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

Cate, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

A lot of people ask me this question. My process has been in the makings for years. As a fellow sufferer of hair loss as well as a stylist for over 15 years, either my clients or I have tried almost every hair growth vitamin on the market. I started to pay close attention to all the ingredients and compared all of my favorite brands together. They all offered something great but also seemed to be missing something that I found to be key ingredients to create a well balanced supplement…and that right there was when the lightbulb went off. This “lightbulb” happened at a very pivotal moment which was the height of all the Covid shutdowns. There was so much fear involved during this whole process but I mustered up the strength and took a leap of faith. I truly didn’t know where to start so I started with Forbes articles on business and how to start a supplement company. With obsessive research and late nights I finalized my formula as well as my branding. Once I had a better understanding of what I was going for, I then went into finding a manufacturer. Now, this is when I claim I have a PHD in Google. I put together a list of ones that fit my criteria and called them one by one. Some brushed me off, some didn’t have the standards I was seeking and others just didn’t feel right. The one I went with wound up being the first one I called (funny how that happens) and then before I knew it we were in production. Just a few months later 1,000 bottles showed up at my door and voilá, Manetane was born. It has now been a year of learning curves, discipline, patience, self reflection and ever evolving growth but man oh man, I can’t imagine my life without taking this leap. So worth it.

Cate, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am the founder and formulator for Manetane, a vegan supplement formulated to boost hair growth and stop shedding. We lean more onto the holistic side and preach self care.

Everyone deserves to feel confident and beautiful. The credo I live by that gave birth to Manetane.

After 15+ years in the industry as a master stylist, I’ve seen and worked with every kind of hair imaginable. I was determined to find a way I could extend my support outside of routine salon visits, so I set out to create a supplement that would invite my community to reimagine how they approach haircare & wellness. It was important that I give my clients a product I could trust– so I created one myself.

What sets us apart is our understanding that hair is more than just hair, it is an accessory you can’t take off. It introduces you before you get a chance to speak. You can be wearing sweatpants and a hoodie and if your hair is done then you automatically look put together. At Manetane we focus on taking care of yourself first.

While self-care is the backbone of our ethos, we are focused on growth in confidence, self-love and all things hair. Consider us your maneb*tch- your ride or die- your confidant, to remind you of how beautiful and badass you are. It is our soul mission to introduce you to modalities that nourish the calm, have a positive impact on your confidence and embody overall wellness.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The best thing that I’ve learned for growing my clientele is starting with your sphere and the people that already believe in you and support you. Get some feedback and figure out what else your business needs to be at it’s best. Then they will tell their friends and it will spread organically just by word of mouth from people that you trust. Also, don’t be afraid to give samples out for people to try it out and be open to help where it pops up.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Something I have had to unlearn and let go of is perfectionism, I read an article that quoted the COO from Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg “done is better that perfect” and that hit home for me. Perfectionism is debilitating and it creates such a lag in production. It has been a huge turning point in my mindset as a whole with unattainable standards i set for myself in many aspects of my life.

My backstory : I grew up in a salon absolutely entranced with all things hair. My grandmother “Mimi” was a huge part of my upbringing and she was a stylist from the 60’s to the 2010’s. She never left the house without makeup on and was always ready to work and create magic. Her passion and hustle has been ingrained in me. For as much as I grew up in the salon, my mom did as well.

When my mother was in 4th grade a life changing moment happened. My mom got diagnosed with alopecia. Before she knew it, her hair was almost entirely gone. From hair do’s and bee hives for elementary school pictures to burning anything taken of her after the event, the soul of a child had gotten taken away from her.

Coming from generational belief that hair equals beauty is where the irony and heartbreak lie. She was 10…

This was an absolutely life altering event to happen in my mother, let alone any child. Witnessing this has formed me in my passion to give back as much as I know how.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shopmanetane.com
• Instagram: @manetane
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shopmanetane

Image Credits
I would like to credit my amazing photographer Lexi Haslem as we all Melanie Pynappel.