For a lot of indie magnificence manufacturers, the founder’s private story is a key component of name id and a strong instrument for constructing client belief and loyalty. In a crowded market area like hair care, the place product efficacy and innovation are sometimes matched throughout rivals, origin narratives assist indie manufacturers carve out distinct positioning and foster genuine connections with area of interest audiences.
This month’s Indie Insights column explores how founder-driven storytelling influences model improvement and client engagement. CosmeticsDesign US spoke with Kyara Mascolo, co-founder of TIGI and the artistic pressure behind iconic manufacturers corresponding to Mattress Head, S-Issue, and Catwalk, about her latest enterprise, Freakin’ Genius.
Launched this summer season with a 27-product lineup of shampoos, conditioners, stylers, and professional kits, Freakin’ Genius pairs high-performance formulations with vibrant packaging and playful perfume profiles. Mascolo shared how her private journey informs the brand new model’s mission and the way authenticity, individuality, and humor are woven into its id.
CDU: What impressed you to launch Freakin’ Genius, and the way did your private journey form the model’s mission and values?
Kyara Mascolo (KM): I actually missed hair merchandise. I saved shopping for stuff that didn’t do what it promised – boring packaging, no persona, and the fragrances had been simply as uninspired.
I needed one thing that truly labored but in addition made you really feel one thing – pleasure, confidence, playfulness. That’s what sparked Freakin’ Genius.
On a deeper degree, the model is rooted in my private values. I’m a Proud Supporter due to my daughter. She got here out to me at 18, and whereas I’m extremely happy with her, I additionally hate that “popping out” is even a factor.
Folks ought to by no means have to clarify who they’re. Freakin’ Genius is about celebrating individuality – loud, tender, daring, bizarre, quiet – no matter makes you you.
And humor has all the time been a part of that for me. Again in my Mattress Head days, the creativity and irreverence formed how I see product improvement. I as soon as gave some product to a neighbor who had a little bit of a “grumpy outdated woman” fame.
My motto is “kill them with kindness,” so I assumed, why not? She later instructed me that she and her husband – who was dying of most cancers – learn the bottles and laughed and laughed. That second caught with me.
It jogged my memory that one thing as small as a shampoo label can convey a bit gentle to somebody’s day. I needed to the touch folks in an emotional manner.
So yeah, we would like high-performing formulation – however greater than that, Freakin’ Genius is about placing enjoyable, kindness, and freedom into all the things we do. That’s the mission.
CDU: In what methods have you ever used your founder story as a strategic instrument to introduce Freakin Genius to customers and differentiate the model within the saturated hair care market?
KM: Truthfully, Freakin’ Genius remains to be so new that the model story is unfolding in actual time. However on the core, it’s about being true to your self, trusting your instincts, and having enjoyable doing what you like.
That’s our level of distinction – in a world chasing formulation and tendencies, simply being unapologetically you is greater than sufficient. After we began Mattress Head, it was the identical factor – we made merchandise that gave stylists the instruments to create no matter look felt proper for the particular person of their chair.
Freakin’ Genius is that very same sort of freedom, simply reimagined for at present.
CDU: What particular elements of your story resonate most along with your neighborhood, and the way do you resolve which components to share publicly by advertising and marketing or branding channels?
KM: What appears to resonate most with our neighborhood is the unapologetic honesty behind the model. It’s not about making an attempt to be excellent or polished – it’s about being actual.
Whether or not that’s sharing how irritating it was to search out hair merchandise that truly labored and had persona, or speaking brazenly about being a proud supporter of my daughter and the LGBTQ+ neighborhood – all of it issues.
Folks join with manufacturers that really feel human & actual.
In terms of what we share publicly, we ask one easy query: Does this really feel true? If it’s sincere, if it makes somebody really feel seen, or if it simply brings a bit pleasure – we’ll share it.
Some elements of the story are deeply private, so we’re considerate about timing and tone. However in the long run, we constructed Freakin’ Genius to replicate life: messy, stunning, daring, actual, and a bit rebellious.
We wish to convey humor to all the things we do, life is tough sufficient.
CDU: Are you able to share an instance of a second when your private narrative immediately impacted model engagement, product improvement, or client loyalty?
KM: A document exec texted me on my birthday and wrote, “U.R. Queen!” And that’s precisely how the names of two of our merchandise had been born.
Generally inspiration hits in probably the most surprising and excellent manner.
CDU: How do you stability storytelling authenticity with the necessity to construct a scalable model, particularly as you develop and doubtlessly increase your attain past area of interest audiences?
KM: For us, it begins with staying rooted in why we created the model within the first place – and simply maintaining it actual. Our story is evolving, and we would like our clients and group to be a part of that.
We by no means take ourselves too critically. These are hair merchandise, not coronary heart surgical procedure – they need to be enjoyable, purposeful, and actually fabulous. We name it funertainment!
CDU: What recommendation would you provide to different indie magnificence founders who’re nonetheless creating or refining their origin story as a part of their model id?
KM: Keep true to who you might be. Your model must be an extension of you, not a duplicate of another person.
Don’t waste your power watching your rivals – keep in your lane, do you and make it loud & proud!
