We were lucky to catch up with Allison Shimamoto recently and have shared our conversation below.

Allison, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

My path to entrepreneurship wasn’t a direct one. I spent 10 years in marketing strategy & analytics in the Pharma sector, and became acquainted with some of our toughest ethical challenges. Then I pursued my MBA at the Darden School of Business and dedicated myself to a career in management consulting at Boston Consulting Group.

All along, I’d flirted with the idea of starting my own clean haircare line. Those moments of indulgent selfcare in my crazy schedule to wash and detangle my curls recharged me. In fact, since I cut off my chemically straightened hair in 2011, I’ve been obsessed with learning about the science of hair, and making my own natural formulations (there weren’t clean products for textured hair available at the time).

A major life event In 2021, made me take the leap full time; the birth of my daughter. She was born with congenital heart disease; we had to be very selective about hair and bodycare products and foods for her. I was surprised at how ‘dirty’ and toxin-full products for kids were! And this problem isn’t exclusive to curly haircare, it’s everywhere.

It’s frustrating to think about the lack of regulation around greenwashing, but I’m energized everyday that I’m doing the right thing for myself, my family and the planet. We deserve sustainable non-toxic products that simplify daily life and brands that stand up to make it happen.

Now I get to formulate Organic, non-GMO, handmade haircare products; one of my favorite things to do!

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.

Haiama Beauty is designed to help Black, Brown, Multiracial & Multiethnic Moms and their Children. By having multi-use and versatile products that can be used for any hair type, that means fewer products in your home that you don’t use. Our products are Organic, non-GMO, Fair Trade, and sustainably made. We’re on a mission to make textured haircare easy and healthy for the whole family.

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 had to learn to practice effectuation in my entrepreneurship journey. This meant putting myself out there and instead of making slides and diagrams, something that was so much a part of my career in consulting and client services, I’d need to be more creative to grow my business.

I’d encourage other entrepreneurs, especially those just starting out, to go outside of their comfort zone. Instead of sending that email to a local salon, why not visit in person!

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Admittedly, social media is still a challenge for me. I’m a naturally introverted person, so putting my face in front of the Haiama Brand can be challenging when making content.

But, I’ve learned that the posts that perform best, were those where I shared my personal experience and faced the camera.

Another thing I learned was the importance of forming relationships. It can feel more straightforward in-person, but digital social media tools can help us connect with customers too. I’d encourage those looking to build an audience to engage with folks on their Instagram or Tiktok channels by commenting or liking posts from influencers or accounts that align with their values; and finding ways to engage with their current followers (Q&As, Lives or giveaways) to create a more meaningful presence. Remember, you don’t have to have a ton of followers to have a successful presence on social media.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://haiamabeauty.co
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/haiamabeauty
• Facebook: http://facebook.com/haiamabeauty
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/haiama-beauty/

Image Credits

Photo Credit to 22 Media