down a bit more than usual. If you’ve been in need of a kit ($14.99″> to help repair weak and damaged hair, this is a gift you want to buy. Carol’s Daughter includes a sulfate free shampoo and hair mask to help improve breakage-prone hair.
10. Tgin Rose Water Shampoo and Conditioner
We love a great wash day duo that we can carry and pack in such a cute case. Tgin is giving you the best of both worlds with their sulfate-free rose water shampoo and conditioner ($19.99″> that is sure to liven up your wash day. If you have low porosity hair and are looking for products that are gentle and hydrating, then this duo is a fantastic gift to take with you in 2023.
Stocking stuffers have always been a sweet surprise that can help add to the holiday excitement whether you’re an adult or a kid. The challenge that comes with stocking stuffers is finding the right products that are compact and powerful enough to include with all the other fun treats we get. For the beauty lover, we don’t want candy and trinkets, we want accessories, travel sets, and sample sizes of new brands we can test out for the new hair. Look no further than our line-up below which features a wide array of options for you to consider as you complete your last-minute shopping.
1. Bevel
Bevel is a men’s grooming brand that features exciting stocking options like their On-The-Go Gift Set ($12.71″> to help keep your favorite guy fresh and moisturized all day long. The kit includes Bevel’s top-selling shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and Dark Cassis body wash in convenient travel-ready 3.4oz pouches, designed for the person that’s on the go.
2. Damn Gina
Damn Gina was founded by Sumana Jayanth and features an array of haircare products for curly hair such as the highest quality silk turbans, pillowcases, scrunchies, and other protective hair accessories. The Hair Oil Highness ($36″> is an ultra-lightweight formula that combines ingredients like prickly pear seed and moringa seed oils to help strengthen hair from within. A simple, yet effective product that you can use on-the-go to help boost your shine and reduce frizz.
3. Pear Nova
Pear Nova is a luxury vegan, cruelty-free and nontoxic nail lacquer and nail care brand that includes over 35 bold to muted shades, that complement all complexions. Its founder Rachel James wanted to help fill the void for medium to dark skin tones in the nail world and committed to bridging that gap. The holiday essentials nail set ($54″> was featured on Oprah’s favorite things in 2020 and includes 4 luxury shades and 4 top coats to complete the manicure.
4. Bomba Curls
Bomba Curls is a Latina-founded brand that helps you celebrate your natural self with products made from premium and organic super-ingredients that will not only make your natural hair bomb, but also promote hair growth. The Silky Satin Scrunchies ($9″> are a great addition to any curly regime to help protect your curls from damage and reduce breakage.
5. yFoy
Nicole Murphy is the founder and CEO of yFOY’s which features a range of clean and organic wellness products. Getting up in the morning doesn’t have to be a hassle with her Morning Energy Booster ($20″> vegan capsules. They can help to kick-start your metabolism and will immediately enhance your morning routine with its blend of Vitamin B12, Chromium Picolinate, Caffeine, Garcinia Fruit, and Green Tea extract that naturally increases energy and focus.
6. FaceTory
FaceTory offers a promise to deliver clean products researched and envisioned in California and formulated in South Korea. They are formulated to be cruelty-free and without sulfates, paraben, fragrance, synthetic colors and EDTA. The seven facial masks collection ($13.95″> can help to add hydration and balance skin, each mask focuses on a different skin concern to help boost radiance and support the skin.
7. PUR Cosmetics
Are you ready to create effortless glam eye makeup looks this holiday season in minutes? PUR Cosmetics features holiday stocking stuffers that will help add glam to your eyes with their Eye Makeup trio ($22″> which includes our Full Size On Point Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner Pen, Fully Charged Mascara Mini, and Full Size On Point Metallic Eye Gloss – a new limited edition metallic gloss hybrid eyeshadow.
8. Glow by Daye
Glow by Daye combines two favorites for a stocking stuffer treat that you will love. The Afro Geo Print Satin Lined Shower Cap AND Afro Geo Print Satin Bonnet ($42.99″> are packaged together as the perfect gift with an African Inspired Geometric Design with reverse side Solid Black.The satin material is designed for thicker and healthier hair that can adapt to fit almost any size head, hair length, or hair thickness.
9. Common Heir
Common Heir is here to elevate your skincare game with skincare ritual to help you massage your favorite serums into your skin. Their Gua Sha Facial Sculptor ($68″> helps to stimulate circulation, reduce inflammation, and promote collagen production. As a regular ritual, gua sha rituals promote lymphatic drainage to firm and sculpt, de-puff, and release tension in your facial muscles.
10. Kitsch
Kitsch is a brand that you want to support because many of their products are created with recycled materials in order to promote sustainability and accessibility. Their holiday collection features a wide range of products to keep your hair healthy and happy such as bottle-free shampoo and conditioner bars ($13 – $99″>, luxury shower caps ($18 – $38″>, to genius hair solutions like the viral TikTok Satin Heatless Curling Set ($24″>, celebrity loved statement bobby pins ($7 – $29″>, and the pull-free hair ties and scrunchies ($5 – $14″>.
11. Senegence
Senegence is backed by science and is known for rich colors that lasts up to 18 hours. As a woman-owned and founded brand, Sengence has grown to include makeup and skincare that make customers feel empowered and beautiful. Their new holiday collection features options like Merry & Bright ($45″>: This collection includes limited edition shades: Merry LipSense, Bright Gloss, Brilliant ShimmerShadowSense, Blissful ShadowSense, and a gold mini organza bag.
12. Essence Cosmetics
Essence Cosmetics is all about making beauty fun, affordable, and high-quality whether eye shadow, nail polish, lip gloss, and eyeliner. This season they are helping bring out your natural glow with this shimmery highlighter ($4.99“>, perfect for popping in the new year. A glass (or bottle in some cases”> pairs perfectly with the nude glowing product as both will make you the highlight of the night.
13. WonderCurl
Scalp massagers have been all the rage this season for their ability to help stimulate the scalp and promote circulation to help with healthy hair growth. The WonderCurl Stimulating Silicon Scalp Brush ($15″>. It can be used with your favorite shampoo while you are in the shower or pre-wash to help remove any build-up on your scalp, the soft, silicon bristles gently massage your scalp for a relaxing and luxurious experience.
What stocking stuffers are you wishing for this holiday season?
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has become an integral part of celebrating Black legacy and history for people all over the globe. One of the hallmarks of the film is the representation of Black beauty and hair in all it’s creative and artistic forms that is very inspiring to people everywhere. Young King Hair Care is helping bridge the gap between the film and honoring the beauty of Black hair with a limited-edition collection consisting of 5 new hair products for any age.
