We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Joel Carter a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Joel, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Norbor Beauty began when my mom started losing her hair—and couldn’t find a single product on the shelf in our local Texas store that truly supported Black hair health. We realized she wasn’t alone. So many Black women were experiencing hair loss and the deep confidence scars that come with it—without access to clean, caring solutions.

Using wisdom passed down from our Liberian roots, we got to work in our kitchen—hand-mixing nutrient-rich oils and butters designed to nourish, heal, and restore. The name “Norbor” means First Woman, Strong Woman, a tribute to the matriarchal strength that inspired us.

Our mission is to restore confidence through hair—offering clean, organic products Black women can trust. When your crown is cared for, your confidence follows. This isn’t just hair care. It’s legacy. It’s healing. It’s power.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Joel Carter, co-founder of Norbor Beauty, a mother-son haircare company rooted in love, resilience, and cultural legacy. Our journey started during a tough moment—my mom, Zoe, began experiencing significant hair loss during the pandemic. We searched store shelves in Texas and couldn’t find anything that truly cared for Black women’s hair, especially products that were both organic and effective.

So, we started mixing our own. Inspired by our Liberian roots and the matriarchal wisdom passed down through generations, we hand-blended oils and butters to create something that didn’t just grow hair—it restored confidence. The name “Norbor” means First Woman, Strong Woman in our tribe, and it guides everything we do. It’s a tribute to the strength it takes to care for yourself when the world hasn’t always made it easy.

Norbor Beauty offers deeply nourishing, organic hair products that help reverse damage, promote growth, and simplify hair care for Black women. We focus on hair health first—because we know how much emotional weight our hair can carry. Our hero product is a whipped butter treatment that locks in moisture, protects the scalp, and helps repair thinning or damaged hair. And now, we’re expanding with lightweight oils, serums, and scalp therapy to serve everyday needs with simplicity and intention.

What sets us apart is our authenticity, heritage, and deep respect for Black women’s experiences. Our product isn’t just clean—it’s deeply thoughtful. Designed from personal need, crafted with ancestral ingredients, and tested by real women with real stories.

What I’m most proud of is how many women have told us: “This product brought my confidence back.” That’s the heart of Norbor. We’re not just selling hair products—we’re offering a return to self, to softness, to pride, to power.

We want people to know that Norbor Beauty was built for you, by people who see you. Whether you’re struggling with hair loss, protecting your curls, or just trying to feel like yourself again—we got you. This is nourishment that shows up every day. For your strands. For your soul.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

One of the most defining moments of this journey came during the middle of the pandemic. My mom, Zoe, was out of work. She was losing her hair. And she was losing her confidence.

She’d walk past the mirror and barely recognize herself — not because she didn’t care for herself, but because the products on the shelf weren’t made for her. They weren’t nourishing her hair. And more than that, they weren’t nourishing her spirit.

Instead of giving in to the frustration, we got to work in our kitchen. She told me about a dream she had — a very real, vivid one — where her late mother showed her how to blend ingredients from our Liberian roots to heal her scalp. Oils. Butters. Herbs. That same week, we started testing formulations.

We didn’t have investors, a fancy lab, or even proper packaging — just faith, cultural wisdom, and a shared belief that Black women deserve hair care that sees them.

We mixed, tested, and shared with friends. One woman cried after using it — she said it was the first time in years her scalp didn’t feel inflamed. Another saw her bald spot begin to fill back in after just two weeks. That’s when we knew this was bigger than us.

Resilience, to me, isn’t just pushing through — it’s creating through. It’s turning loss into legacy. That’s how Norbor Beauty was born.

From kitchen counter to confident crowns — we’re just getting started.

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?

We started in the kitchen.

Literally.

When my mom Zoe first began mixing butters and oils to help with her hair loss, she didn’t know she was starting a business — she was just trying to feel like herself again. We didn’t come from a background in chemistry or manufacturing, but we had roots. Cultural roots. Liberian roots. Wisdom passed down about how to care for hair with what nature provides.

Our first batches were homemade — tested on ourselves, friends, family, and local women in our community. We saw real results. Hair regrowth. Scalp relief. Confidence coming back.

But as demand grew, we knew we had to find a manufacturer who could scale this with the same level of care, intention, and integrity. We spoke to dozens of vendors, but it wasn’t until we found a Black-owned lab that specialized in natural hair care that we knew we’d found our match. They understood the ingredients — but more importantly, they understood the mission.

The biggest lesson? Don’t rush it. We walked away from vendors who could’ve gotten us to shelves faster — but didn’t feel aligned. Trust matters more than speed when you’re creating something this personal.

Today, our products are still handmade in small batches — just not on our kitchen stove anymore. But that same spirit of care, authenticity, and heritage is in every jar.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.norborbeauty.com
• Instagram: norbor_beauty
• Facebook: norbor_beauty
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-carter-norbor/