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Back To Her Roots

Lisa Price, Carol’s Daughter

Carol’s Daughter is entering a new indie era—one that is rooted in legacy and ready to evolve with the times. To ensure the haircare brand sustains its authenticity and craftsmanship that propelled it to superstardom, founder Lisa Price has returned as president, and as an owner.

Price, who founded the brand in 1993, sold it to L’Oréal in 2014. A decade later, she and entrepreneur Joe Wong reacquired the brand that she launched from her Brooklyn kitchen.

“Reclaiming my brand and returning as ‘madam president’ felt like both a homecoming and a calling,” Price told Happi. “I wanted to ensure that coming back wasn’t about nostalgia; it was about stewardship. Carol’s Daughter still has so much to say, and I knew it was time for my voice and my leadership to be front and center again.” 

Price founded Carol’s Daughter when “entrepreneurship” was merely a buzzword, and brands were built by hand, heart and word of mouth. 

“Before social media was an avenue to amplify our stories, it was just me, a stove, a few ingredients, and a passion for creating products that actually worked for our hair and skin,” Price told Happi. “I’d stir batches of butters and oils at night after my day job, label jars by hand, and sell them at flea markets, church bazaars and craft fairs. It was grassroots in the purest sense.”

There was intimacy to it, according to Price.

“When someone bought a product from me, I got to see their face, hear their story, give a hug or handshake and learn directly from their experience. There was a real sense of community—people rooted for you, spread the word and showed up. That kind of connection helped me shape the brand authentically.”

But sustaining a successful business was complicated. There were roadblocks all along her way.

“It was also challenging because access was limited. There was no social media, no e-commerce, no way to scale without significant capital investment. If you wanted people to know about your product, you had to physically be in the room,” she said.

What’s more, for a Black woman starting a business, resources and funding were even harder to come by then, she shared. 

“I had to build trust in one jar, one conversation, one customer at a time.”

Today, those challenges have served as her greatest lessons.

“They forced me to be resourceful and connected to the community I was serving. That foundation—built in a little Brooklyn kitchen—is still the heartbeat of Carol’s Daughter today.”

For the brand’s re-launch, a new D2C e-commerce platform was developed.

“We wanted a space that felt warm, welcoming, educational—and most of all, designed with our consumer in mind,” said Price. “Whether you’re dealing with dryness, breakage, protective styles or curl definition, the site guides you to the right products and routines.”

There is also a subscription and replenishment system and extensive product education—tutorials, tips, and guidance that bring Carol’s Daughter’s “kitchen-table” vibe into the digital space.

 “When I look back over the last 30-plus years, there are so many moments that make me pause with gratitude,” said Price. “I’m proud that Carol’s Daughter was able to shift the conversation around textured hair before it was a trend. I’m proud that we helped normalize our textures on shelves, in media, and in households across the globe. And I’m proud of the countless stories from women and families who tell me our products made them feel seen, cared for, and beautiful. That’s the real legacy.” 

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Modernizing an OTC market 

Joshua and Carli Katz, Norms

In this gutsy era where once-taboo issues like menopause have reached the national stage, nothing is off the table when it comes to open, friendly dialogue around beauty and some rather intimate areas of personal care. Well, almost nothing. 

Budding entrepreneur Joshua Katz wants to break the stigma around butt care, specifically bringing hemorrhoid treatment out from behind the doctor’s office curtain to the forefront of everyone’s consciousness.

“I’ve had hemorrhoids since my early 20s—over 20 years now. I, like a lot of other people, have always been embarrassed and challenged talking about and treating my hemorrhoids,” Katz told Happi.

Despite being incredibly common, hemorrhoids is a highly stigmatized condition. 

“Because of that, there isn’t a lot of communication or education or conversation around it. Although there are some effective treatment solutions—whether products like ours or lifestyle modifications—most people don’t learn about it, don’t do the research, and don’t treat it properly. And their experience with it is covered with an overlay of shame.”

After going two decades with the condition, Katz decided 2025 was the apropos time to start his own hemorrhoid business. By partnering with his wife, Carli, he combined his personal knowledge about the condition with his background in product development, branding and marketing to begin a refreshed conversation around hemorrhoids and treatment.

The condition can take several days to resolve on its own without treatment, or even up to two to three weeks depending on case severity, at which point medical intervention is encouraged. 

Katz’s newly launched brand, Norms, is coming to the rescue. The brand is named, in part, after his father, Norman, through whom Katz developed a genetic predisposition to the condition. 

Norms aims to normalize the discussion while offering approachable, affordable treatment options to ease the worry around the irksome condition. 