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Infused with African essential oils, including Baobab and Marula Oils, this Wakandan Collection is designed to leave hair strengthened and hydrated, while providing those royal vibes we all deserve. The Young King brand focuses on helping back and brown young men who strive to be authentically themselves embrace their textured hair and love the skin they’re in. They seek to instill confidence and self love in young kings by advocating and promoting them to embrace and love their natural hair. Young King hair care has been featured on Shark Tank, Good Morning America, and is available at major retailers like Target, Wal-Mart, and Amazon.
The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever collection includes a cleansing co-wash, styling balm, refreshing oil spray and curl custard and special collector’s edition box. The individual bottles cost $16 each and the full collection totals at $56. As a plant-based collection customers can look forward to ingredients that will help add moisture, enhance shine, fight frizz, and provide a flexible hold for easy styling. Shop this limited-edition collection today and allow your young king to thrive with products that will truly make him feel like royalty.
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Ouidad has been the reigning authority in curly hair care for the past 30 years for their signature approach to curl care and they have just opened a new flagship location in Flatiron, New York City. Curlies can get excited for a destination that will be modern, sleek, and designed to accommodate growing clientele with a range of educational offerings for professional stylists looking to hone their skills in curl education.
Photo: @ouidad
The new Ouidad salon features a personalized experience for every curl type whether you have loose curls, waves, spirals, coils, and curls you haven’t unlocked. The salon is located in a dynamic downtown neighborhood to be more visible to a diverse community of naturalistas looking to make the beauty salon their go-to stop for hair care. This location will include 13 stations, 6 hooded chairs for color processing, and an extensive menu of services that will include core curly treatments and men’s grooming.
“We are extremely proud to announce the opening of our new flagship in such an energetic spot of Manhattan. The Ouidad experience is often life-changing, and this beautiful new salon is an important reminder of the hair magic that comes to life when you combine our professional heritage and the curl expertise of our talented stylists with curly customers,” shares Beauty by Imagination CEO, Francesca Raminella.
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The brand is excited to feature a roster of stylists skilled in a variety of curl techniques and who have been with the brand for over 20 years. Customers can expect stylists to be versed in a wide range of color services and curly cuts in addition to being licensed curl experts and Ouidad certified. Those licensed stylists looking to pursue a styling education from Ouidad can visit OuidadEducation.com to view a list of classes that are offered both at the new salon location and virtually.
“Professional education is a core part of Ouidad’s curl philosophy and this new flagship studio will allow us to better service our talented stylists. Not only are our educators passionate and committed to technical excellence, but our new space allows them to work closely and effectively with the stylists to master specific curl needs, increasing their curl confidence.” – Beauty by Imagination Director Of Business Development, Nikki Krause.
If you’re not in NYC, have no fear, the brand also features two other Ouidad flagship salons located in Santa Monica and Fort Lauderdale. Ouidad will begin rolling out the Ouidad Salon Partner Program in 2023, focusing on partnering with top-tier salons to turn them into the go-to place for Ouidad Curl Care in different communities.
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The new flagship location is now open for those looking to get healthier, happier, more hydrated curls with a custom approach to fit their unique curly needs. They are currently seeking assistants to join the amazing staff and are taking appointments at the newly opened salon. Book your visit today and get the Ouidad experience from the experts in-house at NYC.
Maxine Pittman is the Founder and CEO of Tress Obsessed Beauty Vending, a new way to shop your favorite natural haircare products in just a few seconds. As a Los Angeles native, Maxine has amassed a range of skills in customer services, marketing, public relations, sales experience, and more across various industries. Tress Obsessed originally began as an online beauty supply store before pivoting to an innovative beauty vending machine company during the pandemic. She used her experience traveling overseas to determine what gap she could fill for women of color and identified that beauty items are often overlooked and underrepresented. Her products provide travel-sized hair products for women whether they are at hotels, resorts, at the gym, college dorms, and so much more. We chatted with her during this holiday season to learn more about how Tress Obsessed was created, how she sources her products, and more.
What was your experience traveling as a woman of color?
I have had various experiences traveling. There are places that I go to where I always feel at peace and welcome, like Mexico. There are places where people look at me and are stuck up and I can tell there is a bit of racism or sexism in the mix, like in France. But, no matter how the people treat me I always have a good time because I paid to be there and it’s a vacation! I do my due diligence to follow dozens of travel blogs and travel groups on Instagram and I always try to keep myself in the diverse circles of other people of color who are traveling as well. And I feel that if you travel with a group of people that look like you, you’ll always feel community no matter where you go.
How did the challenge of not having accessible beauty products as a POC impact your experience?
This has always been a hassle for women of color, especially Black women. I feel like over the last 10, maybe 15 years, Black women are really starting to cultivate different spaces in terms of travel and experiences that a lot of us have never had before. In my experience, it was always a hassle trying to take the little clear bottles and putting lotions and shampoos and body butters and body scrubs into these little clear bottles. If you didn’t label them correctly, then I’m accidentally using lotion in my hair as a shampoo or I’m applying shampoo to my legs thinking it’s lotion and then my legs are all soapy! Those experiences are not fun when you’re just trying to enjoy your vacation and look beautiful for your photos/selfies. This is why I knew that the idea for travel-size haircare in my vending machines would be popular because it solves a problem in my community.
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When did you decide to use your experiences and convert them into a business?
Well, back in 2019 I was actually planning on opening up a beauty supply originally. When the pandemic hit at the beginning of 2020, and I had a few conversations with some of my mentors I realized that I didn’t have much money to put towards this business and I wanted to make it stretch any way that I knew how. I had to become resourceful and think on my feet quickly. I started thinking about how I could offer something creative that black women have never seen before, something for us by us. I have always been fascinated by vending machines, but when I went online I realized there were not a lot of retail brands that only offered travel-size or sample-size hair care products for ethnic hair. And that is when the idea sparked in my brain! I could offer travel size, TSA-approved, convenient sizes of hair care brands that women are already familiar with, small enough for them to fit in their purses or pack with them in their carry-on for their next vacation.
What inspired you to sell beauty products in vending machines?
I knew I wanted to do vending machines and I knew I wanted to offer something that WOC didn’t have yet. I sketched it out on paper first because I had to take it from my brain to something tangible. I realized that if a 12 oz Coca-Cola can fit inside of coils in a vending machine, so can a 3 oz or a 4 oz shampoo or leave-in conditioner, and that’s how I got started. I had never seen beauty supply products inside of a vending machine before I saw them inside of mine, but I had seen a lot of other crazy ideas in vending machines so at the end of the day I figured I would wing it and worry about the rest later.
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How did you conceptualize the design for your custom vending machines?
I hired a graphic designer, and I had several phone calls with her and sketched out my ideas telling her what colors I wanted and what kind of look I was looking for with the brand, and she sent me a few mock ups we went back and forth via email for two or three months. Just figuring out the logo and making sure that even small things like the verbiage being used and the images of the women on graphics were reflective of our demographic and who we were speaking to in our audience. I also got a website designer to start figuring out how to transform my website from a beauty supply, which was the original idea, transitioning it to a beauty vending machine company that solely sells travel-size hair products. It was a long process and very detailed.
