Crowned in Confidence: How Shades of Melanin Hair Turned Identity Into Impact

When Shades of Melanin was launched, it wasn’t just about bundles — it was about belonging. Melanin represented empowerment, identity, and natural beauty. It was a declaration that textured hair, rich tones, and cultural authenticity deserved premium space in the beauty industry. From day one, the mission was clear: promote self-love, affirm culture, and provide women with hair that reflects the fullness of who they are. Today, that same meaning still guides every decision — from vendor partnerships to product expansion — ensuring the brand remains rooted in confidence, quality, and community.

Mo Clark:  “Shades of Melanin” is more than a brand name — it’s a statement. What did melanin mean to you when you launched the business, and how does that meaning continue to guide your decisions as a founder today?

Katrina: Melanin meant a source of empowerment, identity, and natural beauty. It continues to guide me by promoting self -love and cultural affirmation.

Mo Clark: Hair customers are more informed and discerning than ever. What standards do you refuse to compromise on when it comes to sourcing, quality, and consistency — and how do you educate your audience on what truly separates premium hair from the rest?

Katrina: When it came to sourcing our hair, we looked for a variety of things. We wanted real raw hair and hair that could be worn by all races of women. Compromising on the quality of hair is never an option. It must always be the best pure raw quality hair and consistency is just as important. We been using the same three (3) vendors since opening because each vendor offers something different and unique. We had four (4) vendors, however due to the numerous mistakes and inconsistencies of the 4th vendor, we ended the contract.

Even though we have a trusting relationship with our other vendors, I do quarterly testing of the hair with several high profile stylist to be sure the quality has not changed. Real raw human hair is the best and has so many different qualities than regular human hair. It’s not chemically processed or altered, comes from a single donor with exceptional quality.

Mo Clark: Every successful product solves a real problem. What specific gaps or frustrations in the hair industry did you set out to fix with Shades of Melanin Hair, and how has customer feedback helped refine your offerings over time?

Katrina: Honest customer feedback and customer request are always welcomed to help us improve. By listening to our customers we were able to extend our hair line by focusing on providing salt and pepper raw hair for older women and they love it!

Mo Clark: Building a hair brand requires both creative vision and operational discipline. What was the biggest learning curve for you behind the scenes — whether in inventory, pricing, or scaling — and how did it reshape the way you approach business?

Katrina: The biggest learning curve was scaling the business. Less than two (2) years ago we had a lot of off seasons where we didn’t receive any orders and that bothered me to depression. So I started brainstorming on how to have sells during the off season and had to pivot and expand what we offer. So we started offering a bigger selection of colors and styles.

Mo Clark: Entrepreneurship can be deeply personal, especially for women building legacy brands. Can you share a moment when the business tested your confidence or faith — and how pushing through that season strengthened your purpose?

Katrina: Shades of Melanin Hair started in 2019. My faith was being tested for 5 years actually. Even though I had celebrities wearing the hair, was in many articles, news, giving to the homeless every year, giving to cancer organizations, single moms and just giving….the sales was not happening! Sometimes I went weeks to months without a sale. But I kept praying and trusting God. Then January 2025 and God been doing his big one ever since. I can’t thank him enough. I am extremely grateful.

Mo Clark: As Shades of Melanin Hair continues to grow, what does long-term success look like for you? Beyond sales, what impact do you hope your brand leaves on women, beauty culture, and future Black-owned businesses?

Katrina: Honestly, I hope to leave an everlasting impact on women and how my business made them feel uplifted and confident about themselves. Being able to provide high quality hair they had been looking for, rather it was a color match, hair that blended with their hair to add volume and length. Just being an answered prayer they had been looking for to help them with their hair needs.

Long-term success for Shades of Melanin Hair goes far beyond sales metrics. It’s about the woman who finally finds her perfect color match. The older client who feels seen through salt-and-pepper raw extensions designed with her in mind. The professional who adds volume and length and walks into a room standing taller. It’s about being the answered prayer for women searching for quality they can trust. By refusing to compromise on sourcing, investing in consistent vendor relationships, listening to customer feedback, and pushing through seasons of slow sales with faith intact, the brand has evolved into more than a business — it’s a legacy in motion. And as it continues to grow, its impact will be measured not just in revenue, but in confidence restored and culture elevated.

Photo Credit: Latifa Wiggins - The Gate Photography