Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jamillah Hankerson . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jamillah , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Mix It Up Body Products LLC is a company on the belief that everyone deserves to smell amazing while using natural skincare products. Frustrated by the lack of good-smelling options on the market, the founder took matters into their own hands and began blending oils to create products that not only nourish the skin but also leave you smelling like more than just shea butter. At Mix It Up, we believe that you have the right to smell like a snack and we’re here to make that happen!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Jamillah Hankerson. I was born and raised in New York. I’m a 90s baby, growing up as a black girl in Harlem, we had a few rules. Three of the top rules were, keep your hair done, keep your shoes clean and lastly your skin needed to be moisturized.

As a dark skinned woman, it’s considered a sin to be ashy. Back in the day, there were less options of what you could use for your skin. At the time there were a few skincare products that were considered a household staple. Johnson & Johnson’s baby lotion, Palmer’s cocoa butter, Nivea & Razac lotion were the main ones available in my area. All these products had one thing in common. They smelled great but none of those products lasted on my skin. By end of the day, my skin would be dried out.

Fast forward to 2003, my mother left a big fatty block of oil in the bathroom for us to grease up with. Turns out it was shea butter. I noticed two distinct things about shea butter. It made my skin glow and it didn’t smell good.

Using natural products in the 2000s and 2010s, your options were limited. You were forced to make a decision. Choose a product that worked well, yet smelled terrible. Or you had to choose a good smell, yet low quality product.

This consistent issue gave birth to a need. As a woman with afro-textured hair, I wanted the option of a product that worked well for my skin, hair and smelled amazing. I didn’t want to be stuck smelling like earthy shea butter. In 2009, I began my research on butters, oils and herbs that can be used interchangeably for my hair and skin. Testing different combinations and scents.

In 2010, Mix It Up Body Products became an official LLC.

In 2015, I became an esthetician to deepen my studies of skincare. To ensure my products offered quality to varying skin types. Performing services such as facials and waxing gave me a close view of how habits and routines can affect your skin.

I am fortunate enough to have a family with varying skin types and preferences of scents. I bought a bunch of oils and began mixing them into shea butter, making the texture easier to dig into. I shared them among my family, friends and coworkers. I wanted people to have the option to have a hand in the ingredient selection process. Offering the option of customizing. Not everyone’s skin can use the same products and that’s ok. Let’s work hand in hand to create a product that brings out your skin’s natural beauty.

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

The biggest challenge I faced in business was setting boundaries with my customers. I wanted to accommodate their every wish, which can come at a cost in business. This set a new plan in motion, to set more organized with my business approach.

I made some common mistakes earlier in my career. For example: not requiring a deposit upfront for a service to be booked. Another example: underpricing my products and services. Research was required in my end to create a fair price point to keep business in operation.

Using proper discernment when delegating your tasks is key. Making sure I employed the correct people for the job was necessary. I’ve made the mistake of hiring a talented friend with the skills I wanted, yet their work pace didn’t match my speed. This resulted in my business deadlines not being met. This is was a lesson of understanding that you may have to hire outside assistance but be sure to vet them. This will ensure your goals align for a healthy collaboration.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

The capital used to start my business came from my paycheck. I felt it was important for me to use my own resources to fund my business.

I started small, looking at oils online and setting myself on a budget with each paycheck to test them out. Everything comes with some level of risk. There were moments I’ve spent money on oils I didn’t like at all and never used for any product.

My method, although slower, gave me full control over the direction I wanted to take my business in.

Contact Info:

• Website: mixitupbp.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mixitupbp/
• Facebook: Facebook.com/mixitupbp

Image Credits
@qdaphotographer