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What challenges did you encounter sourcing TSA-friendly sizes from Black-owned brands?
There were a lot of challenges, and there still are a lot of challenges. You have to remember we started this business during a pandemic so there were supply chain issues and honestly we still run into these issues today. Some of our vendors and suppliers only sell certain brands, because they don’t have contracts with other larger brands so then you have to go out and actively find vendors and suppliers that have brands that your customers are asking for. Then, do you want to carry products that are popular but then you find out that that brand has harmful chemicals or they are going through a lawsuit or things like that for example. So, when running the company, you have to make daily decisions to figure out what is best for your customers, but what will also be easiest to get access to with your suppliers. Also, some of our favorite brands are still new brands themselves so while they may be popular in the Black community some of them don’t even offer travel sizes, so that was yet another obstacle we faced.
The beauty industry is expanding for natural hair, what determines which products can be sold in a vending machine?
Yes! And that’s a great thing. There are a lot of things that determine which products can be sold in a vending machine such as price, popularity (what will sell or what won’t sell”>, and also location – what might be popular in some climates or cities may not be widespread in others.
What is on the horizon from Tress-Obsessed in 2023?
Tress Obsessed is still a small brand and we still have a lot of growing to do. For 2023, with a possible recession on the way, we are pivoting our focus to our online presence. We will be putting a pause on any vending machine launches for the next 6-8 months, we want to focus on building out a new travel affiliate program to give the opportunity to travel agents and travel groups who want to make money promoting the brand. We also just hired a new social media manager which is very exciting! We want to grow our TikTok & Twitter audience as well as put new offerings on our website like subscription boxes and new digital products for our entrepreneurial customers.
If there’s one thing we naturalistas can’t get enough of, it’s accessories to help adorn and decorate our fabulous curls and coils. Former Bachelorette Tayshia Adam has collaborated with scünci and Conair to create a collection that is timeless, fun, and full of accessories, hair brushes, and beauty tools. The Tayshia Adams 9-to-9 collection features an assortment of 33 accessories, 5 hair brushes/combs, 1 mirror, and 5 hot tools – full of classic day essentials that easily transform into an enchanting night out ensemble, helping you secure the best 9-to-9 look with all accessories costing under $13, and hot tools under $38. These were inspired by Tayshia’s busy always-on-the-go lifestyle and includes an assortment of headbands, scrunchies, barrettes, claw clips, hot tools, brushes, hair towels, and more. These are designed to be worn for functional transition between morning to night looks. We spoke with Tayshia and tried out a few of the products to see how they hold up with natural hair!
What inspired this collection? How do these accessories reflect your lifestyle?
My lifestyle inspired this collection! It’s made for a girl on the go who wants to do it all! Work out, work, have lunch work meetings, go out to dinner or have after-work drinks, or be ready for a night out! I love to go with the flow, but I have what I need to jump from day to night easily without going home in between. As hectic as that all may seem, my style is simple but chic. Which is why I use a lot of neutrals in my looks, play with textures and have soft pops of color that honestly go with everything!
What are your recommendations for styling these with natural hair?
All of my Scrunchies and Jaw Clips are inspired to work with any texture, and also withhold physical activity. I spent a lot of time on the elasticity of the scrunchies because I personally like to work out with silk scrunchies that don’t pull or dent my hair when it’s up. So I wanted to make sure that they would stay put while I’m weightlifting, boxing, doing yoga, pilates or even going for a run! Wrap around twice to ensure there’s no hair in your face, and wrap three times to make sure it definitely won’t slip out!
Also, our jaw clips come in a multitude of sizes with different strengths! My personal favorites are the classic, large rectangular, and the cut out claw hair clips. They are super cute to use day-to-night! I just did a half-up, half-down hairstyle using the mini classic cut-out clips to complete my look when I attended the Jack Harlow concert, and to go out after to dance the night away! And guess what? I didn’t have to fix my hair clip once. They’re amazing!
How do these Scunci accessories work on natural hair?
I tried four different accessories from this collection which were primarily from her “Prep Your Look” category which focuses on clips, claws, headbands, and scrunchies. I was very impressed with the variety of colors and hues that range from hues of neutral shades like blue, nude, purple, and turquoise. The collection is massive and also features hair care tools like a paddle brush, hot rollers set, and ceramic hair dryer. I rarely wear accessories in my daily life because I either don’t have the time to use them or run into the trouble of having too much volume. We’ve all been there, a clip and claw snaps before even before secured around your hair because they aren’t designed for thicker textures, so I was definitely interested to see how these would fit my hair.
1. Tayshia by Scunci Large Rectangular Cutout Hair Clips
I decided to rock this between wash days and was very very excited that the claw fit securely around my hair and did not pop off. I was able to create a quick updo for work and style the accessory at the base of my neck securely. I only adjusted it once throughout the day and was really happy it didn’t cause any tension on my scalp.
2. Tayshia by Scunci Open Center Statement, No-Slip, Double Bobby Pins
These were very interesting bobby pins in terms of length, hold, and design. I initially didn’t know how to wear these because they were long and thick so I didn’t want to just use them for flyaways. I settled on a fun style that highlighted my wash and go as well as the design of the bobby pins. The double layered design made it a bit challenging to slide in/out of my hair but they were secure once I could pry them open.
3. Tayshia by Scunci Octopus Claw Wide-Curved No-Slip Hair Clips
These were very fun to use and convenient for on-the-go styling. They weren’t big enough to hold my hair volume so I was able to create a fun half up/down hairstyle that showcased the clip while getting my hair out of my face. I loved that these came in different colors and didn’t easily snap on my head.
4. Tayshia by Scunci Mini Clips for Fine or Short Hair
These mini clips were definitely a bit challenging to use on my hair because they weren’t big enough to secure a large chunk of hair so I was on the fence about how to style them. I opted for a fun nostalgic 90s look that pulled up both sides of my hair out of my face and smoothed down my scalp with gel. These were probably the only accessory I wouldn’t use again because they just didn’t have alot of range with my texture because of their limited capabilities.
Overall this is a fun and exciting collection that I think definitely has some great options for multiple hair textures. If you have thicker or fuller hair like mine then the claws, clips, and pins are very secure and agile with our hair. I’m looking forward to using these as the season grows!
The NaturallyCurly Leaders in Curl interview series highlights the people and the brands that are redefining the beauty industry – one curl at a time.
