Shades & Layers
Shades and Layers is a podcast focused on black women entrepreneurs from across the globe. It is a platform for exploring issues and challenges around business ownership, representation and holistic discussions about the meaning of sustainability in an increasingly complex global context. Conversations are wide- ranging and serve not only as a Masterclass in Entrepreneurship but also provide wisdom and tools for Successful Living. It is a space for meaningful conversation, a place for black and other women of color to be fully human and openly share their quirks and vulnerabilities.
Guests include prominent figurers in the beauty, fashion and wellness industries both in the Northern Hemisphere and the Global South.
Dr. Theo Mothoa-Frendo of USO Skincare discusses her journey from being product junkie to creating an African science-based skincare range. Taryn Gill of The Perfect Hair is a brand development whizz who discusses supply chain and distribution of her haircare brands. Katonya Breux discusses melanin and sunscreen and how she addresses the needs of a range of skin tones with her Unsun Cosmetics products.
We discuss inclusion in the wellness industry with Helen Rose Skincare and Yoga and Nectarines Founder , Day Bibb. Abiola Akani emphasizes non-performance in yoga with her IYA Wellness brand and Anesu Mbizho shares her journey to yoga and the ecosystem she's created through her business The Nest Space.
Fashion is all about handmade, custom made and circular production with featured guests like fashion designer Maria McCloy of Maria McCloy Accessories; Founder and textile/homeware designer Nkuli Mlangeni Berg of The Ninevites as well as Candice Lawrence, founder of the lighting design company Modern Gesture. These are just a few the conversations on the podcast over the past three years.
Shades & Layers
The Perfect Hair with Taryn Gill (S2, E12)
My guest today is Taryn Gill, South African entrepreneur and founder of haircare brands such as The Perfect Hair, Curls in Bloom, and the trademarks SuperCurl and Soft Sista.
Taryn’s story is a true masterclass on how to manage your career, spot opportunities and using your experiences for business success. She has worked for some of the greatest names in SA publishing and media. She’s an alumna of the business reality show, Shark Tank, and the high priestess of a community built around her first brand, The Perfect Hair.
We caught up at a time when South Africa was starting to reckon with the riots that shook the country after former president Jacob Zuma was arrested (story linked below in the mentions). The country was also in the middle of yet another hard Covid lockdown.
Mind you, while all of this was going on, she was also in the middle of finalizing a partnership with a local distributor and hosting Taryn’s Table Talk, a series of important conversations about natural hair under the auspices of her own brand, @curlsbytaryn
Mentioned In this Episode
South African Riots
Sowetan
Township Economics
Justice Malala
Dawn Robertson
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
Jane Raphaely
NEWSLETTER, stay in the loop and subscribe to our newsletter
SUPPORT this work so that we can keep it free. Become a MONTHLY SUPPORTER
LISTEN ON Apple and Spotify
FOLLOW US ON Instagram and Facebook
