Today we’d like to introduce you to Lynn Power

Hi Lynn, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

I spent almost 30 years in the advertising industry. I loved it for a really long time, but as I got more senior as was running ad agencies, my days became consumed with legal, finance meetings and HR issues — not why I got into the business. I decided to get back to doing what I love, building brands. What better way to do that than to start my own brand? I met my co-founder, James in 2018 and we decided to launch MASAMI. We launched at New York Fashion Week in February 2020 and have had our share of challenges — first Covid, then Cancer (I was diagnosed with an aggressive Stage 3 breast cancer in 2021) and now Cash (as in cash flow is always a challenge!).

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

Covid was clearly a big one. We had to pivot our business plan almost immediately as salons were closed for most of 2020. We focused on e-commerce and brand partnerships. Then, about a year later, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had about a year of treatment (chemo, radiation, surgery). I was a bald haircare founder for about 9 months which was not easy. Since then, we are dealing with many of the challenges of launching a business in an uber crowded category. We are self-funded and don’t have investors. Customer acquisition continues to be an ongoing challenge. Digital advertising ROI is not good. Traditional retail is challenging. And funding new inventory is expensive. But I’m happy we’re still here and growing.

We’ve been impressed with MASAMI, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

MASAMI is clean premium haircare with a Japanese ocean botanical for weightless hydration. We wanted to solve the #1 hair issue (hydration) but do it differently than other products on the market that weigh hair down and leave it limp, greasy or flat. Thanks to our hero ingredient, Mekabu, we are able to deliver botanical hydration that leaves hair feeling soft, shiny and healthy. Our product line is simple — we borrow from Japanese simplicity and marry it with the demands of NYC. We have a shampoo, conditioner, shine serum, styling cream and a few “accessories (hair towel, scalp scrubber, hair claw) that work for virtually every hair type and texture. It was important for us to be inclusive but also offer a solution that does not require lots of different products to solve different benefits. We are so happy that customer response has been strong — our loyalty is 3x industry average. Men love us too!

What are your plans for the future?

We launched the Conscious Beauty Collective in 2022 as a way to partner with other small indie brands to help each other grow. We started with a pop-up in San Francisco in April 2022 and now have 6 “pop-ins” we’re doing. These are curated shelves of Conscious Beauty Collective products (including MASAMI) in select like-minded retailers. We are currently at Remedies Herb Shop in Brooklyn, Palm Springs Vitamin Infusions, ADORAtherapy in Miami’s trendy Wynwood neighborhood, Petal + Hive in Ballston Spa, NY, Image Studios in Knoxville, TN (launching October) and Wendell House in Crozet, VA (launching October). We are focused on expanding this model to as many key locations as possible throughout 2025 and beyond.

Pricing:

• Mekabu Hydrating Travel Kit: $44
• Mekabu Hydrating Shampoo: $38
• Fast Drying Hair Towel: $20
• Wabi Sabi Scalp Scrubber: $15

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lovemasami.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovemasamihair
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovemasamihair/
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/lovemasamihair/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lovemasamihair
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovemasamihair

Image Credits

MASAMI