When Dr. Omoye Phillips started noticing hair loss in her younger children, after a series of trial and error, she decided to create her own solution. She sought out the highest quality fabrics that would help protect delicate and finely textured hair that often develops with younger children and landed on mulberry silk. As the CEO and founder of Omo Silk, Omoye seeks to provide comfort, quality, and confidence to her customers with a hypoallergenic product that is gentle for all textures. Her products are especially formulated for newborns and features a wide array of options like crib sleeves, headbands, pillow cases, and wig caps. The brand prides itself as being built on positive affirmations and and helping protect and reduce hair loss. We’re so excited to talk with Omoye about her amazing brand and how she built it based around her children.
Have you ever experienced hair loss like your children had growing up?
Not really, I was fortunate as I never had eczema or any condition that would cause me to lose hair when I was a child.
Did you go through a lot of trial and error before deciding to create your own products?
Yes I did. Although hair loss is common in babies my kids experienced significant hair loss that was exacerbated by eczema and cradle cap. I was looking for non-medicinal options to help my kids’ hair and skin thrive. I dabbled with several fabrics, satin included, but since it is not hypoallergenic, it wasn’t a viable option for my kids who suffered from many different allergies as well. So after tons of research and trial and error with the different fabrics, mulberry silk provided the best results for my kids. Its hypoallergenic nature was perfect for my kids. It is also a breathable, natural fabric that retains moisture, no tugging of hair and prevents flyaways.
After I learned that silk worked, the next problem was that I searched everywhere and couldn’t find any silk products for babies and so I decided to find my own solution. Another important call out is the elastic bands used in our products. They are engineered for comfortability.I was able to create our first omosilk product which was a pure silk headband for my daughters. It boasted comfortability, provided a thriving hair and skin environment and felt luxurious. They enjoyed wearing their headbands and sometimes fell asleep without taking them off.
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Did you use silk products or accessories growing up and what was that experience like?
While growing up, I did not because I did not know much about healthy hair maintenance. I lost my mum at a very young age of 10 and my dad did not know much about hair. So I kept my hair short and washed and let it air dry on a weekly basis and that was it.
How does your culture influence your brand?
Our brand name, Omosilk, stems from the Edo/ Bini tribe in Nigeria where I am from originally with Omo” meaning child, the inspiration for this brand.
How do you choose the color swatches for your products?
I started with colors that my kids and I liked. My 4 year old son helped pick the colors for our first launch. I told him to go for colors that ignited excitement and happiness for him.
What are the benefits of using Mulberry Silk for your products?
Mulberry silk provides a healthy environment for hair and skin to thrive. It is 100% natural, hypoallergenic, reduces friction and prevents drying of hair and skin. It is also breathable and highly recommended by dermatologists for all hair and skin types. Omosilk uses the highest grade 6A of mulberry silk too. Silk fiber comes in varying lengths, ranging from short (1A Grade”> to long (6A Grade”>. Omosilk products boast of using 6A Grade silk which is made from the longest silk fibers available. This makes the material and quality more durable and luxurious than lower grade silks.
What are the best practices for encouraging children to wear hair accessories?
Some best practices to encourage kid to wear hair accessories are:
- Provide exciting colors that make it fun to wear and bring out their personality
- Fashionable so they look stylish and it compliments their outfits
- Let them know it will help their hair grow
- Make it comfortable that they don’t even know it’s on.
Omosilk products have great prints and colors that would excite kids and adults alike. Each product is built on positive affirmations which ignite emotions like love, power, curiosity, care and more. So when I tell my daughter to wear the “Adura” headband which ignites love and power or the “Zahra” scrunchie which ignites confidence and playfulness, she always opts to wear her omosilk accessories. Additionally, the elastic specifications on each headband is engineered with a smooth appearance and does not become narrower as it stretches to ensure long-lasting comfort when worn. The reviews from both kids and adults so far have been awesome!
What can we look forward to from Omosilk in 2023?
Since our launch in June 2022, we have gained some good traction with our Los Angeles community. We started with headbands and Scrunchies and recently launched our adjustable bonnets, pillowcases, scarves, crib sleeves and wig caps. All items are available for newborns, kids and adults. In 2023, we are looking to expand and have some B2B partnerships and to launch some more hair products. We do understand the need to raise capital for the business to continue to flourish and so we plan to do some fundraising as well. 2023 should be an exciting and eventful year with more variety of colors, prints and more products in general.
The NaturallyCurly Leaders in Curl interview series highlights the people and the brands that are redefining the beauty industry – one curl at a time.
Botanika Beauty is the Latinx haircare brand looking to infuse and instill self love for all hair texture within the Latinx community. Aisha Ceballos-Crump is the founder and CEO of Botanika Beauty who started developing beauty products and haircare formulas after graduating from Purdue University with a degree in chemical engineering. She’s been working for over a decade as an entrepreneur with her first haircare line, Honey Baby Naturals debuting in 2016. Botanika Beauty debuted in 2019 after Aisha realized there was a gap in the haircare market that lacked products for the Latinx customer. She wanted to create products that broke stereotypes, provided hair remedies for common problems, and could cultivate a community similar to the one’s Latinx people experience everyday. We sat down to speak with Aisha about the inception of her brand, her expanding entrepreneurial pursuits, and filling the gap for Latinx people.
What prompted you to pivot from chemical engineering to the beauty industry?
I’m a first generation college student so when I was deciding the type of degree I wanted to pursue I was looking at job stability. I landed on chemical engineering which I didn’t love, but I learned to appreciate that we can take a substance and make it better. We use our brain and critical thinking skills to innovate and create products. I knew I didn’t want to pursue engineering as a career which led me to working in sales and then becoming a mother. When I was ready to pivot to an industry more aligned with my beauty passions, I ended up selling chemicals for the beauty industry. I worked for a company called Croda which was the number 1 manufacturer of specialty chemicals where I would teach chemists in the Chicago area about formulating products. Engineering is critical thinking that I used to get my feet in the door within this industry and I use it even now to innovate better products.
Who were your entrepreneurial inspirations as you were building your career?
I was very lucky that I got a chance to work with Croda for 5 years where I watched the Luster and Gartner families create multi-million dollar empires in ethnic hair care. I worked with a variety of brands for so long and eventually switched to contract manufacturing. I had so many people like McBride from Design Essentials who were legacy brands that were cheering for me. When I decided to jump all in 2016 with Honey Baby Naturals, I had a village behind me to encourage me, uplift me, and support me.
Why do you feel the Latinx community has been overlooked in the haircare industry?
I’m a 100% Puerto Rican, puro Boricua who grew up in a primarily Black community which is even reflected in my name. I’ve spent the majority of my life trying to prove my Latinidad because of my hair texture, skin color, and the same thing happened in this industry. When I was initially pitching Botanika Beauty to buyers in 2020, there was no interest. I remember Target doing a series on minority entrepreneurs and all the founders were Black. They didn’t understand that Latinas aren’t a monolith, we’re multi-faceted with varying textures and stories. I was already in Target and Wal-Mart with my first brand, it was being pitched as a Black brand because my children were Black and I could never get featured for being a Latina entrepreneur. I was always categorized as multicultural. I was the first Latina to have a natural hair care brand and skincare brand in Target, but that wasn’t reflected in the branding.
