HEY THERE, BEAUTY PRO,
I want to share one of the most valuable lessons I learned while building my career in the beauty industry.
Recently, I was invited to speak at the Zarb School of Business at Hofstra University. Preparing for that conversation gave me an opportunity to reflect on my years as a salon and haircare brand partner and everything that came with them: the twists and turns, disappointments, triumphs, and decisions that ultimately helped us build something far bigger than we imagined.
Looking back, one thing stands out.
Fierce intention.
I was determined to make conscious choices that moved us forward. It became less about what we couldn't do and more about what we were willing to do.
LET ME EXPLAIN…
When we began, I didn't fully understand the enormous effort it would take to launch a brand and grow a salon, especially in a category that barely existed in 1999.
Our team of six needed help building the brand from the ground up, but we didn't have the money to hire that help. So we turned to one another.
We combined our skills. We identified talents and abilities that extended far beyond our foundational cosmetology training. We learned what we didn't know. And we put all of it into motion with fierce intention.
At the same time, we were growing the salon from one location to three and expanding our team. We worked long hours and traveled around the country showcasing our products and techniques at trade shows, panel discussions, and distributor sales meetings. During show season, many weekends were spent away from home.
We knew we had a winner.
But we also learned that scaling a brand like DevaCurl would take time. Our products and approach weren't simply introducing something new. They required beauty professionals and their clients to think differently about natural texture and change long-established habits.
⭐️ For the next 15 years, we continued building credibility and awareness.
⭐️ We taught beauty professionals and their clients how to embrace their natural texture, from the inside out, through a proven step-by-step routine.
⭐️ In 2001, we launched our hero product.
⭐️ In 2004, we reached our first major milestone: $1 million in revenue.
⭐️ Twenty years after we began building the brand, Henkel took interest in DevaCurl and acquired the company in 2019.
For me, that became the beginning of my next adventure: House of Harbinger.
I knew what "enough" felt like, and I was grateful to have reached it. I had found a balance between ambition and contentment, and let me tell you, it's a great place to be.
The invitation to partner with the founders and help build a brand and a movement became more rewarding than I ever imagined.
Together, we helped transform an industry and shift the way people around the world thought about, cared for, and embraced their natural texture.
🔎 THE LESSON
The path to profit and prosperity requires tenacity.
I never imagined it would take more than 20 years to realize the dream.
🔎 THE TAKEAWAYS
Set your intention. Align your mindset with an action plan that guides consistent behavior.
Be patient. Progress rarely happens according to your expected timeline.
There is no single formula for building a brand.
Give people a reason to care. A distinctive product or service that solves a real need gives a brand something to build from.
Surround yourself with the right people. Shared vision matters, but so does a willingness to do the work together.
Define success for yourself. Keep asking what success looks like at each stage of the journey.
As beauty pros, we all need a North Star to keep us grounded, inspired, and moving toward something that matters to us. I hope the lessons I’ve shared help you define yours and give you the confidence to keep moving toward it.
YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE SHOULD BE UNIQUE , APPEALING AND SOLVE A NEED.
If you’re ready to define what’s next for you, House of Harbinger offers education, professional development, and private coaching designed to help you strengthen your skills, expand your thinking, and build from what you already know.
Explore the ways we can work together and find the path that fits where you want to go next.
Technical Training I Strategies I Leadership
@jennymoloney