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

Sharon , appreciate you joining us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

It was an evolution. Initially, I started with names that included ‘natural,’ ‘naturally’ or anything that described the nature of my business which revolved around naturally based ingredients. My first logo design contained a tree and hair roots. Then, my cousin asked me to create a lotion. I told her I’m just making oils. Saying that phrase out loud stuck with me. But it wasn’t just oils and it wasn’t just for hair. As I worked on the formulas, what didn’t fit my criteria, instead of wasting the product, I would rub it into my skin. I noticed a difference in how my skin felt and looked. So, I ended up creating the lotions and creams anyway (laughter). These are not just products but solutions that address the issue of hydration and moisture retention for the hair and body. And that is how the name Just Oil Hair and Body Solutions came to be.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

SHARON DUGGER is the CEO of Just Oil Hair & Body Solutions, LLC, an all-natural beauty company based in Dayton, Ohio, that specializes in organic hair, skin and bodycare for women, men and children.
Founded in 2014, Just Oil Hair & Body Solutions products are all handmade and contain healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals, designed to moisturize and soften hair while enhancing its natural shine as well as the glow of skin.

Made with all-natural ingredients and oils of life-giving plants, Sharon’s products are an extension of her own journey towards healing and wellness. Prior to establishing her company, Sharon had severe head and scalp issues that she tried addressing with a variety of hair lotions and oils. Through research, Sharon discovered her issues were linked to improper moisture retention, hydration, nourishment and the overuse of toxic chemicals.

As the author of The Natural Hair Journey in Steps: A Guide to Going Natural, Sharon believes that “when you love yourself, you give yourself the best” and enjoys sharing this message at trade shows and events. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources Management, Sharon stepped out on faith to successfully launch life-changing products for women across the country.

Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?

When I began, I used Shopify on Facebook. That didn’t generate the results I was expecting, so I looked at other options including Etsy versus my own website. At the time, Etsy had a flat monthly fee. Additional fees that were included involved how many products you had and a percentage fee of every product sold. I compared that to the cost of establishing an ecommerce website and found that the website was considerably lower. However, I had to figure out how to set it up from form to functionality. It took a lot of time and help from others. Using an already established platform can certainly expose you to a broader audience and provide freedom from any technical issues that may arise. Yet, having your own website may be more cost effective in the long run and give you more options when it comes to the form, functionality and your overall brand. What you decide depends on what you’re willing to pay.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

After being officially in business for eight years since 2014 and not seeing the results I desired in profitability and growth, I gave up. I don’t mean I almost gave up, I mean I gave up! In 2022, I did nothing towards promoting or growing my business. I was not in a position to capitalize on the online boom that happened shortly after COVID. While everyone else was experiencing the success of a lifetime, I was struggling to figure out how to get in the game. I was actually thinking, “How do I go about shutting the whole thing down?” It was then that I started getting phone calls, texts and online orders for natural hair solutions, mostly from customers who have been with me since the beginning and have told me my solutions are the only ones that work for their needs. A lightbulb went off and I realized, ‘I can’t just leave them now.’ At the beginning of this year, something inside of me said, “Do this.” I went back to the foundation, re-branded and have been growing in ways never imagined. It has all been very serendipitous. I’ve been connected to people who are not only leading and guiding me, but are supporting and encouraging me further in this journey. Last year I stopped. This year I regrouped. Next year I’ll soar!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.justoilhair.com
• Instagram: www.Instagram.com/justoilhair
• Facebook: www.Facebook.com/JustOilHairandBodySolutions
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-dugger-4103b595

Image Credits
TRD Media Source