I was inspired to create a whole new brand which is when I started pivoting to Botanika with the Latinx culture being at the forefront. It’s called Botanika because when we came to this country we didn’t have healthcare and you would go buy your herbs and remedies from the local botanica in your community. I added the “k” into the name because all of my children’s names start with a “k”. I wanted to put some sazon, adobo, and everything magical into this brand to make it Latina as possible. Unfortunately I launched right before the pandemic and that put a wrench in alot of my promotions with Wal-Mart. To this day we’re still fighting for placement, visibility, and support for the Latina consumer.
Read next: Bask & Bloom is the Caribbean-Inspired Curl Brand You Need to Know
What are misconceptions people have about Latinx hair?
People don’t understand the textures versus thinking it’s all about race. Your hair is not about being Puerto Rican or Mexican, it’s about understanding your texture. I have a lot of white, mixed, Jewish, and Black women who use my haircare. The shelves are still very segmented and that continues to push this ideal that you need to shop for products by your race. You need millions to win in this space and many small businesses learned during the pandemic how challenging it could be. Our manufacturers are not us and most minority brands are not self manufactured. I’m trying to change that and build a manufacturing facility to gain control over my supply chain. I’m not giving up, I’m determined to make this work.
What type of ingredients did you decide would be staples of your products?
Everything that you would find in a kitchen: avocado oil, sage, basil, garlic, mango butter. We wanted to mix science and nature, I wanted ingredients my Abuelos had growing up. I don’t just have herbs and water, I’m a scientist and I want a balance between that culture and chemistry in the products.
How do you support your local “Botanika”?
Unfortunately there are very few left in Chicago. In Humble Park there are some apothecaries we do pop-ups in, but botanicas are few and far between. I have a dream to eventually source and supply my ingredients with products from local neighborhoods in Chicago.
Which products are essentials for first time users?
The Mender protein treatment helps to reinforce strength, balance, and can be used on any damaged hair. I would follow that up with a Revitalizer deep conditioning mask that is buttery and thick to soften the hair. The names of the products reflect the power of Latinx people like “La Madre” “The Lifter” “The Enhancer”. You will always get innovation from Botanika Beauty and I’m excited to create more products in the future.
I’m not just putting a product on the shelf. My staff is minority women, I source from minority suppliers, I’m creating jobs. I’m trying to create something bigger than a brand that evokes legacy for myself and the people in my organization.
Looking for your next Holy Grail? Here are 12 Latinx-Owned Curly Hair Products to Add to Cart
The NaturallyCurly Leaders in Curl interview series highlights the people and the brands that are redefining the beauty industry – one curl at a time.
Lulu Cordero is the Afro-Latina behind the bodacious Bomba Curls which was created when she needed homemade remedies to cure her severe traction alopecia. As a native of the Dominican Republic she wanted to use her own blends and beauty secrets to create products that could meet the needs of curly and coily hair to nourish the scalp. She has always believed in instilling seeds of self-love that would empower customers to love their layered textures and has promoted this across the various products in her brand whether hair mask, oil, or scrunchies. Her enthusiasm and passion for her brand and business is seen in her product ingredients, customers, and bomba squad who are champions for her vision.
We’re so excited to chat with Lulu and talk about all things Bomba Curls.
What was your relationship to your hair like when you were growing up?
Growing up I was always told I had “pelo malo” which would come out when someone was doing my hair or complaining about being unable to style it. I don’t know how many combs I have damaged in my hair journey. There was a stigma attached to my natural hair and I was 9 years old when I got taken into the Dominican hair salon to get my first relaxer. After that experience I got comments like “your hair is so nice” and “that’s how a proper young lady should look” because I had a silky/straight Eurocentric look. From these experiences I learned that beauty standards were not reflective of people who looked like me. I had to straighten out my kinky hair in order to fit in and be seen as beautiful which I did until I was 17.
I went natural and then never looked back, went vegetarian, and overall embraced a full natural lifestyle. I wanted to go natural for me and thought I was doing something admirable by eliminating all these toxins from my life. I received a lot of backlash from my community, family, and friends who had a pretty intense reaction to my hair. It was a complicated relationship, but it taught me that I didn’t have something to be fixed, there was nothing wrong with me. My mom was the only person who tried to help me as I was growing out the perm with tips on protective styles and products that can help restore my hair health. My hair is a story that reflects my roots, ancestry, and has helped me to love and embrace my hair and create my business.
How did having Alopecia influence your approach to buying hair products?
When I was first transitioning there weren’t a lot of products or education that helped guide your journey so I often wore tight, slicked back ponytails. This eventually caused my edges to recede and push back my hairline. I tried every remedy under the sun and when I went home during the holidays, my Dad literally proclaimed I was going bald. My mom recommended coffee to help with my hair growth and then I researched and saw that caffeine could help with hair growth/hair loss. I wanted to use that and create a product that could help alleviate the problems I was experiencing and that’s how the Forbidden Oil was born. I learned how rosemary extract, castor oil, black cumin, and antihistamines were all used to treat alopecia and then incorporated those into my products. I applied it as a scalp oil and saw amazing results and ultimately had people wanting so many bottles for themselves I started creating my own products in my kitchen. I solved my own problems and used my pre-med background to enhance the chemistry, formulation process, and compounds.
Ever since 2019 I have worked hand in hand with my cosmetic chemist to create each product and have been invested ever since. Being Afro-Latina and primarily Dominican which is notoriously anti-Black with a European beauty standard, it was important for me to help other people embrace their girls. I want my community to heal from generational traumas and getting past the stigmas that have been passed on from generation to generation. I want to broaden that spectrum of beauty.
Read next: Bask & Bloom is the Caribbean-Inspired Curl Brand You Need to Know
When you were ideating recipes, what type of ingredients did you focus on?
I want to give my mom all the props because she is my go-to resource for the types of ingredients I wanted to add to my formulas. I love science but also live a natural lifestyle so I wanted the products to reflect that. She gave me spices like cinnamon to help balance the scalp and has antifungal properties and black ginger which will be featured in our upcoming leave-in conditioner. I wanted to incorporate tropical ingredients we use back home like coffee, banana, cocoa butter, papaya, and pistachio oil (which is extremely under-used in the US market”>. These are natural ingredients that have been used back home from generations of women.
Why was including Dominican style formulations important for your products?
It was important for me to honor my heritage and Dominican people truly do love haircare. The style of formulation back home is different than in the US because it focuses on deep hydration, and length retention. I wanted to share a piece of my island with the world and uplift and elevate mi gente.
What inspired the name Bomba Curls?
