We were lucky to catch up with Tammi Taylor recently and have shared our conversation below.

Tammi , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One deeply underappreciated facet of entrepreneurship is the kind of crazy stuff we have to deal with as business owners. Sometimes it’s crazy positive sometimes it’s crazy negative, but crazy experiences unite entrepreneurs regardless of industry. Can you share a crazy story with our readers?

One of the craziest and most defining moments in my entrepreneurial journey as the curator of Hair Luxury Company and Glow Beauty had nothing to do with a product mishap or a viral moment. It came from something far more frustrating and real trying to get funding as a Black business owner.

I had the formulas.
I had the demand.
I had the vision.

But no matter where I turned, the answer was always the same:
• Your credit isn’t strong enough.
• Your revenue isn’t high enough yet.
• We’re not able to take the risk.
• We’re prioritizing founders with more capital behind them.

It was like watching doors close in slow motion.
Not because the products weren’t good, but because the system wasn’t built to fund someone who looked like me.

The turning point happened after yet another “no.” I remember sitting there thinking:
How am I supposed to scale if nobody will fund me? How can I build a beauty empire without capital?

And then the wildest idea I’ve ever had hit me:

If I couldn’t get funding from them, I would create the financial stability and leverage myself.

That moment is what pushed me at 45 years old to pursue my MD.

Not for validation.
Not for legitimacy.
Not because I doubted my products.

But because I wanted to earn the income, the authority, the network, and the long-term security that would allow me to fund my brands independently, without begging for loans or investors who didn’t believe in me.

Let me tell you going to medical school at 45 is no joke.
It’s hard.
It’s draining.
Some days I ask myself why I chose the toughest path possible.

But deep down, I know exactly why:
I’m creating a future where my businesses won’t be limited by credit scores, revenue numbers, or bias in funding.

I’m building the kind of financial power that lets me say:
“I’ll fund it myself. I’ll scale it myself. I’ll own it outright.”

The craziest thing that ever happened to my business wasn’t an event it was a decision.
A decision to take the hardest road so that one day, no one could ever tell me “no” again because of money.

And that’s a level of freedom I’m willing to fight for.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Dr. Tammi Taylor, and I am a microbiologist, cosmetic formulator, and founder of Hair Luxury Company and Glow Beauty. I also conduct neuroscience research and teach as a genetics professor, but my beauty brands are rooted in a different mission to create effective, science-backed products designed specifically for Black women.

I started my journey because, as a Black woman, I saw firsthand how limited the options were for hair and skin care that actually worked for our unique needs. From postpartum hair shedding to stretch marks, scalp inflammation, moisture loss, and hyperpigmentation, many of the products on the market simply weren’t designed for us. I realized I could use my scientific background and formulation expertise to create solutions that addressed these real, everyday challenges.

At Hair Luxury Company and Glow Beauty, we craft products that do more than look or smell good they deliver results. Every formula is carefully designed with the biology of Black hair and skin in mind, using ingredients that work in harmony with your natural texture, tone, and scalp environment. Our products restore moisture, strengthen hair, reduce breakage, improve skin tone, and support overall health and confidence.

What sets us apart is that we combine scientific expertise with lived experience. I don’t just create products I create solutions based on real research, understanding, and cultural insight. I’m committed to making products that actually work, so women can spend less time experimenting and more time feeling confident in their own skin and hair.

I’m also currently pursuing my MD at 45, not for validation, but to build financial independence and long-term stability so I can continue scaling my brands and creating the products my community deserves without relying on outside funding that often overlooks Black entrepreneurs.

What I’m most proud of is that I didn’t let systemic barriers stop me. I combined my scientific knowledge, formulation skills, and entrepreneurial drive to create products that empower Black women to see results, feel beautiful, and reclaim confidence in themselves.

For anyone discovering Hair Luxury Company and Glow Beauty, I want you to know this: these products were made for you by someone who understands your hair, your skin, and your needs. They aren’t just luxury items; they’re tools to help you look, feel, and live your best life.

Have you ever had to pivot?

A month after launching Hair Luxury Company, the world shut down due to COVID-19. Overnight, everything changed. We couldn’t travel, host hair events, or connect with clients in person all the ways we had planned to grow visibility and generate buzz for our products. It was a tough moment; it felt like everything we had worked for was on pause.

But as an entrepreneur, you quickly learn that challenges are really just opportunities to pivot. Instead of waiting for things to “go back to normal,” we shifted our strategy entirely. We took our brand digital-first, leaning into social media, virtual consultations, and online education. We created tutorials, shared tips for Black hair care, and connected directly with our audience through livestreams and interactive posts.

What started as a setback became a breakthrough. By pivoting to an online-first model, we were able to reach customers across the country, grow our community, and build brand loyalty all without a single in-person event. In fact, that pivot taught me a lesson I still carry today: creativity and resilience are often more powerful than traditional marketing or exposure.

Even in the middle of a global pandemic, Hair Luxury Company found a way to shine, proving that results-driven products and authentic connection can cut through any obstacle.

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

One of the hardest periods in my entrepreneurial journey came in the first year of growing Hair Luxury Company. I had secured a $60,000 investment and invested heavily in hiring a team, renovating a warehouse I didn’t even own, producing elaborate events and photo shoots everything I thought was necessary to scale my brand.

Despite all of that, I didn’t see the revenue I had expected. The first round of investments and efforts only partially paid off, and I struggled to recoup my expenses. Then, just a few months later, I took the brand to the Essence Festival, expecting it to be a major launch moment. Instead, I lost another $40,000, making only $12,000 back from the event. Between the initial investments, renovations, payroll, and festival costs, I found myself in deeper debt than ever a debt I’m still working to overcome today.

It would have been easy to walk away, to accept defeat, or to give up on my dream. But I refused. I made the conscious decision to take responsibility, learn from my mistakes, and keep building. I tightened operations, focused on products that truly resonated with my audience, and leaned on creativity and strategy rather than spending beyond what was sustainable.

That experience taught me a lesson I carry into every decision today: resilience isn’t just surviving failure it’s learning, adapting, and continuing to fight for your vision even when the odds are stacked against you.

Even though the financial setback was massive and painful, it has shaped me into a stronger, wiser, and more determined entrepreneur, focused on building Hair Luxury Company and Glow Beauty with long-term sustainability, integrity, and a commitment to serving my community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.HairLuxuryCo.com
• Instagram: HairLuxuryCompany
• Facebook: https://Www.Facebook.com/1HairLuxuryCompany
• Youtube: https://YouTube.com/drtamtaylo