In recent years, the natural hair movement has gained widespread recognition and acceptance, championing the beauty of diverse textures and encouraging people to embrace their natural hair. However, this movement often focuses primarily on women, leaving young men underrepresented in the conversation about textured hair products.
If you've ever wondered why boys and men are often left out of the conversation when talking about Black-owned natural hair brands, you're not alone. Despite the fact that most textured hair products are gender-neutral, very few actually target young men with their marketing and advertising.
Thankfully, 17-year-old TikTok sensation Khalil Battle is working to change this narrative and reimagine the textured haircare experience for men everywhere with his own line of products called KingCurls. The young entrepreneur, who's known to his 1.1 million TikTok followers as KhalilGotTheJuice, has already established himself as an influential figure in the natural hair community thanks to his viral hair videos. With the launch of KingCurls, Battle is one step closer to ensuring the haircare aisle is more representative of people who look just like him.
Breaking Gender Barriers
KingCurls is a haircare brand dedicated to boys with natural hair. Its main goal is to break gender barriers amongst women's brands in today's haircare industry. The main reason that Khalil wanted to pursue a haircare brand is because he was tired of using his mom's products and getting scolded for it. He always felt underrepresented when he would shop for hair products and did not see people who looked like him being marketed to.
Before high school, Khalil was really insecure about his hair, and a lot of times he would texturize his hair to achieve a looser curl pattern. It wasn't until he spent a great amount of time with his two female cousins that he started picking up on their hair routine and became acclimated to his own hair texture. He started doing research and watching YouTube videos of people's everyday hair routines and started to discover what products were right for him and how to do protective styling. It took almost four years to really perfect his hair routine.
The Birth of KingCurls
The name "KingCurls" reflects the brand's mission to uplift and empower boys. Khalil's mother used to refer to him and his brother as "kings," and this inspired the name. KingCurls is more than just a brand; it's a celebration of boys' confidence and self-expression through their hair.
During the brand's launch, Khalil wrote a tweet that went viral, with many people leaving positive feedback about the marketing and how KingCurls was promoting boys with different demographics and backgrounds. People were really immersed in the brand, making boys feel confident in their hair.
KingCurls launched its flagship product, the Hydrating and Defining Curl Styling Cream. Khalil believed that having a staple product was essential to establishing KingCurls in the market and making it recognizable.
Challenges During the Pandemic
The pandemic brought its own set of challenges for KingCurls, primarily related to shipping delays. Orders took weeks to reach customers, impacting the brand's customer relationships. However, KingCurls addressed these challenges by providing shipping updates on social media, which helped smooth everything out.
The Power of Social Media
Khalil's journey into entrepreneurship was accelerated by his social media presence, especially TikTok. One viral video of him twisting his hair garnered a million views in one day and 10,000 followers. Social media played a pivotal role in building trust among his supporters, who believed in the product because they believed in him.
What's Next for KingCurls?
The future of KingCurls looks promising. Khalil aims to make it a successful Black-owned haircare brand for boys worldwide. He envisions KingCurls becoming the go-to brand for boys' haircare on a global scale, breaking down gender and cultural barriers.
A Message to Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Khalil's message to young Black creatives and entrepreneurs is simple: never take no for an answer and stay consistent. He emphasizes the importance of perseverance and consistency in pursuing your dreams.
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