First when you say “Bomba” doesn’t it make you smile? It naturally elicits joy and happiness. Your curls are bomba, you are bomba, and I want to celebrate you. We are celebrating. “Bomba” is a nod to our African roots and heritage in Puerto Rico which is seen in music brought by our ancestors.
How does being an Afro-Latina entrepreneur impact your brand?
Being Afro-Latina, proudly Black women is the heartbeat of my brand. All of my experiences as a Black Latina inspired Bomba. I know the pain many of us had to deal with in terms of colorism, self-love, and existing in a world that doesn’t celebrate us or see us. I wanted my brand to change that and I’m very conscious of the imagery I cultivated within the brand. I wanted it to evoke luxury and that shows the possibilities of who we can be. I know being a Black woman for everyone across the diaspora can still be a struggle as we’re fighting to show up in spaces as ourselves and be accepted.
What are the Bomba essentials for first-time users to try?
The Forbidden hair mask which is a deep conditioning treatment, especially in the winter season. I recommend weekly treatments with that product and then follow it with the Forbidden oil which can be used as a pre-poo, scalp treatment, or to alleviate itchy or inflamed skin.
What does Latinx heritage month mean to you?
It means culture, history, music, art, community, and the rainbow of heritages. To be Black in Latin America is to be invisible, but Latinx heritage month lets us highlight the diversity of the community with different colors, backgrounds, languages, and more.
Read more: From Growing Up with “Pelo Malo” to Celebrating Her Hair & Latinx Heritage with Mariela Mejia
Candera Thompson is a CEO looking to help aid naturalistas achieve stronger and healthier curls with her Caribbean inspired brand, Bask and Bloom. After experiencing postpartum hair loss after having 3 kids, she was inspired to take the guesswork out of the everyday hair care routine with her line of nourishing products. As a one-stop solution to treat all hair types and textures, Bask and Bloom features nourishing ingredients that are ethically sourced and environmentally conscious. The brand features a range of products featuring cleansers, conditioners, moisturizers, stylers, and butters with botanical extracts and vitamin-rich oils to support hair growth and hydration. We spoke with Candera about her experience with postpartum hair loss, building her brand, and what products to shop for this upcoming season.
When you were growing up, who were your hair inspirations?
Janet Jackson. She switched up her look often, and there was this fearless aura about her with each style.
How did postpartum shedding inspire you to create a haircare brand?
I am a mom of three and I experienced severe postpartum shedding and hair loss in some areas. I was not able to find a solution that helped my hair thrive after childbirth. I visited a dermatologist who prescribed medication to help with the thinning areas. But I was never able to digest the pill, it came back up immediately. I decided to focus on natural remedies, inside and out, that would keep my hair healthy as it grows.
I also spoke with many women in a Facebook group who all felt left out, just like me. Their bodies had changed, including their hair. No one really talked about the journey it takes to get back to feeling like ourselves and we were not satisfied with the options on the market to help with postpartum shedding. We wanted a safe, non-toxic solution that was effective in reviving our hair.
With my background in business and marketing, I wanted to fill this gap of developing hair care solutions for hair breakage, damage and loss by creating Bask & Bloom. About 8 years ago, while I was pregnant with my 2nd daughter, I made the decision to become a full time entrepreneur and the brand has grown and developed since then.
Did you have a different haircare experience when you were pregnant versus afterwards?
Yes. During my first pregnancy I wasn’t paying much attention to safer hair care options, or even ingredients for that matter. I knew postpartum shedding was a thing but I didn’t realize how severe it could be, or that complete hair loss in some areas could come from it. After my pregnancy, it made me more aware of what I was using, ingredients claims and how it would help the overall wellness of my hair. I established a more holistic approach to include deep treatments every wash day, scalp massages, hot oil treatments and made sure none of the styles pulled at my roots. Three kids in, this routine coupled with efficacious products has helped me reach my hair goals much quicker.
What aspects of your Carribean heritage are integrated into your brand?
My Bahamian heritage influences the Bask & Bloom brand in many ways. Our logo has the 3 colors of the Bahamian flag (black, gold and aquamarine blue”> to pay homage to my home country.
I grew up on the island of Abaco, which was small and there wasn’t access to major hospitals unless you travel to a bigger island. Herbal medicine became the go-to for the majority of ailments along with seeing a nurse at a small clinic. These herbs were steeped and made into tea, tea rinse or body salve and were my original source of inspiration in creating Bask & Bloom’s formulas.
The company’s mantra is “Relax. Shine. Flourish.” because I want to give customers a little taste of my home every time they use Bask & Bloom products. I drew inspiration from the beautiful turquoise waters and orange/golden sunsets of Abaco for the packaging and each product has a refreshing tropical scent. Customers can escape to their own personal Caribbean oasis when they use Bask & Bloom products no matter where they are.
In the bigger picture, my experience as an immigrant has greatly influenced my entrepreneurial resilience. I moved to the U.S. from the Bahamas alone at age 16, after being awarded a college track scholarship. I went on to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and an MBA, and worked in the fields of marketing and sales for 9 years before becoming a full-time entrepreneur.
When you were developing your brand, what were your non-negotiables?
- Ethically-sourced ingredients including Fair Trade raw materials.
- Raw materials not on any banned (toxic”> list in our targeted countries
- Multipurpose formulas to avoid having to layer with 3+ products
- Performance focused on moisture, scalp and hair follicles
What is one misconception people have when experiencing hair loss or shedding?
One misconception is that there is a quick fix. The scalp is home to tens of thousands of hair follicles so hair loss, thinning and shedding can be quite complicated. Especially shedding, which is a normal process our hair goes through so it’s hard to tell when the shedding is excessive. There’s also medical, hormonal and environmental factors that can play a role in why the hair is changing. We always recommend seeing a medical professional first to rule out anything serious, then establish a consistent healthy hair regimen to allow the hair to thrive again. Thankfully, there are now more innovative raw materials on the market that have been clinically tested and FDA approved to use in formulas for hair growth and fullness.
What type of nourishing ingredients can naturalistas find in your products?
Bask & Bloom products are highly-concentrated with nourishing butters and oils, herbal extracts, and mild proteins to promote strong, healthy hair and scalp. In the majority of our core products you can find:
- Mango Butter
- Cupuacu Butter
- Avocado Oil, Jojoba oil , Flaxseed Oil , Sacha Inchi and Pumpkin Seed Oil
- Herbal Extracts (Aloe Vera, Brahmi, Gotu Kola, Horsetail, Nettle, Marshmallow Root
We’re super excited about the luxurious ingredients in our newest launch. It’s the first preview from our upcoming Super Bloom Collection: the 2-in-1 Pre-Poo/Deep Conditioner. This dual purpose product is made with murumuru butter, hemp seed oil, amla oil and sacha inchi oil, which soften and moisturize strands, soothe the scalp, and promote the overall health and thickness of hair. There is also a unique blend of botanical extracts (marshmallow root, ashwagandha, yucca, gooseberry and turmeric”> that work together to reduce hair loss, and calm and soothe the scalp, while promoting growth.