The brand’s debut SKUs include medicated, flushable wipes and hemorrhoid cream and spray that were developed with Dr. Wendi LeBrett, a double-board-certified gastroenterologist who is a medical advisor and founding partner.

Norms’ hero product is its maximum strength healing cream that delivers rapid pain relief, swelling reduction and lasting protection. The fast-acting numbing spray provides rapid relief from irritation and burning while reducing swelling for a faster recovery. The wipes reduce burning and irritation.

The hemorrhoid cream is also available in Squeezies (single-use packets) for on-the-go relief. The cream can be applied with colorful latex “finger cots” that go over the index finger (like a condom) to keep digits clean during application. 

Norms is backed by comedian Pete Davidson, who is an investor alongside Proper Hospitality’s Brian De Lowe and Supergoop’s Stephen Emery. 

“If you look at pop culture, hemorrhoids in general, and particularly Preparation H, have been the butt of the joke whether it’s on late-night shows or ‘South Park,’” said Katz. “That’s doing a disservice to other people who suffer, because now you’re embarrassed to have that tube of Preparation H.”

The Norms brand aesthetic is designed to help normalize the treatment and the condition itself.

“Part of our goal is to make it something you can keep in your medicine cabinet, so when your loved one or friend is experiencing them, you have a solution for them at the ready. It’s common courtesy,” he said.

Last fall, Norms opened a pop-up clubhouse in New York timed with Hemorrhoid Awareness Month. It afforded New Yorkers a chance to have shame-free conversations about the condition. The clubhouse was a space of safety and understanding for hemorrhoid sufferers as well as the “hemmy-curious.” 

The brand also features an online “Hemmies Hotline” on getnorms.com where consumers can connect with a chatbot to get answers and real-time guidance.

Will Norms become a category disrupter in the OTC space?

Katz estimates 50% of sales of hemorrhoid treatment products will be online by 2028. In addition to getnorms.com, Norms is also available on Amazon with a rollout of instant delivery expected this year. The brand can be found on TikTok Shop, too. 

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A Sleep Device Takes Flight 

Stefanie and Michael Broes, Moonbird

Moonbird specializes in handheld sleep devices that resemble a small bird whose breathing expands and contracts in the palm of one’s hand. Serving as a therapeutic beacon to calm a worried person, the device is the creation of avid bird watchers Stefanie Broes and her brother Michael. The Broes named their indie brand after the Red Knot, a small bird that has been tracked by biologists during its long-distance migrations. The duo saw this extraordinary bird as a symbol of resilience, health and longevity.

Broes’ own struggles with midnight-awakening propelled by chronic stress and a racing mind was the catalyst that led her to practice breathing techniques rather than counting sheep. 

“Slow breathing has been studied for more than 30 years in areas like stress, anxiety, PTSD, sleep problems and even clinical contexts such as elevated blood pressure or COPD and asthma,” said Stefanie Broes. “There was plenty of evidence showing how powerful breathwork can be, but not many tools that made it easy for people to practice in daily life. That is why we wanted to create something more intuitive than an app or a class.”

Broes, who has PhD in pharmaceutical sciences, and Michael, who as an affinity for gadget testing, launched the device in 2020. 

“Moonbird guides you to breathe slowly by expanding as you inhale and contracting as you exhale,” she explained. “When you breathe this way, pressure sensors in your heart detect the change and signal your brain through the vagus nerve. Your brain then tells your heart to slow down which helps shift your body into a calmer state. You feel your breath becoming deeper and your heart rate becoming steadier which makes it easier to relax, fall asleep or reduce anxious feelings.”

Moonbird and its companion breathing coach for kids (Moonbuddy) were named Best Inventions in 2024 and 2025, respectively, by Time. The brand’s website offers consumers a link to download a white paper that details the benefits and science behind the device.  

“We live in a world that runs fast. People are juggling work, family, news, expectations and their own inner world. Slow breathing is one of the easiest ways to bring yourself back into balance,” said Broes. “Moonbird acts like a small friendly reminder in your hand that says take a moment. Breathe. Reset. If we want to move through life with more clarity and kindness, slowing down is not a luxury. It is a necessity.” 

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Force for Good

Olo Tchala, Alaffia 

In the rural communities of Central Togo, Benin and Nigeria, townspeople greet each other saying “alaffia,” a wish for peace, health and well-being. 

In 2004, African American entrepreneur Olo Tchala, founder of personal care and lifestyle brand Ayéya, founded Alaffia with what he calls a simple but radical dream: to turn shea butter, handcrafted by women in his home country of Togo, into a vehicle for “empowerment, dignity and peace.” 

That dream took root when Alaffia became a global brand, one that was a proponent of clean beauty and a model for how business can serve humanity. 

