Kinkz started out with a hair tie that’s genius in its simplicity. I wanted to create a hair tie that would allow curly-haired women to experiment with a variety of styles without having to worry about damaging their hair. I instantly fell in love with my creation, and so did all of my friends and colleagues who tried the hair ties! From there, I knew that it was time to share my creations with all the other natural-haired ladies out there.
Kinkz is more than a business to me: It’s a passion project. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to encourage more women to embrace their natural tresses. In fact, even the name of the brand is a nod to the beauty of natural hair—I chose the name Kinkz to celebrate my kinky, coily hair and to remind other women to do the same.
At what moment did you realize entrepreneurship was for you?
I realized entrepreneurship was for me once I moved into management in my previous job. I was climbing the corporate ladder, but was still unsatisfied. I didn’t know at the time what was causing this feeling, but once I created my first product, simply due to a need in my household, I knew what my purpose was. Once you get bitten by the entrepreneur bug there is no going back. The idea of creating a product, marketing this product in my own true way, and showcasing this to the world was my undiscovered purpose.
Describe your hair care brand in four words.
Relatable, refreshing, dependable, bold
What experience do you hope women take away from your brand?
I only wish to give women back the confidence that can sometimes be taken when transitioning to natural. Society has depicted “beautiful hair” as straight and long, which is opposite of a black women’s natural state of hair. While our hair can have many textures and curl patterns, it is curly nonetheless. So although our intentions of going natural may be to gain confidence and embrace our natural hair, this confidence is sometimes lost during the transition. We sometimes don’t feel beautiful because of the kinks and coils or shrinkage. Our brand hopes to bring awareness to the truth about going natural, and the beauty in it. Hence our slogan “Hey Beautiful”. The purpose is to make everyone aware that you are beautiful no matter what type of hair texture or style you have.
When did you realize a need for your hair ties?
When I first began my natural hair journey at the age of 25, I ran into many difficulties. I knew there was a great need for me to embrace my natural hair due to the unhealthy state my hair was in from using perms all my life, however, styling my hair caused many roadblocks for myself. I used shoe strings, cut headbands, scarves, etc. You name it, I’ve tried it. While the style may have worked for the moment, the damage caused from using these tools was not worth it. This is when I did research and tried to find a healthier option, and could not find one. So I created one! That’s when the Kinkz Hair Ties were born. I began showcasing them to my family and friends and everyone fell in love with them. I knew at this point, that there were several others who faced the same issues I did. The want for healthier hair without the proper tools.
Where do you hope to see your brand in the next 3-5 years?
In 3-5 years Kinkz will be one of the top natural hair product suppliers in the country. We will have an array of products available for all women in need. Our following and reach will have tripled by then, and so will our team!
What has been your greatest lesson thus far?
My greatest lesson has been that like myself, we do not all have it together. This was what I thought initially the world wanted to see. A brand that has it all together and all of the answers, but I soon learned that was foolish. People want to feel understood and heard. So I changed my focus to teaching and providing as much information to my followers as possible. I brought myself back to when I initially transitioned and thought about what it was I was looking for in a brand. And it was truly understanding. I wanted to know I wasn’t alone in this. This is what Kinkz stands for.
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