This Women’s History Month highlights the exceptional journey of visionaries who have revolutionized their industries through determination and foresight. Among these remarkable individuals stands Lisa Price, whose natural hair and skincare brand Carol’s Daughter has fundamentally altered the beauty landscape for women of color nationwide.
From Brooklyn kitchen to beauty empire
In the early 1990s, Price’s entrepreneurial story began modestly in her Brooklyn home, where she experimented with essential oils and natural ingredients to create products that addressed needs overlooked by mainstream beauty companies. These kitchen experiments, born from family traditions and personal necessity, eventually evolved into formulations that would resonate with countless women seeking authentic representation in beauty.
Price’s initial offerings—homemade lotions and hair products—quickly gained popularity at local flea markets and craft fairs. What distinguished her creations wasn’t just their effectiveness but the philosophy behind them: celebrating natural beauty in all its forms rather than promoting unrealistic standards.
Heritage as foundation
The brand’s distinctive identity draws deeply from Price‘s cultural background and family influences. Named after her mother Carol, the company embodies the wisdom and resilience passed down through generations of women in Price’s family. This connection to heritage permeates everything from product development to marketing strategies, creating an authentic brand narrative that consumers connect with on a personal level.
Natural ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, and essential oils—staples in many Black households for generations—form the core of her formulations, honoring traditional beauty practices while innovating for modern consumers.
Navigating business challenges
Price’s path to success featured significant obstacles common to women entrepreneurs, particularly women of color. Access to capital presented an early and persistent challenge, with traditional funding sources often unavailable or offered on unfavorable terms. The beauty industry’s competitive nature, dominated by multinational corporations with massive marketing budgets, created additional hurdles for her independent brand.
Despite these challenges, Price maintained unwavering focus on her mission. Her business approach emphasized authentic connection with consumers through community engagement and transparent communication about ingredients and manufacturing processes—strategies that built lasting customer loyalty.
Breaking into mainstream markets
A major breakthrough for Carol’s Daughter came when Price appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, catapulting her brand into national recognition. This visibility attracted investment from notable figures enabling rapid expansion into retail partnerships with major stores across the country.
L’Oréal later acquired Carol’s Daughter, marking not just Price’s personal success but a significant shift in the beauty industry’s recognition of the market power wielded by women of color. Throughout this growth, Price remained committed to the brand’s core mission of inclusive beauty.
Legacy of representation
Price’s most enduring contribution extends beyond specific products to her pioneering role in advocating for diversity in beauty. When she launched Carol’s Daughter, mainstream beauty companies largely ignored the specific needs of women with textured hair and diverse skin tones. Her success demonstrated the commercial viability of inclusive beauty products, helping catalyze the industry-wide shift toward greater representation we see today.
This legacy continues as Carol’s Daughter maintains its position at the forefront of natural hair care innovation while expanding into new categories including fragrances and cosmetics. Price’s influence echoes through a new generation of beauty entrepreneurs who have followed her path in creating brands centered on authenticity and inclusion.
Future vision
Looking forward, Price remains actively involved in product development while expanding her role as a mentor to emerging entrepreneurs. Her vision extends beyond business success to creating lasting industry change through continued advocacy for inclusive beauty standards and supporting women-owned businesses.
This Women’s History Month offers an opportunity to reflect on trailblazers like Price whose courage and creativity have transformed industries while opening doors for future generations. Her journey from kitchen entrepreneur to beauty industry pioneer embodies the transformative power of perseverance, innovation, and unwavering commitment to authentic representation.