“It redefined personal care as empowerment—and shea as a pathway to peace. So, at its heart, Alaffia is more than a name; it’s a philosophy by which we guide our company. It represents our commitment to care that honors people and the planet, and our belief that wellness should be shared, not scarce,” said Tchala.

Alaffia sells pure unrefined shea butter, an all-in-one liquid soap, shampoo, conditioner and children’s bubble bath, among other products. Each product is crafted with Fair Trade certified unrefined shea butter that is handmade using centuries-old techniques by the women of Alaffia’s cooperatives.

Since its founding more than 20 years ago, Alaffia estimates it has positively impacted more than a quarter-million lives in West Africa through a model that combines ethical sourcing, fair trade and community investment. 

By creating and partnering with women-led cooperatives, Tchala says Alaffia provides dignified livelihoods while reinvesting profits into education, maternal health, and environmental sustainability. 

“Alaffia has built schools, supplied thousands of students with educational materials, donated eyeglasses, and provided bicycles to help children, especially girls, access education,” he told Happi. “Their maternal health programs support safe births, while well-building initiatives expand access to clean water and reforestation projects strengthen local ecosystems. Every product we make is tied to measurable social impact, creating lasting change for communities. This holistic approach continues through our sister brand, Ayéya, which expands on ethical sourcing, supply-chain transparency, and sustainable practices, ensuring that Alaffia’s mission of empowering women and uplifting communities endures.”

Alaffia products are available for purchase on its website and at many retailers across the US, including Whole Foods Market, Sprouts, Wegmans, Natural Grocers, H-E-B, Central Market, Earth Fare, Fresh Thyme, ThriveMarket.com, Vitacost.com, iHerb.com, Amazon and independent health food stores. The brand also recently joined Essence’s black-owned marketplace WeLoveUS.shop.

Expansion will continue as the brand has big plans for 2026.

This month, the brand is launching a Wefunder campaign. Likened to Kickstarter, the equity crowdfunding effort affords startups and small businesses a chance to raise capital from the public by selling shares or similar securities, starting with a soft launch to their network to reach an initial goal before going public on the platform.

In February, its “naked” Good Soaps, which are packaging-free, will hit Whole Foods. The brand will also launch Good Fizz, a line of bath bombs.

“Looking toward 2026 and beyond, our goals are to deepen our impact in the communities we serve, continue innovating with sustainable and ethically sourced products, and introduce new products that reflect our mission,” said Tchala. “Ultimately, we want to show that business can be a force for good and that profitability and purpose can grow hand in hand.” 

Check out our podcast with Tchala here.

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A Reflective Innovation in Korean Biotech 

Suman Desai, GlassFX

With biotech continuing to blaze a trail in cosmetic chemistry, a new indie brand called GlassFX, founded by Suman Desai, wants to lead the way. 

“I’ve always been deeply passionate about skincare from an early age, and have spent years traveling to Korea to learn from the innovation happening there,” Desai said.

It shaped her understanding of “sensorial performance” and inspired her to create a line that would bring the best of Korean skincare (K-beauty) to a global audience.

Launched in July and four years in the making, each of the brand’s formula use precision biotechnology to combine high-performance actives with skin-compatible delivery systems for visible surface transformation, according to Desai. Inspired by Korea’s ideal of translucent, luminous skin, the line was created to deliver a reflective, poreless finish without relying on heavy makeup.

“GlassFX represents its science-first approach to delivering the glass-skin effect: radiant, refined, and resilient,” said Desai. “’FX’ speaks to formulation, function, and effect, the pillars of our product philosophy. In science, f(x) literally means ‘function,’ which aligns with our commitment to delivering real, functional results from the first application.” 

Duo-Hydrafx has been a standout since launch, according to Desai. Brand loyalists appreciate its instant hydration and radiance boost—a “hero” for creating the initial layer of a glassy glow. 

Barrierfx, a clinically proven moisturizer with patented technology, is another bestseller. 

The products can be used separately or layered. For example, a simple routine is Revivefx as a toner or pre-makeup mist, followed by Barrierfx moisturizer to lock in hydration, and Duo-Hydrafx as the final step. 

It yields what Desai called the “perfect” level of shine. 

“Our biotech-driven formulas deliver long-lasting hydration, radiance and barrier support. We balance sensorial impact with true performance and longevity,” she said.

The brand is gaining traction, purportedly attracting the attention of the esthetician of the Kardashian-Jenner clan.

There are other highfliers who like what they see, according to Desai.

“We’ve had amazing support from private jet fliers, celebrity facialists and red-carpet makeup artists who appreciate performance-grade skincare,” she said. “Their feedback reinforces the results professionals can achieve with our formulas.”