Which B&B products are essential for the fall season and why?
We recommend the Brahmi Root Hair Masque (deep treatment and best seller”>, More Moisture Cream, Ease Leave-In Conditioner and Herbal Infused Hair and Scalp Oil. These products were specifically formulated to provide and lock in moisture, and protect against breakage that can come from harsh weather elements.
We also recommend our limited edition Nourishing Amazon Hair & Body Butter, only available during the fall and winter. It’s packed with nutrients to hydrate and protect hair and skin in the colder months, including murumuru, cupuacu, mango, and shea butter and it comes in four yummy scents, as well as unscented.
Small businesses are the gift that keeps on giving. As of 2020 over 31 million people account for 99% of all U.S. businesses with the beauty industry accounting for 9%. We’re seeing more eco-friendly, inclusive, vegan, and women-owned brands popping up on our social feeds, favorite influencers, and showcased in online ads. Small businesses in the natural hair care sector have always had the strength to build their customer base from the root, engage customers with unique stories, and let their CEO’s or founders be at the forefront of their marketing. These are just a few reasons why we love small businesses and we’re excited to share a few you want to keep your eye on as they are growing and flourishing.
1. Glow by Daye
Ranay Daye is the founder behind Glow by Daye, the brand looking to make you fall back in love with your deep conditioning routine with an array of products designed to help each aspect of wash day. Customers can shop satin bonnets, deep conditioning hats, silk pillowcases, and hooded dryers that can help protect, condition, and style any texture of hair. Ranay brings vibrancy and art to the products with fun collections like “crystal constellation” and “sweet spirit” to elevate the everyday routine.
2. Miche Beauty
Miche Beauty (pronounced “mee-sh””> was founded in 2016 by a married couple named Michelle and Jonathan Ballard who were passionate about creating products for all textures. Their philosophy lies in creating a simple handcrafted collection that uses nutrient rich and natural ingredients like rosemary, lemongrass, and ginger to tackle the most common natural hair issues.
3. Ecoslay
Ecoslay was formed in the kitchen in 2015 and has been designed with natural ingredients like okra, marshmallow root, and plant-based ingredients to infuse the hair with nutrients and vitamins. This vegan-friendly brand is created with recyclable pouches that can be used to treat hair concerns like dryness, frizz, breakage, and growth. Their brand features fun scents like rice pudding, jello shot, matcha boost, orange marmalade, and more!
Curly Product Review: The Ecoslay Orange Marmalade Gel that Provides Hold & Definition
4. Naturalicious Beauty
Naturalicious Beauty is here to help empower and invigorate the modern customer by providing products to help elevate their wellness routine. Customers can choose from a range of hair care, accessories, tools, and supplements to redefine, add gel, grow, and moisturize hair whether you have tight or loose curls. Their online quiz helps to identify the best foolproof hair care regimen from their products ranging from their dramatic definition gel to the Moroccan rhassoul 5-in 1 clay treatment.
5. Pink Root Product
Mariel Mejia is the founder and CEO of Pink Root Products, a cruelty free and organic Latinx brand carving its way in the natural hair market. As the champions of #GetRooted, Mariel has worked to create a dynamic and inclusive brand that seeks to aid one of the most common curly faux paus in the curly world, damaged hair.
6. Curls Dynasty
Nickie Nougaisse founded Curls Dynasty in 2014 after developing a passion for finding the cleanest products possible during her hair transition. Her ingredients feature organic aloe juice, shea and mango butter, biotin, and manuka honey which are infused in two separate collections. Her products help aid in common issues with dryness and moisture retention and feature unique flavors like her pumpkin mint deep treatment masque.
7. Gabby Goodwin
Gabby entered the natural hair industry with her anti-slip barrettes designed to help prevent hair slippage with textured hair. Her newest hair care line features wash day products that are plant based with healthy pomades, revitalizing sprays, style creams, and more.
Read about 15-year old entrepreneur Gabby Goodwin here.
8. Sky Organics
Sky Organics’ amazing array of hydrating oils, butters and balms are must-have staples for face, body and hair to get you through the fall and winter months. Their co-founder Dean Neiger is proud to have created a brand with non-toxic ingredients like castor oil, mango butters, sweet almond oil, and rosewater.
9. Alaffia
Alaffia was founded by Togolese native Olowo-N’Djo Tchala and peace corps volunteer Prairie Rose Hyde who wanted to create clean and fair trade beauty care to help advance gender equality in West Africa. The women’s cooperative in West Africa handcrafts each indigenous ingredient like shea butter and coconut oil to create the finished product. They recently launched a beautiful curls collection which features plant-based formulas and help to define, sculpt, and strengthen different curl textures.
Learn more about Alaffia: What Social Impact in the Hair Care Industry Can Look Like
10. Juices and Botanics
Juices & Botanics offers a variety of products intended to nourish, cleanse, hydrate, and protect natural hair. Founded by celebrity natural hair growth and care expert, Whitney Eaddy (The Growth Guru”>. Whitney is known as the “Afro-Whisperer“ for her ability to grow natural hair to amazing lengths.
Check out: Juice and Botanics Product Review: Is The Juice Worth The Squeeze?
11. Rucker Roots
Rucker Roots is a family-owned brand spearheaded by sisters Ellen and Ione who wanted to share and advocate for healthy natural hair. Since 2015, Rucker Roots has been devoted to creating products with transformative ingredients that will stimulate growth and cleanse your hair without stripping away natural oils. They recently launched their second collection which focuses on nourishing and restoring hair with rich ingredients like papaya seed oil and mango butter.
12. The Puff Cuff
Ceata E. Lash decided to revolutionize the modern hair accessory by endeavoring to create a product that didn’t exist on the market, the Puff Cuff. This unique tool is all about helping customers with thick and textured hair to have a better styling experience in a variety of styles, colors, and sizes. Create seamless updo and textured buns with a versatile styling tool that works with your texture and not against it.
Check out: Tried the “Puff Cuff” on My Type 3 Hair, Here’s What I Thought
13. Chocolate Kinks and Curls
Juanita Henderson is the founder of Chocolate Kinks and Kurls which was created after she sought out healthier products during her “big chop”. The magic behind the brand is the superfood grade ayurvedic ingredients used to enhance wash day and your scalp health. The products feature a range of clay wash cleansers in a variety of scents like green mint, aloha rose, maqui berry, and more.
