We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tamika Sturgis. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tamika below.

Tamika, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

I once heard a phrase that I go by that says, the definition of success is liking yourself, liking what you do and liking how you do it. The journey it takes to get to that place is a lot of self reflection, drive and adjustments as needed. Then you have arrived at that sweet place of joy filled with success.

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

The beauty industry has always been my dream since the age of 7 years old. I went to Texas Southern University got my degree in Business Administration from JHJ school of business. Received my Cosmetology license from Paul Mitchell, The School. Opening my first salon The Look Salon Houston in 2015, now expanded to 3 locations in Texas.

My goal for The Look Salon brand is to be known as the most diversely skilled salons in Texas. Having highly trained licensed professionals, to serve any texture of hair that walks in our doors, women and men. Glad to say we have achieved that goal!

We created Lavish product line to be able to carter to our clientele base in 2016. You can find Lavish products at all our salon locations, in beauty supply stores and now we are working with other salon owners to carry Lavish product line in their salons and suites as well.

Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.

I was completely new to the product lane. Never thought I would be creating my own products. However, as an entrepreneur you find a problem and try to solve it, and that’s how I got into creating Lavish Product Line.

I had purchased some hair extensions from this company,then went to my stylist and had her sew in the extensions. Later that night when I was going to bed, my eyes were burning and it was the hair extensions. Extensions go through a chemical process before it get to us. Their is a toxic processed solution they put on the hair to create the wave pattern, curls or make it straight. When the hair gets wet it releases that toxic smell and even when dry the odor was still there. I could not handle that smell. I tried all the Youtuber tips, nothing worked! So I created my first products Lavish Shampoo and Hair Freshener Spray. Products targeted to remove odors from extensions and safe to use on your natural hair. From there we grew our product line with other items and later included hair products for men called Well Groomed.

When first starting out on this journey, trying to find a manufacturer that would create the products was tough one. I visited a few manufacturers in Houston then finally landed with a laboratory I visited in Dallas, TX. I took a tour of the lab. The chemist was great at understanding my vision for Lavish product line.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I’ve learned when you are doing something that is not invented yet, it is hard to make someone see your visible. You begin to doubt yourself. You start thinking it wont work, until you just do it and see it does work! There is a market for it. Others out their are having this same issue, and here is our solution to this problem.

Contact Info:

• Website: LavishProductLine.com
• Instagram: @LavishProductLine
• Facebook: LavishProductLine
• Youtube: Lavish Hair Products
• Other: Etsy: Lavish Product Line

Image Credits
Justin Walls