We caught up with the brilliant and insightful James, Kelsey Garofalo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, James, Kelsey thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Starting ART.kg wasn’t just about introducing a new product to the market; it was about embracing risk and challenging the status quo. It was about encouraging others to be their truest, quirkiest, most authentic versions of themselves. James and I have always believed that true innovation often comes from stepping outside our comfort zones. When you look at the most impactful changes or successful ventures in our history as a couple, many of them have stemmed from a willingness to take calculated risks together, even when faced with skepticism or adversity.

To me, risk is a reflection of belief. Belief in the idea, in the potential impact, and most importantly, in oneself. Venturing into the insanely competitive landscape of hair and scalp care with ART.kg was undeniably daunting, but I asked myself, ‘why not us?’

Taking risks is intrinsic to growth, both personally and professionally. Every challenge faced and every hurdle overcome offers invaluable lessons, shaping us to be better than we were before. With ART.kg, I not only saw an opportunity to make a difference in the hair care industry but also to embark on a journey of self-discovery, resilience, and determination.

We chose to take the risk because we believe that life’s greatest rewards often lie on the other side of fear. It’s the risks we take that define our path and create stories worth telling.

James, Kelsey, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

So, ever since I was a little girl, I have always wanted to do hair. Having been born and raised in a very small town in rural Iowa, there wasn’t a lot to do. From as long as I could remember, I would practice doing hair on my friends and family. When I graduated high school, I immediately went to cosmetology school and have been a hairstylist ever since.

I met James when we were both nineteen. He was in the Army at the time and we got married at twenty-one. As an artist and entrepreneur himself, he really just kept encouraging me to pursue my vision as an artist and as a stylist and so in 2021, we began developing our products and finally launched our line in 2022. For us, ART.kg isn’t just about products. It’s about the artistry that goes into every bottle, the science of hair and scalp health, and the transformative power of self-care. It’s about empowerment and being your truest self. We believe that hair care is more than just a routine – it’s a form of self-expression, an art. And that’s really what we are all about.

As for the product itself, we wanted something new and innovative. Something that didn’t exist in the market. So, we created a cleansing serum that serves as both a concentrated scalp oil as well as a shampoo. It’s really packed with healthy ingredients and nourishes the scalp as much as it cleanses the hair which removes the need to have to buy and use two different products. We were just recently shortlisted and featured in the CosmoTrends report. This was such a fulfilling moment as receiving this award as a smaller brand in such a large industry was so unexpected and awesome. The report is written by BEAUTYSTREAMS , an international trend agency, and features some of the most innovative and trending products from CosmoProf North America that offer an exclusive look at everything that is cutting edge in the cosmetics industry.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

At the forefront of our mission is ultimately empowerment and self-expression. We really aim to intertwine the artistry of nature with the science of hair and scalp care. Much of our inspiration has been developed by the purity and vigor of the natural world and we are dedicated to crafting products that not only enhance the beauty and health of hair but also nourish the scalp. Our commitment is to create a harmonious balance between nature’s best ingredients and cutting-edge research, ensuring that each product embodies the essence of holistic well-being. Every strand, every scalp, every individual is unique, and our goal is to honor this diversity by providing solutions that cater to each person’s distinct needs. In the end, we are really just aiming to elevate the experience of hair and scalp care, transforming it from a daily routine into a ritual of self-love and nature’s embrace. Something we feel everybody deserves.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

This is such an important question and its one that James and I have thought on for what feels like years. We believe that art can and should exist in many forms. From the strokes of a painter’s brush, to the haunting melody of a musician, artists and creatives breathe life into the intangible emotions and thoughts that often go unexpressed. In my eyes, supporting these gifted souls is not just a kind gesture but a necessity for a progressive society. When we invest in artists and creatives, we’re not merely funding a project or a performance; we’re nurturing a mindset, a perspective, a voice that has the potential to inspire, challenge, and transform. A thriving creative ecosystem acts as the lifeblood of cultural evolution, fostering innovation, diversity, and an unparalleled depth of understanding. By championing these talents, we cultivate a world where imagination is limitless, where ideas flourish, and where the tapestry of human experience is richly detailed and celebrated in all its hues.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.artkg.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/confidenceartkg/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/confidenceARTkg/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/artkg/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRVi13C-zlQ