Read our exclusive interview with Daphné Eastmond, Founder of Frizz + Co., to discover her impactful endeavors and path in the beauty industry.
A Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) by profession, she never envisioned starting a beauty brand, focusing instead on advancing her accounting career. Inspired by the entrepreneurial stories on Girlboss Radio, hosted by Sophia Amoruso, she gained the confidence to create her own venture. During the 2020 pandemic peak, she founded Frizz + Co., a hair care line for curly and textured hair, using all-natural ingredients. After extensive research and development work with a chemist, the Repairing Hair Mask became the brand’s flagship product, launching in August 2022. Learn more about her hair care brand by checking her website, personal Instagram account or business IG account.
Tell us what inspired you to work in the beauty industry and share your entrepreneur journey.
My experience as a consumer with curly and textured hair really inspired me to launch Frizz + Co. I felt like this was a segment of the beauty industry that was misunderstood and underrepresented despite the fact that 65% to 75% of women have textured hair! There are also growing amounts of studies linking a rise in cancer cases in black women and the hair products they are using. It honestly just felt like we could do better, and I was someone who could (and wanted to) actively do something about it.
Additionally, when building Frizz + Co., I wanted this brand to be impactful beyond the product and grow the community I wish I had when in transition to my natural curls. Curly and textured hair is complex and usually comes with trauma, frustrations, and deceptions and this is a connector for a community like the one we are building. I landed into entrepreneurship “by chance” and I am constantly figuring things out as I go. I started my career in audit, and I always thought I would climb the corporate ladder. However, with the pandemic, I felt like I could do more and slowly started laying the foundation for this business.
Frizz + Co
What are some of the most common hair care problems that your clients face and how do you solve them while using your products?
The main issue that my target audience faces is finding quality products made specifically for them. A lot of products that are “made for all hair types” unfortunately do not cater to the needs of curly and textured hair (i.e., if a leave-in can be used by someone with fine straight hair, chances are it is not rich enough for someone with curly and textured hair). The Repairing Hair Mask was formulated for curly hair, by curly hair. We built a test group with five women with different curl patterns to ensure we cater to a wide range of hair types, and we are always open to feedback to improve our consumer experience of using our product. Women of color are overall misunderstood and underrepresented in the beauty industry, so our major goal is to create a space where they can feel heard, seen and understood.
Can you share any styling tips or advice for maintaining clean, all-natural hair and healthy hair?
Avoid over-manipulation to prevent breakage, using silk bonnets or pillowcases to help reduce friction and retain moisture while you sleep. It’s also beneficial to get regular trims to keep ends healthy and finally, to incorporate weekly deep conditioning treatments—consistency is key. While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for perfect hair health, understanding and choosing the right products (and ingredients) through research is essential.
Frizz + Co
Why do Canadian consumers in underrepresented communities deserve quality products made for them?
Quality hair care should be available to consumers of all hair types. We are targeting a market that is underserved in the beauty industry as a whole and our objective with the Repairing Hair Mask is to bring elevated curl care through quality, powerhouse ingredients and a custom scent. We are also focusing our efforts on building a community around the product where there is also a need for a space to connect and exchange around natural hair, traumas, frustration and education.
Frizz + Co
What should a bride-to-be consider when choosing a hairstylist for her wedding day?
Building a relationship with a stylist typically takes time (think years), but a good way to begin is by seeking recommendations through word of mouth. Ask friends, especially those with natural curls, who they trust and have had good experiences with. Asking for this stylist’s portfolio would be my second consideration. Does their experience match your expectations, hairstyle aspirations? Speaking of portfolios, Pinterest is a tool I love. I think it’s the best place to get inspiration. The last step I could suggest is to arrange a trial run before the wedding. This allows you to see the actual results and make necessary adjustments, identify any potential red flags and ensure everything meets your expectations for your big day.
