Finding Balance and Beauty In Female Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is no easy feat. Some would say it is the road less traveled, especially for women-owned businesses. In recent years, the beauty industry has been booming with new female-founded, celebrity and influencer beauty brands. In an overly saturated consumer market, what makes these businesses stand out from the masses? Are the products intentional, sustainable and inclusive?

Here at The Curio Cabinet, we sat down with one of the co-founders of On Point Beauty, Priya Burkett, to discuss the ins and outs of female entrepreneurship and the genesis of the salon and haircare line.

Founded by Vicki Howard and Burkett, the idea of On Point Beauty emerged during the pandemic as Burkett left the corporate world and wanted to start a second life in her career, thus finding herself venturing into the world of entrepreneurship.

Howard, a master hair stylist, licensed cosmetologist and expert in protected hairstyles was Burkett’s most trusted and regular hairstylist before co-founding On Point Beauty. Howard has always been particular about certain products she liked to use on her clients due to ingredients that led to better results. Burkett was excelling in her career in corporate roles; however, she was faced with big life transitions due to major loss and grief that followed.

Both needed change in their lives and the timing was right, so the two women decided to join forces and open their salon in Five Points, Denver. Five Points, the epicenter of culture and entertainment, is a designated cultural and historical district in Denver. This vibrant Denver neighborhood preserves the history of the African American Community as Five Points was known as the “Harlem of the West” between the years of the 1930s and 1950s.

After opening their salon, On Point Beauty Bar, and watching their community grow, Howard was still producing product cocktails, while mixing and matching products based on ingredients to help support their client’s haircare needs.

Simultaneously, Burkett found herself researching and venturing into mixing different ingredients and formulating products with a cosmetic chemist. Each woman brought their own strengths to the brand as On Point Beauty began to emerge. As the salon continued to grow, Burkett and Howard found that their clientele was largely women of color. With this realization, they decided that their new products must promote hydration and clean ingredients.

Research has shown that 70% of products on the Black haircare market have been found to have toxic [ingredients] leading to health problems for Black and mixed race people,” said Burkett.

The two primary essential oils that are used throughout the products are Peppermint Oil and Tea Tree Oil which both come from Black and Ayurvedic teachings. Burkett shared that Ayurveda translates to “Knowledge of life.” It is based on the idea of balancing one’s life. “Every woman is trying to figure it out and sometimes you have to lean into the imbalance and figure out how you can have self-care so you can provide support to others,” Burkett said. 

“As a woman, you are a caretaker, therefore it’s essential that you carve time for self-care for yourself so you can be fully present for those that depend on you,” Burkett said.

“As far as both of the cultures and haircare practices, both involve using essential oils on your hair and scalp for its respective healing properties to nourish, protect and strengthen the hair and scalp.”

With the Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner as best sellers, these healthy hair products promote elasticity, prevent hair breakage and promote natural hair growth. Through their research, they’ve tapped into the power of vitamins, proteins and essential oils to formulate products that will produce these results. “Our products are not just about haircare, they are also about scalp care,” Burkett added.  

Through her personal and professional life, Burkett has been able to find the similarities of both of these culturally rich heritages: “Both cultures believe in scalp massages to help stimulate your scalp and increase blood flow. Both cultures believe in protective styles As people of color, we have a lot more stresses related to what we encounter in the world, and I like the fact that having a balance of Black and Ayurvedic practices has to do with the whole person emotionally and physically.” 

These practices like scalp massage and wrapping your hair allow one to feel relaxed and reset for the day. The rituals and practices that are used in an everyday routine offer one time to slow down and relax mentally and physically.

With this passionate belief and practice of self-care and mental wellness, Burkett and Howard refer to their consumers as “Glow Getters.”

“The people that use our products are people who are always on the go. They’re busy individuals who are caretakers of their family, they have a career, have a job, are involved in their community, want to represent themselves with their best foot forward and take care of themselves emotionally and physically. So meaning they want to look good while getting it all done,” Burkett explained.

As a wholly bootstrapped and female-founded brand, Burkett is no stranger to always being on the go. Women-led ventures in general have many challenges. These challenges can range from funding access, consistency and awareness of what are the right questions to ask. Burkett spoke fondly of surrounding herself with a network of support and building those crucial relationships during the exciting and challenging time of building a business.

“In general, founders of color get just 1% of the funding available and then women of color founders have access to less than half a percent, which is technically .43%,” Burkett said.

Through Burkett’s tenacious spirit and consistency, On Point Beauty products are now in select Walmarts across the country and available to purchase on Walmart.com, Three Arrows Gallery, Flying Solo NYC and in select salons nationwide as a salon-grade hair product line.

Howard and Burkett together have invested in something much more than just a haircare line. They’ve curated a community, combined elements of two beautiful heritages and are continuing to help provide crucial information about haircare and healthy ingredients to Glow Getters of all backgrounds and hair types.

“Living in this type of information saturated environment, we need to help educate what makes us different and unique” Burkett said. “I think women want to make sure that you’re delivering what you’re saying you’re delivering.”

Backed by two amazing co-founders, and an incredible and evergrowing community On Point Beauty has what it takes to stand out, do good and continue to make a difference in this saturated industry.

READ: WE TRIED IT: LOCAL DENVER HAIRCARE BRAND KEEPS OUR HAIR HYDRATED AND ON POINT