BEAUTY BRANDS TO KNOW: PINK ROOT PRODUCTS
PINK ROOT PRODUCTS
Mariel Mejia is the founder of Pink Root Products, hair care products that help improve the transition from chemically treated and heat damaged hair to natural hair. After years of using relaxers since she was 11 years old, Mariel’s hair was left brittle and dry from all the damage caused by chemicals and heat. She began experimenting with butters like shea and mango and oils like avocado and castor to regain her hair’s moisture. With company values like “We don’t believe in bad hair, just bad hair care,” the mission behind Pink Root Products is to help you enjoy your curls and help build your hair confidence.
SHEER: Tell us a little bit about yourself.
MARIEL MEJIA: My name is Mariel Mejia and I am an NYC native, born and raised in The Bronx. I come from a Dominican family but was born in the USA after my mother made her journey to the States.
SHEER: How did you get your start in the beauty industry?
MM: My start in the beauty industry really came from a place of insecurity, particularly regarding my natural hair. I had been relaxing my hair from the young age of eleven and by the time I reached college I found myself struggling with my hair as it was extremely damaged from the many years of chemical usage. I decided that enough was enough and quit the relaxers cold-turkey and started making my own hair products to help regain my hair’s health. That journey is what led me to create Pink Root Products, a line of natural hair care products.
SHEER: What was the launch process like for Pink Root Products and what inspired the name?
MM: The launch process was nothing short of confusing for me as I really didn't know much about branding, packaging, marketing, etc. at the beginning of my journey. My area of expertise really was the formulas themselves so I decided to just incorporate that into our core values. We are very formula-focused and truly care about the health of your curls so we really wanted to get that message across to our target audience through our branding, which eventually helped me put the final pieces of the puzzle together to officially launch the company. I worked with people who were just as passionate about our mission and that helped us tell our story.
“My start in the beauty industry really came from a place of insecurity, particularly regarding my natural hair. I had been relaxing my hair from the young age of eleven and by the time I reached college I found myself struggling with my hair as it was extremely damaged from the many years of chemical usage. I decided that enough was enough and quit the relaxers cold-turkey and started making my own hair products to help regain my hair’s health.”
SHEER: What concerns do you believe are most important for people to understand about chemically treated and heat-damaged hair?
MM: I think the main thing to know about chemically treated and heat-damaged hair is that it does not stunt the growth of your hair. I remember when I was on my natural hair journey I truly used to believe that my hair would never grow again because of all the mishandling for so many years but once I learned how to care for my hair is when it started to really flourish. You have to understand that hair growth is a natural cycle that will never cease, unless you have an underlying health issue of course, but maintaining your new growth in a healthy manner is key.
SHEER: How does Pink Root Products help with transitioning hair from chemically processed to healthy and natural? Tell us a bit more about the process of finding the winning ingredients in your products
MM: When I first started messing around with formulas in my mothers kitchen, I used to only work with oils and butters because that’s what was popular during the natural hair movement and while it worked okay, I noticed that my hair still lacked moisture and felt greasy when using only those ingredients. So I started doing more research and started incorporating proteins and different active ingredients that work to mend hair cuticles that are still in a repairable state. We really focus on picking ingredients that have a proven track record of positive effects on natural hair and we incorporate that into our products.
“Aside from being heavily formula-focused, we also make it a point to cultivate a community based on the relatability of the struggle of transitioning back to natural hair. The brand was founded on the value of “we don’t believe in bad hair, just bad hair care” and we really try to push our audience to not only learn how to care for their hair but also learn to love it and fix the relationship they have with it.”
SHEER: What are the most popular products on your site currently and what are their most effective qualities?
MM: I would say that our most popular product amongst people with coils to wavy hair is our leave-in conditioner which is formulated with sweet almond oil and Vitamin E oil. Just about every person with hair, in general, can benefit from a really good leave-in conditioner as your hair is pretty dry right after a shampoo session. Keeping your hair hydrated is crucial to retaining health and length. Following up right after the leave-in conditioner is our curl styling paste which is one of my personal favorites. Formulated with silk amino acids and beeswax, this product works wonders to control frizz and define your natural hair pattern. It’s a best-seller!
“There are tons of brands out there selling skincare, hair care, makeup, etc. so when you’re just trying to make a quick buck consumers can most definitely sense that. Be sure that you’re doing your research, tell your story from a genuine place, and be ready to be the voice of your brand.”
SHEER: How is your brand helping people embrace and love their natural hair across all curl types?
MM: Aside from being heavily formula-focused, we also make it a point to cultivate a community based on the relatability of the struggle of transitioning back to natural hair. The brand was founded on the value of “we don’t believe in bad hair, just bad hair care” and we really try to push our audience to not only learn how to care for their hair but also learn to love it and fix the relationship they have with it. When I was going natural, curly hair was far from popular and I remember all the negative commentary I received from others in regards to my appearance so whenever we’re working on new campaigns or new content, we make it a point to express just how enjoyable rocking your natural hair can be.
SHEER: What advice do you have for anyone looking to launch products in the beauty market?
MM: My biggest advice for anyone looking to break into the beauty industry is to only do work you’re passionate about. There are tons of brands out there selling skincare, hair care, makeup, etc. so when you’re just trying to make a quick buck consumers can most definitely sense that. Be sure that you’re doing your research, tell your story from a genuine place, and be ready to be the voice of your brand.
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Photography by Nabila Wirakusumah
Valerie Blaise, founder of leather accessories brand Vavvoune describes someone who wears her designs as curious, intentional, and knows what they want. We could feel these qualities immediately as we stepped into the Vavvoune studio in DUMBO, Brooklyn.