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

Hi Kanoshia, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

To assist people on their journeys toward health and wellness, I created my small business. Ora Cosmetics is my hand extended in peace to assist my customers in fully reuniting with their bodies, minds, and souls! I suffered from severe hair loss in 2017 as a result of PCOS. The prevalent illness known as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) alters how a woman’s ovaries function. As a professional cosmetologist, I have observed numerous instances of general hair loss, alopecia, and stress shedding. Hair loss is a common symptom for many women. When I realized how many ladies shared this illness, I started working on a remedy for both myself and my customers. I developed an all-natural oil for hair growth that has already won over many devoted customers. My soft launches were a success, which inspired me to start my online shop on January 11th, 2023, with additional items!

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

The majority of people recognize me from my Tik Tok beauty and health videos! However, not many people are aware that I have been a licensed cosmetologist with a focus on hair growth and maintenance for the past 11 years. I recently began my profession as a content creator, and throughout the pandemic, I noticed that viewers liked watching my hair instructions and wellness videos online. As a content creator, I started to draw a social media following and brand relationships. Then it struck me: “Why not build my own brand to serve people and advertise it on my personal social networks?” Ora Cosmetics was created. All Ora Cosmetics products are handcrafted and produced with all-natural herbs/oils and sealed with love. I genuinely care about my customers and make it a priority to do thorough research and product testing. I also test all of my products on myself to make sure I am satisfied with my brand. Readers should be aware that I am the “genuine deal.” I practice what I preach, my goal is to inspire and teach the world how to live their best life and be their best self through health and wellness.

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?

Prior to starting my small business, I was naive to the do’s and do’nts of the manufacturing process. Yes, I do manufacture my products. With extensive research, of course. After experiencing hair loss myself, I first researched ingredients that could help. Taking note of ingredients used buy well-known herbalists and ingredients included in herbal medicine books. I took note of what could reverse PCOS if ingested regularly as well as what should be omitted from our diet. I took those herbs mentioned along with herbs I came across myself and curated base oils as well as a shampoo. After formulating different methods, I started testing and examining the results. My hair growth oil formula was finalized!

As far as my packaging I do use a vendor. Finding the perfect vendor is a series of trial and error. I have sampled many products from many vendors, some offered free samples, and some did not. It can be a long process but it is worth it!

I’ve learned that creating a small business is not easy and does take time. I have acquired the level of patience needed for this type of work overtime. It is easy to get discouraged and distracted. I’ve learned to not be afraid to ask questions and grow! This process can feel foreign. Especially to take the initiative and have the courage to create something for yourself. I’ve learned to be open to opinions, good and bad and to not let them influence me negatively. I’ve learned as an entrepreneur there are no off days. Every day is used to get closer to your goal. I’ve learned that while on this journey relationships will be severed if they don’t align with where your life is going. The feeling of wanting to give up does present itself but nevertheless, success is possible for all of us!

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I will give you two. One is that we as people actually have an abnormal amount of faith in Doctors. Doctors do not have all the answers. I remember feeling so insecure, helpless, and hopeless during my time of endless doctor visits. I had to realize that most doctors care for us only for their personal financial needs. They are not saviors. They are normal people just like you and me striving for their personal needs and wants. Prior to starting my research due to my personal hair loss, I have been to dermatologists, gynecologists, and trichologists in and between the states of Alabama and Texas. I have taken prescribed medicines and taken injections. During that time, my hair loss did not get any better. It wasn’t until I took matters into my own hands that I started seeing results! The second lesson is that we can be our own worst enemy by holding ourselves back. I can recall plenty of times my mind would play so many tricks on me. From me telling myself that what I wanted is unattainable, that no one will support me, and questioning “What if I fail?’. Not only have I learned many things when it comes to running my business, but I have also learned many things concerning myself and maintaining my mental health. I have incorporated journaling into my daily practice which has manifested my current reality now. I have had to unlearn and relearn what the body needs to perform at its best beyond physical matters. I have added frequent meditation sessions as well as isolating myself from the everyday “news” and “trends” that can cloud the mind. Though this has been difficult for me to do consistently year-round I do recommend some type of work out whether it be daily walking, going to the gym, or yoga, etc. I’ve found that it clears the mind to be able to clearly produce what is needed toward one’s goals! So with all of that I have learned, well, I have trained myself rather to focus on the aspect of FLYING!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.oracosmetics.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kanoshiavictoria/?hl=en
• Other: Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kanoshiaa

Image Credits
Credits: KVNDProductions