Read next: Best of the Best Awards: YOUR Favorite Curly Products of the Year
Love, family, and representation are the heart of JZD which has emerged as a leading Queer Latina owned lifestyle brand. With humble beginnings in 2016, they initially drew attention from consumers for their trendy and empowering pink “Latina Power” that represents community, culture, and the deep connection Latinx people have to their roots. Jen and Vero are the founders, partners, and proud Mexican women who engage and champion their community with a wide range of products. Sweaters, hats, journals, tote bags, jumpsuits, and t-shirts are just a few items in their growing collection that are vivacious, quirky, and full of powerful Latinx phrases that will have customer hearts soaring. We’re so honored to chat with these fantastic founders (who recently launched in Target”> about all things JZD!
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Discover more inspiring beauty industry founders with our Leaders in Curl series. For Hispanic Heritage Month we’re focusing on Latinx founders.
What was the inspiration behind JZD?
The inspiration behind JZD was wanting to create a lifestyle brand that builds community and celebrates culture every day, while also having a brand that reminded us of our power. That combined inspiration is what led us to create our now iconic Pink Latina Power Tee. When that t-shirt went viral, we realized that so many in our community felt the same way. At that moment we decided to focus on creating products that made our community feel represented and connected to their roots.
What were common Latinx messages or themes you wanted to avoid when creating your products?
The messages we avoid are any topics that perpetuate stereotypes. We focus our products on empowering and celebrating our community so we always run all ideas by our team to ensure we are uplifting our community.
Who were your Latinx inspirations growing up and why?
JEN: My parents were and continue to be my biggest inspiration. They are such a beautiful definition of strength and perseverance. The values they taught me and the special moments they created for me have shaped me into the person I am today.
VERO: One of my biggest inspirations was mi Tio David. He taught me so much about life and seeing his work ethic taught me to aspire to greatness.
How do you define your “Latina Power”?
Latina Power is the power within us. The one strengthened and celebrated by our ancestors. It’s that little magic that we get from cafecito at 8pm. It’s the boost of confidence we feel when we put on our gold hoops. It’s the power that makes us who we are.
Your headwear focuses on the “dad hat”, what made you choose this as the first accessory for customers?
Vero is a dad hat fanatic and she feels most confident when wearing a dad hat. We took that confidence and blended it in with a little Latina power to create items that would inspire our community and that would make them feel like their best self. We want every item that we create to make our customers feel confident and incredible.
How do you celebrate cultura in your everyday life?
Everything we do is centered around celebrating our Latinx culture and community every day. We are Mexicanas through and through, from the meals we create together to the rituals and traditions we celebrate, our world revolves around our Latinidad. It’s really such a joy to be able to bring a brand to life via all of our products, which is about including all of who we are as Latinas and share in that celebration with our family, friends and our customers. Whether it’s our Latina Power t-shirt or our new Corazon Latino t-shirts with Target to our Viva La Mujer Que Lucha crewneck, everything we do is to allow us and our community to feel represented and celebrated.
How do you balance your roles as partners in the business?
Being in business together is both fun and challenging, but we always try to focus on the fun part of working together, because it truly is incredible. Through the years Vero and I have gotten to know our strengths and weaknesses in business, and we have gotten really good about each handling the areas we are h4 at and delegating our weaknesses, which has led us to have very defined roles in the business.
What is one piece of advice you would give new entrepreneurs looking to break into the market?
The most important thing is to remain authentic within every aspect of your business. Figure out why you want to start in this field, write it down on a little paper and remind yourself of it daily. Then start today. Quit waiting for the perfect moment and instead create it. Once you’ve started, surround yourself with a community of like-minded people who will celebrate the wins with you and encourage you to keep going when things get hard.
Read next: Rizos Curls Founder Julissa Prado Talks Curls, Cultura, and Community
Beauty maven and entrepreneur Kay Cola is the multi-faceted CEO behind The Organi Brands hair care line. After experiencing severe breakage due to chemical treatments and straightening, she took matters into her own hands by creating homemade products. This eventually grew into a beauty brand that now encompasses hair, skin, and wellness items that customers can use to enrich their lives. As a vegan and non-toxic hair care collection, Kay is proud to create products with natural ingredients that help to restore hair health and enrich a customer’s understanding of how to properly care for their curls. Her line includes a range of vitamins, conditioners, styling products, and scalp treatments that can assist with a variety of common natural hair problems. We’re excited to feature her amazing brand and share more of her entrepreneurial story.
Discover more inspiring beauty industry founders with our Leaders in Curl series. For Hispanic Heritage Month we’re focusing on Latinx founders.
What was the biggest lesson you learned from dyeing your hair blonde?
The biggest lesson was to be myself and be grateful with how I was made. My hair is naturally very dark brown and dying it blonde destroyed my ends and curl pattern. The color didn’t even look good on my skin tone or even compliment my features the way my dark hair does. Stripping my hair of its melanin didn’t sit right with me and i’ll never do that again
Had you ever tried and failed at going natural before that experience?
I had been natural most of my childhood. I didn’t appreciate my hair and always asked my mom to straighten it. During that time there weren’t a lot of products on the market for girls with hair like mine so it was a lot harder to manage. There was also a lack of awareness and education in the space. I feel like back then it wasn’t cool to have curly hair and now it is.
How does being a mom influence the types of products you create?
Being a mom has influenced my entire line. I don’t want to use products that are going to poison myself and my children.
Why did you decide to create an organic and vegan hair care line?
My line was inspired by my daughter who was five years old at the time and was begging me to straighten her hair because girls at school had straight hair. I was baffled that she wanted to change her hair at such a young age as this was something that I experienced during high school. I wanted to inspire her to love and wear her natural hair but I was not wearing my own. I needed to heal my hair so I created something that did just that.
How does your Latinx heritage impact your brand?
It is important for me to create a space in which we can be seen & heard. It is important that our hair is given consideration and a spotlight and it is important that we embrace our various textures, colors, shades and looks. So often we try to conform to European features and beauty standards and it’s important that we recognize our own as beautiful. We influence and inspire the entire world and yet we are constantly picking apart our looks. My brand and company are inclusive of all.
What was the inspiration behind “The Organi Grow” name?
The name was inspired by my desire to grow my hair naturally and organically using non-toxic ingredients.
Why is porosity education important for you to teach your customers?
Knowing your porosity is important because it will literally determine the outcome of the way your hair cooperates, grows and thrives. Not all oils butters and ingredients work on every porosity the same and some can actually have an adverse effect on your hair knowing your porosity will help you be more successful on your hair growth journey.
We’re going into the fall season, which products should we keep on our shelf?
Cold weather is a time for heavier oils butters and deep conditioning to seal in the moisture our hair needs to thrive. I suggest our Conditioners, Prepoos, for all textures Vegan Grogurt for 3A-4C textures which is a thick leave in and our Texture Butter for 3C-4C textures
What’s one piece of advice you would give to up and coming entrepreneurs?
I want entrepreneurs to walk with purpose in alignment. Don’t just do this for money. When you live a purpose filled life you will always be abundant and have great joy.
Read next: Rizos Curls Founder Julissa Prado Talks Curls, Cultura, and Community
