Curls Dynasty was founded in 2014 by healthy hair and body enthusiast, Nickie Nougaisse. After several disheartening experiences on her own hair care journey, Nickie decided to transition to natural hair, during which she was diligent in identifying the healthiest chemical-free products and ingredients to help revive her hair.
On her new hair journey, Nickie quickly became a tutorial and product junkie but was continuously disappointed by the products that filled her cabinets. Taking matters into her own hands, she began mixing her own products in her kitchen and immediately experienced positive results.
Excited and passionate about her new discoveries, Nickie found herself constantly giving tips and providing encouragement to others on their own healthy hair journeys. She has since been sharing her collection of high-quality hair care products with naturals globally, changing the world one curl at a time!
Born and raised in beautiful Haiti until the age of 13, Nickie currently lives in South Florida. She has degrees in Psychology, Criminal Justice, Child Delinquency, and Protection. She has been very fortunate to serve as an advocate, investigator, and protector in her career while working with women and children survivors of abuse.
She is happy to be able to continue to love and support others through her business, Curls Dynasty. Her hope is to inspire, motivate, and elevate alongside all of those who are part of this family that the Dynasty is.
Tell us about who you are and what you do.
My name is Nickie Nougaisse, I go by Nickie Nou on social media. I am a proud Caribbean girl, born and raised in Haiti. I was raised by a warrior woman with ideals. She instilled faith and strength in me from a young age. Today, I’m the mother of two boys and reside in sunny South Florida.
I am the Founder and CEO of the Curls Dynasty, a haircare/lifestyle brand that is currently bringing healthy solutions to women with textured hair. Our products are for women desiring freedom from the frustration of chemicals, dryness, breakage, and hair loss.
Tell us how you created this brand. What inspired you?
A few years ago I got seriously mad at my hair. The chemicals I applied to it and how much my routine revolved around it, was draining.
I’d get my hair “relaxed” (chemical straightening of my natural curls) every 6-8 weeks, and had been doing it since I was a teen. Over the years, it took a toll on my hair’s health. I endured breakage, burns, scabs, and peeling for years just for the sake of having straight, manageable hair.
Finally, I realized just how much this process affected my self-confidence and overall health. After one last horrible touch up, I had enough. I decided to grow out my natural hair, and let go of the chemicals. This in itself was an entire quest. I was a stranger to my own natural hair. I hadn’t seen it in ages!
I quickly learned that dryness was my biggest enemy. It made everything from detangling to styling a nightmare! I learned my natural hair loved natural ingredients like botanicals and fruits, and that moisture retention was key to rocking the flawless curls I craved.
Through this journey of learning about my own crown, I found out that I was not alone. There were a lot of people like me, looking to embrace their curls and for solutions. They wanted to know how to grow healthy, beautiful hair.
I’d been mixing ingredients in my kitchen and developed products that did so well on my hair that soon people started asking what I was using. They were willing to pay me to make them their own batches.
In winning my personal battle against chemicals and chronic dryness, I was also able to help other women with coarse kinky hair like me experience the same hair freedom I enjoy. From the kitchen to the garage, we’re not in places like big-box retailers like Target and beyond. Curls Dynasty became a staple brand that continues to grow and is reaching folks worldwide.
Go in detail and tell us about how your brand works.
Curls Dynasty takes the guesswork out of hair care. We have so much on our plate already; we shouldn’t have to be playing tic tac toe with products, constantly spending a ton of money on stuff that doesn’t work.
When I started out, I quickly discovered that though there are a lot of products for curly hair out there, most did not work for women with tight, kinky/coily textures like me. My texture dries out fast and often. I needed a little something extra that didn’t require me to have my hands in my hair every single day, manipulating it.
Curls Dynasty products target specific hair frustrations. It aims to provide a foundation on which we can build and maintain a healthy hair regimen. Everything necessary is found within the line from a moisturizing cleansing shampoo that won’t strip the strands, to a deep conditioning treatment that repairs and prevents damage. We also have slippery conditioners that make for stress-free conditioning and detangling, decadent butter that lock in moisture so hair remains soft and manageable length, and styling creams that define and POP those curls.
We do all of this while using certified organic and natural ingredients we know and love. The Curls Dynasty difference is the total experience. I am big on service, convenience, respect, and courtesy. At any given point of contact with the brand, I aim for people to walk away feeling good about themselves, the interactions, the prices, purchase, and results.
What is your giveaway idea through this interview?
Teachability, flexibility, consistency, and discipline. I have found through personal and entrepreneurial levels, that these are cornerstones to success.
Explain the challenges you went through while you were working on brand creation. What are the challenges you go through on an everyday basis?
For me, like most startups, funding was a huge obstacle. There’s nothing like having a vision and burning with passion for something that you’re ready to execute on, but not have the means to do it.
It can be frustrating and this is where a lot of young businesses fail. It’s where a lot of dreams die. Funding can be an ongoing challenge for brands at any stage, whenever growth is occurring. It is important to remember to keep showing up every day even when it hurts when it’s uncomfortable.
It is important to keep putting one foot forward, doing the most with what you have, where you are, pushing towards the next level because guess what…? Whether you’re crawling or walking, you’re still moving forward. You remain consistent and you will unlock new opportunities and solutions.
How do you manage your business finances?
As a triple minority, I have explored any and all avenues for funding available. I have applied for whatever grants and loans that make sense for my business and lean on the wisdom of my accounting team to manage funds properly.
Tell us about your future vision of your brand. How far do you want to take it? What is your dream about taking it to the next level?
Global, limitless impact. There are so many women in my niche who still have yet to regain confidence and discover the power in their crowns. I am speaking metaphorically, beyond hair. I am talking about the total, divine, royal, beautiful nature of being a woman.
Curls Dynasty will continue to move with the times, take on new challenges, and will undoubtedly evolve further than what I can confine into concise words at this very moment. As I continue to expand my own mind, so will my company. The possibilities are literally endless.
What message would you like to give to anybody who has a plan of creating something of their own and making a living through it?
Dare. Dare to believe. Dare to show up for yourself. Dare to be inspired by every “no” (and there will be many) and learn/work on turning them into a yes. Dare to be your own pep squad when no one is around. Dare to inspire. Dare to make an impact and leave a legacy. Dare!
