We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ciera Solomon-Mouzon a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ciera, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

The story behind my mission is as a young lady growing up I had a passion for hair. I was very curious about hair and the many things I can do with my hair. I would style my hair as a young lady and other people that surrounded me. My hairstyles and love for hair was noticed by others and I would get asked if I could do their hair also. I decided I wanted to become a cosmetologist and take up cosmetology in high school and I did. My dream of becoming a cosmetologist came true in 2007 when I received my cosmetologist license. Over the years I’ve done many heads from family, friends, coworkers and neighbors. I’ve noticed the lack of healthy hair products on the market for ethnic hair, because of that our hair type and texture can’t be healthy like it would if there were products that were formulated with natural or organic ingredients, which would help our hair to be more moisturized, fuller, stronger, longer and healthier. When I had my baby girl she was born with a little bit of hair and her hair didn’t really grow until she was about 5 1/2 old. The lack of haircare products on the market for ethnic hair and my daughters slow hair growth is the purpose for my business. I wanted to ensure their were healthy haircare products that would maintain the condition of our hair or improve using healthy haircare solutions.

Royalties of Essence foundation is based on intensive research to selecting the best ingredients on the market that are all-natural, plant-based, and organic with high-quality ingredients for the benefit of the hair from roots to tips, vital for hair health and growth. Sustainable, and healthy haircare is what we believe in and stand on. Our products are designed and centered around healthy haircare solutions and infused with vitamins and essential nutrients for promoting a healthy hair journey.

Ciera, 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?

Growing up as a young lady, I had a passion for hair. I learned how to wash and style my hair at an early age. I would change my hair consistently through out the years. When others learned of my passion and love for hairstyling they asked me to style their hair, such as neighbors, coworkers, family, and friends. My goal was to one day become a hairstylist. In high school my major was cosmetology from freshmen year through senior year. In 2007, that dream was evident when I received my cosmetologist license. The love, passion, and care I always had to change the lives of others wasn’t going to stop with just hairstyling. My dream was to also help others with their haircare needs. With my acquired knowledge and concerns about various haircare products on the market that wasn’t beneficial for the hair, specifically ethic hair, and my daughters slow hair growth led to the desire in creating my own haircare product line. Over the years my use of haircare products on the market just wasn’t delivering the desired results or wasn’t naturally sourced, which caused issues with my hair and clients’ hair. For many years there was a lack of healthy haircare products designed for ethnic hair. I didn’t always practice the healthiest hair care routines as a teen and early adulthood, I eventually decided enough was enough and started the natural hair process in 2009 and haven’t looked back since. After some years of becoming all-natural I had a vision that would change lives all over the world one day. In 2014 I gave birth to a precious baby girl. As time went on I noticed my daughter hair didn’t grow much, which came by surprise because for the majority of my life I had a full head of hair. I didn’t do much with my daughters hair until she was about 4 years old. Once my baby girl got a little older I started making hair smoothies for her hair and styling it more and started to notice more of a difference with her hair growth. It really wasn’t until I started using my scalp oil on her hair before I noticed it started to grow more rapidly and getting fuller. I wanted to create products that people who desired to improve the condition of their hair or maintain it with sustainable, all-natural, plant-based and organic products for healthy haircare would love. Focusing on natural hair care, organic hair care, and most importantly healthy scalp care with safe, non-toxic, and effective ingredients. Practicing low manipulation hairstyling, chemical free services and healthy haircare practices is key to healthy hair. Creating products that were designed for women, men and children can use and not be limited is what we believe in.

In 2020 I started my own sustainable haircare product line. I dedicated months of intensive research for the very best natural and organic ingredients to creating healthy haircare formulas, which is now my very first product “Triple Nourishing Scalp Oil.” Many customers love this product and the performance they receive from this lovely product. This product was birthed right out of my very own kitchen and made with much love and care. Since my very first product which is also the best seller. I have also created four other amazing products your tresses will love.

The love and passion I have for haircare and the quality of the ingredients that is used to formulate each product is what makes me different from others. Being a stickler for natural, organic, cold pressed and unrefined ingredients is a most to ensure your tresses is getting all the actual healthy benefits it deserves for hair health.

I’m mostly proud of getting my business started, being able to own and operate my business and helping the many people I’ve been able to help with their haircare needs in a healthy way this far and in the future.

We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.

I manufacture and sell my products from my home and from retail locations. Before I started my business Ive done a ton of research on just about everything. I started looking up ways to create this product and that product, however I wasn’t finding all the answers I needed. One day I was looking on YouTube and I came across a cosmetic formulator and a cosmetic chemist. I enjoyed both of the ladies tutorials on creating haircare products and how they help people create their own products. I reached out to the cosmetic formulator and didn’t get a response. Next I reached out to the cosmetic chemist and I did get a response. She helped me get my business started with the necessary information I needed when it comes to percentage and the type of ingredients that should be going into various products.

The lessons I learned is having the necessary funding available to be able to purchase inventory, equipment, supplies, and the size of the area that you are manufacturing from is a very important factors to manufacture your own products.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

When I started my business I used my own personal funds I earned from my 9-5 job to fund my business. For the past 2 1/2 years I been funding my business this way. I would purchase inventory, equipment, and supplies bit by bit that I needed to operate my business. I only received a loan once from the bank to fund my business.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.royaltiesofessence.com
• Instagram: @royaltiesofessence
• Facebook: @royaltiesofessence
• Youtube: @royaltiesofessencellc1922