Today we’d like to introduce you to Cypress Soleil Lee.
Cypress Soleil, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Cypress Soleil Naturals is a hair and skin care product line created by Cypress Soleil Lee (myself) as a way to combine my two favorite things–natural herbal remedies and healthy hair. These products contain organic, herbal, natural ingredients and are not only vegan but cruelty-free as well. Being vegan for close to 11 years now not only inspired me but also is the core of my business. Coming from a family of plant lovers only helped drive the eagerness behind this product line. My mother is an herbalist, my grandmother was an avid gardener, and my grandfather was a world-renowned botanist. “Cypress” is a type of conifer, which is a tree that never loses its leaves and “Soleil” is the French word for sun. Good hair is healthy hair and healthy hair begins from within–the roots. These products symbolize growth and prosperity. In addition, I am a college graduate from American University with a BS in Business and Entertainment specializing in agency, which has helped with the creation of Cypress Soleil Naturals.
Coming from a family of entertainers and spotlights, I wanted to make a name for myself–something that was mine and only mine. Not given to me, but earned through my hard work and dedication to what I love to do. I have always had this wild, curly long hair since I was little and I always looked for products that worked well on my hair. While I found a few over the years, I never found any that had ingredients that were whole–not altered, not watered down, not tweaked to sell more of. Even with the increase in “natural” products on the market, most still include chemicals or harsh ingredients for your hair, body and overall health. The creation of Cypress Soleil Naturals aims to provide 100% natural products without hidden ingredients.
This is what led to Cypress Soleil Naturals. It started as an idea when I was in college, but I would always put it to the side because something wasn’t “right.” But I soon learned there is no “right”, you just have to create. After graduating in 2017 and moving to Atlanta not shortly after, I worked a regular job, but not for long. One day I literally quit and started making homemade herbal products in my kitchen and it received an amazing response that I often doubted. I thought no one would care because there are a million hair care product lines already available. I WAS WRONG. I soon learned it’s not about if you’re the millionth person to do it, but your brand. Your brand is something no one can take from you. How you market yourself, what makes you YOU, what makes you unique, your thought process and how you incorporate your life lessons in your craft. This took me a few years to grasp, but once I did it changed my entire outlook on my business and what I am capable of. This brings us to today-where my business is and how it has impacted my life.
I love what I do. I love helping educate people on the importance of chemical-free, natural products. While hair health is what I aim to encourage, overall health is something I advocate for as well. With this hair and skin care product line, I work hard to plant a seed in others to be more aware of the footprint you are leaving behind. All of our products are natural, vegan and organic for the environment and for our personal health. What you put on your body directly correlates with what goes into your body and what goes back into the environment.
Being deeply rooted and aligning yourself to be a source of positive energy correlates to my hair care product line in the sense that what you nurture will grow. The trees and the sun need each other to function accordingly. Just as your roots need to be properly taken care of in order for your hair to radiate, they both require nurturing and environmental consciousness. Everything we were given does not last forever and the same goes for the planet we were given. Earth is not indestructible, therefore we have to be cautious of how we interact with nature and the environment. In the same sense, we have to be cautious about how we treat our body internally and externally. We continue to take, but rarely ever give back and as a result, destruction occurs.
I am a huge advocate for NATURAL and I have two slogans I always push, which are “Natural is Always Better” and “Good Hair is Healthy Hair.” In a society where almost everything is altered and the idea of what is “good” has been tainted, I encourage everyone regardless of hair or body type to embrace what you have.
Cypress Soleil Naturals was officially founded in October 2018 and since the release in December 2018, I have felt nothing but free. Of course, some days are harder than others, but it’s not supposed to be easy–if that was the case there would be no growth. I run the business as a one-woman show–I create and edit the website, make the products, make the labels, package the orders, ship the packages, handle customer service–I DO IT ALL and I love it. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It was a process and the doubt I created in my mind held me back for a long time. I had to just jump and figure it out, but it has helped me grow and learn more about myself.
Advice I would give to other women would be to never let what someone else is doing stop what you are capable of. No one else has YOUR mind; therefore no one can do it exactly how you do it.
Please tell us about Cypress Soleil Naturals.
As mentioned previously, I make herbal infused hair and skin care products that are not only environmentally sustainable, but they are also cruelty-free.
As a brand, I am most proud of the fact that I am making a positive impact on the planet. All of our packaging and bottling is 100% recyclable and or biodegradable. The goal has always been to add to the planet and not take away. As humans, we tend to take, take, take, but never GIVE. Cypress Soleil Naturals goal is to always help growth, not cause depletion.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
“Dalai Lama–Daily Advice From The Heart” is always a go-to book that I recommend to EVERYONE. It contains 365 days of pure knowledge and encouragement.
“Sacred Woman” by Queen Afua is another important book that every woman should invest in. It is a guide to healing ourselves as women and the generations to come.
“Medisin” is another great read about Western medicine in our society and how it is leading to more and more sickness and death. Of course, I always encourage natural herbal healing, which ties into my overall beliefs in my business.
Finally, Susan Weed’s “Healing Wise” is amazing for herbalists. You can never stop learning about your craft and you will never know everything. My mother who is an herbalist introduced me to every single book I just mentioned and for that I am thankful. Every powerful woman is one with her inner self and is always learning. To help others, you have to help yourself.
Contact Info:
- Website: cypresssoleilnaturals.com
- Email: cypresssoleilnaturals@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cypresssoleilnaturals/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cypresssoleilnaturals/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/cypresssoleil/
Image Credit:
Cypress Lee
David Papanikolau
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