Angela Fité is an entrepreneur who is changing the weave industry. She makes no apologies for her rebellious kinky curly hair and wants other women to do the same. Fité created her online hair boutique, Kinkistry, to provide women with high-quality hair extensions at an affordable price.
Fité shared with us what sets Kinkistry apart from other hair companies.
What was the inspiration behind developing Kinkistry?
The inspiration behind developing Kinkistry came from an unmet need I had as a consumer. I began my natural hair journey about eight years ago. I was interested in a protective style that would promote hair growth, so I decided to purchase kinky curly hair extensions for a sew-in. I absolutely fell in love with the look and hair growth I achieved with the protective style. What I didn’t like was how expensive the hair was and how quickly the texture of the hair would change and become unusable. I tried many brands and thought if I spent more money on the extensions the quality would be better. I soon came to the realization that this was not true. As a consumer, I expected and deserved more. I wanted to find better options for myself and other women whose plight were similar to mine. I did a lot of research and testing to discover that not only could I have quality kinky curly extensions, but I could bring them to market at an affordable cost.
How do you maintain your Black-owned business?
Balancing a growing business and maintaining a healthy home life, which includes my husband, two children and two dogs, is both challenging and immensely rewarding. Kinkistry is one of my biggest accomplishments and represents many of my own values, such as empowerment, social consciousness, and identity. Kinkistry represents an evolution in the concept of what beauty is in this country. I am proud to be a part of such an important movement.
What sets Kinkistry apart from other hair companies?
What sets Kinkistry apart is our inclusion of multiple curl types. Our mantra is “No curl left behind.” We offer hair textures from loosely curled Type-2 textures to tightly coiled 4c textures. We embrace and cater to those with texture 4 natural hair by offering three textures specifically designed for 4a/b/c hair types. We are also unique because of our complimentary texture-match service. Our goal is to eliminate the “guesswork” and allow our customers to purchase the perfect blend at the beginning of their initial purchase.
Why is it important for women to be entrepreneurs?
It is important for women to be entrepreneurs to help balance the scales of inequality that exist among men and women. Women are disproportionately paid less than men but perform many of the same jobs. Entrepreneurship allows women to step out of the shadows and into their own. We need female entrepreneurs because our little girls need examples of the many different avenues and career choices that are available to them.
What advice do you have for young women who want to follow in your footsteps?
My advice is to create a product or service that you love so much that you’d give away for free. Discover and identify what drives and excites you to get up every day. Don’t focus on how much money you can make, but rather on the enjoyment you will receive from sharing your talent with everyone. Money always follows passion and purpose.
