

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Fontaine-Jones.
Hi Michelle, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
Curls & Potions was created to help my mother’s hair grow back while she underwent Chemotherapy. My mother, Angela, was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer and was refusing to do chemo because she didn’t want to lose her hair.
All I wanted was to be my mom’s hero. I immediately began doing research and started mixing up concoctions for her. When it worked, I knew I had something! I decided to launch my business a few months after, which ended up being the same week my mom had to go to the cancer treatment center. That was in 2015 and my mother lost her battle in Sept 2016.
I wanted to quit after she passed but my daughter encouraged me to keep going. I wasn’t as focused on what it meant to build a brand because the heart was my mom. My focus was only on that so I had the idea then, if you build it, they will come. Boy, was I mislead. That does not happen at all!
Eventually, through the grieving and my daughter being my cheerleader, I started to really focus on building something that would always keep my mom’s heartbeat going.
Fast forward, the brand started to slowly take off. Branching out to independent retailers in the US and internationally. When Curls & Potions skyrocketed out of nowhere I had to quit my job working for Apple in order to keep up with demand. The best part, I was able to connect with my childhood best friend to help with the growing pains. With the added help it has allowed us to continue to expand, create new products which include our Men’s line, and travel to do meet & greets as well as participate in vending events. This last year has been phenomenal!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Fredrick Douglass said, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” That is the realest thing that I have ever heard. There are so many misconceptions about what being an entrepreneur is and let’s face it, social media makes you think it’s easy.
The reality, social media shows you the side we wish it was, easy. We never see the failures, the tears, the doubts, the imposter syndrome, the lack of support, etc. I was able to build a business because of my mother who will always be the foundation of Curls & Potions, but having to lay brick by brick to build a brand after her passing was the hardest part aside from all the trials and errors on teaching myself what running a business entails.
No one can prepare you for all the hats you have to wear. The one issue was really learning to trust another person to help lighten the load. I was doing this alone, with the help from time to time from my daughter and husband. When we grew so fast, that wasn’t enough. My husband is full time Active Duty Air Force so he was not able to just dive in. Getting reconnected with my bestie was the best option. Although, that was not as smooth as I had hoped because Curls & Potions is my baby. Bringing in anyone to help me was like handing over the keys to a vault filled with gold and diamonds.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have always had a love for all things hair, art, technology, and just being creative. I tried everything I could through the years trying to figure out my purpose in this world. I ignored that feeling I had for so long to focus on hair and art. I went to school for Computer Networking, Pharmacy Technician, tried the Air Force, worked at banks, worked for Apple, etc. Nothing fulfilled me until I was able to take that passion, that creativity and put it in a bowl.
Teaching myself how to formulate products that work without being watered down or diluted is something that I can’t even believe that I did. I have to pinch myself sometimes! My goal is to keep bringing amazing products into the beauty industry that are created with passion and love. It is important to manufacture my own products and bring jobs to the people who look like me. I am proud that I have not compromised that vision. Our product line consists of over 40 products for all hair types, men’s grooming, skincare, accessories, etc. We offer solutions for every hair & scalp issue with highly concentrated products using ingredients that matter.
What does success mean to you?
Just the simple feeling of walking in your purpose is success. We all have that. If you just sit and tune out the world you can hear your inner voice. Let that guide you. That constant idea or feeling that is like a broken record, will lead you to your purpose.
Pricing:
- Chebe Growth Stimulating Rice Water $19.99
- Curling Potion Styling Gel $16.99
- Rice Water & Acai Pre Cleanse Primer $19.99
- Angels Miracle Growth Serum $18.99
Contact Info:
- Email: contact@curlsandpotions.com
- Website: www.curlsandpotions.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curlsandpotions/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/curlsandpotions/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1e7u_7WP9AUceocp_CBvCA