On October 5th in London at STA Studios, the Curls Coils and Cashflow panel brought together business focused women in beauty who are building with purpose, integrity and ownership.
The panel, moderated by Let’s Grow BFF and Mane Hook-Up and moderated by Jo Wong, Founder of Let’s Grow BFF, opened an honest conversation about building independent beauty brands in a constantly shifting industry.
The panel featured powerhouse women who are redefining what leadership in beauty looks like:
Our very own CEO and Founder of Boho Locs, Lulu Pierre
Jessica Parrish, Founder of Shedid and Parrish
Yomi Onashille, Founder of The Wig Bar London
The room was electric, full of entrepreneurs, creators, hair stylists, and beauty disruptors. Women who didn’t come just to listen. They came to build.
The Journey of Boho Locs
Lulu Pierre shared her journey from starting Boho Locs in her home to growing it into a leading brand in textured protective styles. Boho Locs began with a simple mission, to create premium crochet locs in natural textures and blends that celebrate the beauty of Black women. Lulu dealt with her own hair struggles after a Brazilian Blowout treatment gone bad.
She scoured the market for protective styles. Sew-ins, clip-ins, braids – none of them spoke to her, so she decided to take matters into her own hands and created something that actually worked. She started with a base loc she liked and meticulously customized each one, innovating a unique and beautiful creation. And thus, BOHO LOCS® was born.
Lulu built the brand independently with no outside funding, no borrowed network, and no traditional backing. She built it through creative direction, consistency and a commitment to quality, culture and community.
Boho Locs remains Black woman owned and independent. The company has shipped globally, been featured across major media platforms and continues to expand its product collections while investing in innovation and brand identity.
Five Lessons for Entrepreneurs
During the panel Lulu shared five of her key lessons for entrepreneurs in beauty and beyond and we want to share them with you, sis!
1. Believe in Yourself
Entrepreneurship requires courage. You must believe in your vision long before anyone else understands it. Confidence is not given, it is built through action. Take the first step, then the next.
2. Find a Niche
Do not aim to serve everyone. Clarity builds community. Identify a gap in the market and become known for delivering excellence in that space. Boho Locs focused specifically on premium crochet locs, a category often overlooked, and built trust through specialisation.
3. Develop a Signature Product and Brand
A strong business is built on a product that solves a problem and a brand that people connect with. Lulu focused on texture, quality and authenticity and committed to delivering a recognisable style. A signature product creates loyalty. A strong brand builds longevity.
4. Get Your Margins Right
Passion is essential but numbers build businesses. Understand cost of goods, profit margins and cash flow. Pricing must reflect value and allow room for growth. Without healthy margins a business cannot scale or sustain itself.
5. Learn How to Market a Product
A product cannot succeed if people do not know it exists. Marketing is essential. Lulu invested time into learning how to sell through brand storytelling, email, SMS, social media and paid advertising. Visibility creates momentum. Consistent marketing builds a brand.
Building Black Owned Business in Beauty
For decades the beauty industry has been shaped by the influence, creativity and culture of Black women, yet ownership has often been limited. Conversations like Curls Coils and Cashflow are important because they bring transparency to entrepreneurship. They highlight both the challenges and the possibilities for growth in the beauty industry when ownership remains with the creator.
Independent brands are essential to the future of the industry. They innovate faster, speak directly to their community and keep cultural authenticity at the center. Boho Locs is proud to stand as a Black woman owned brand that represents both creativity and business excellence.
Why This Matters for Black-Owned Beauty
This panel wasn’t just about products. It was about ownership. For decades, Black hair has been copied, commercialized, and monetized, often without us. But now, Black women are rewriting the script. We’re not just consuming beauty, we’re leading it.
Panels like Curls, Coils & Cashflow are more than events. They are economic empowerment in motion. When Black founders share knowledge, communities grow faster. When we reinvest in each other, we rise higher.
What’s Next for Boho Locs
Boho Locs continues to expand product innovation, educational content, and community-led beauty. In 2025, we move with even more intention: representation, ownership, and elevation.
Because at the end of the day, our mission is bigger than hair. It’s about impact.
Final Word: Build Boldly
If you’re a creator, founder, or dreamer reading this — the message is simple:
⌁ Believe in your idea
⌁ Start with what you have
⌁ Commit to the work
⌁ Don’t wait for permission
"I had to make my own living and my own opportunity. But I made it! Don't sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them."
— Madam C.J. Walker
