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

Gina , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

In my 35-year career as a licensed cosmetologist my experiences truly fueled my passion to learn more about the natural hair care industry. About 14 years ago I began to notice alarming health trends specifically amongst women of color. Through my research I learned that many of these disproportionate health disparities were caused by the toxic chemicals found within the majority of black hair & skin care products. These health ailments included early hysterectomies, breast cancer and
much more. I realized that I no longer wanted to be a part of the problem but actually solve the problem. So, in 2010, I challenged the status-quo. I began hand-mixing, measuring, and manufacturing my own products. I wanted to ensure that my products were truly non-toxic and would heal, not harm so I only incorporated 100% vegan/plant-based ingredients into them
until I got the formula right! Within this time I was able to salon-test all of our products on my own clients. I immediately noticed a drastic improvement in their overall health & hair. Our products were able to promote hair growth and reverse hair loss/alopecia, heal skin eczema and dark marks and truly bring my clients hair back to life. It truly was my passion for holistic health and black women having access to sustainable clean beauty products that birthed House of Isis.

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.

House of Isis is a plant-powered brand that provides health conscious individuals with access to clean hair & skin care products. Together as a mother-daughter team, we formulate vegan shampoos, conditioners, supportive oils, and body butters that holistically heal the hair and skin. To date, our best seller is our all-in-one Loc’d Care Kit. Too often, women of color are forced to choose between beauty or health, at House of Isis we provide them with an alternative option that offers both. Many of the hair care products on the market contain high levels of toxic chemicals such as parabens and phthalates all of which have been directly linked to hormone-related health conditions amongst black women specifically. We believe that as a black woman-owned company it is our duty to provide hair care products that do not increase these health disparities but actually work to eliminate them. Our products revolutionize the hair & skin care industry because they are each non-toxic and vegan-friendly. All of our products are free of alcohols, sulfates, silicones, parabens, preservatives and synthetic fragrances. Only using essential oils to scent, our products are safe for the hair, skin & all ages including babies. Together, our products work together to restore, repair, and replenish dry, damaged hair and skin. In a market that so heavily depends on the use of toxic chemicals we provide a fresh, clean and sustainable approach to natural hair and skin care.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

I love this question! I get asked this all the time: “What is it like to be business partners with your daughter?” Honestly, it’s the best feeling in the world! In 2020 after graduating from Spelman College, My daughter Isis decided to come home and help me rebrand House of Isis. It was such a pivotal moment for us both, and many times we just leaned on each other throughout the process as it was new to us both. We started this company with just a few thousand dollars and within the first 9 months we were a 6-figure brand. Looking back at just how far we’ve come is truly amazing. I’m so honored and grateful that we were able to do this together and knowing that I am building a legacy/generational wealth with my daughter is such a blessing!

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Building a brand on social media was definitely the hardest part yet so necessary for any business to be successful in today’s day and age! My advice would be; to be authentic and tell your story! People love being able to put a face to a brand and it’s important for you to show that. It took us years to build our following but once we cracked the code we realized that it was our unique story of being a mother-daughter owned company that truly fostered our community. It’s also so important to take your followers behind the scenes and show them just how much goes into the product you are selling. I always recommend documenting your progress! People love an underdog story!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://houseofisis.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/houseofisisco/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/houseofisisco/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thehouseofisisco 
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@houseofisisco