Age ain’t nothing but a number, and Lexi P is proving that being a young, black entrepreneur all under the age of 18! Lexi is making waves in the beauty industry, after entering the industry at just 12 years old when she participated in the Sally Beauty Cultivate-For Women by Women accelerator program. Not only did she win, she went on to be featured in several major publications and media outlets, as well as being placed at Black Girls Rock, where she got to interview and meet DJ Beverly Bond. Since then, she’s created and launched her latest campaign, “Embrace Your Texture”, a ponytail line designed to match the natural texture of each customer. We caught up with Lexi who shared with us how it’s been running a business during a pandemic, what her business stands for, and what’s in store in the future.
How has running your business Curlanistas helped you evolve as a young entrepreneur over the years?
Running my brand Curlanistas has really matured me as a young boss. It has given me a chance to grow and develop so many skills I know I would not have if I wasn’t a young CEO. I’m confident with public speaking and networking with people. When I first started out, I was afraid of talking in front of large crowds, now I love it. It has also given me the value of hard work and discipline. Being a CEO is something that requires daily work, these are things I know will take you far in life. I’ve really evolved as I’m getting older, I see how impactful my brand is on younger girls who look up to me.
What sparked your interest in creating a ponytail line? And what sets your product apart from others when it comes to black hair?
I love changing my hairstyles and looks and when I went to the beauty supply all I could find was synthetic hair ponytails which did not match my natural curl pattern. This got very frustrating and I thought my ponytails would be a great solution for my Curlanistas. I want everyone to embrace their texture. The new, natural hair ponytail extensions are designed to match the natural texture of each Curlanista. You can embrace your texture with four style offerings of Kinky Curly (4B-4C); Afro Curl (4C); Curly Curl (3B-3C); and Kinky Blow Out. Never have a bad hair day for school or work again!
My ponytails are of good quality and can be colored, flat ironed, and styled. I also made sure they are reasonable so everyone can enjoy and afford them.
“Embrace Your Texture” is such a powerful motto for black girls and women all over the world. Do you feel our natural hair has not been embraced enough? Have you experienced any issues with wearing your natural hair?
Yes, I truly believe natural hair has not been embraced or celebrated enough. You know there is an issue when they had to create laws stopping black women from being discriminate against because of their hair. We are the only group of people who have to deal with these issues. The media often puts out an image of beauty that doesn’t look like us. I want to change that; I want to change the standard of beauty.
Can we expect to see you release more textures in the future?
Yes, I plan on growing my line and offering even more hair textures.
What’s new with your brand Curlanistas that we can be on the lookout for? Any new products for hair management?
Of course, I’m so proud to launch my new textured ponytail line. Please go order some today! You won’t regret it. I’ve also been in the lab working on formulas for an edge control and deep conditioner. stay tuned to keep up with additional items dropping soon. My goal is to have more products launched by the end of 2021.
What motivates you with business and how do you stay positive in such a time as this with the pandemic?
What motivates me during these hard times is my future and knowing the life that I want to live. Giving up is too easy and the life I want to live I know will take hard work, so I have to keep going and staying positive. The example I want to show to other young girls is to never give up. My mom always says hard times don’t last and I wanna show people that you can’t let hard times stop you from going after what you want in life and I really get motivated by the messages and emails that I get from my Curlanistas saying that I inspired them to dream big.
Where will your new ponytail line be available for purchase?
You can purchase your ponytails directly from my site Curlanistas.com
