I'll admit it, I rarely buy a new product that we sell without attempting to convince someone in the office to give it to me to try first (What? I'm frugal!), but I was so intrigued by everything I was hearing about new haircare line Briogeo that I snapped up a couple of their products as soon as they came back in stock on the site. So I was really excited to sit down with Briogeo founder Nancy Twine (who is SUPER SWEET and cool, btw), to find out more about this awesome little brand.
What is the inspiration behind the brand?
Briogeo was inspired by my own family history of making homemade products in the kitchen of our home. It first started when my grandmother was swayed to create her own products out of necessity to provide for the large family she raised on her farm. From there, my mother learned the craft. She held onto my grandmother's ingredient journal, and when I was growing up she and I would make a wide assortment of homemade products ranging from soaps to hair care products using my grandmother's formulas as the base. My family history of making natural products at home and my passion for entrepreneurism are what motivated my desire to create Briogeo.
Talk a little about your sustainable packaging and ingredient methodology.
We've coined a concept called "6-Free" haircare, meaning, ALL of our products are free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, silicones, synthetic fragrance, and artificial colors. Briogeo's mantra is: when it doubt, leave it out. We pride ourselves in creating pure, potent, and non-toxic products that are specifically formulated to give you the results you want and deserve. Every formula is fortified with potent blends of natural oils, vitamins, antioxidants, and fruit & plant extracts for super healthy and vibrant hair.
We're sticklers for green packaging, too! All of our shampoo and conditioner bottles are manufactured right here in the USA. We use recycled, plastic milk jugs to make our bottles, which are also recyclable. So we've essentially created a two-way chain of recycling where we incorporate recycled materials into our packaging that can then be recycled again and again.
Does your line work on all hair types?
We created Briogeo to carry out a mission of "Hair Care for All" - meaning, our product line caters to a diverse array of hair textures and types. Because I come from a diverse background, I wanted to create an all-inclusive line that people with different hair types could identify with. Our line is solutions oriented and focuses on three hair care segments: curly/texture, volume, and repair. We've done extensive research into the concerns of each of these hair categories and have focused all of our product formulations on addressing the specific needs of each one - using the finest concoctions of natural, performance based ingredients. So whether your hair is coarse & unruly, thin & brittle, or dry & damaged - the Briogeo assortment contains texture-specific products to match your specific hair needs.
What are your top product picks for:
What advice do you have for beauty entrepreneurs interested in starting their own product line?
I would encourage beauty entrepreneurs to take the time and do the research necessary to understand the market inside and out. That includes knowing your competitors, customers, and ways you plan to differentiate your brand amongst the current assortment. I see a lot of startups rush into production before taking these crucial steps and it often creates early setbacks that could have been avoided. I also encourage seeking out mentors within the industry as a way to gain meaningful advice and potential connections. There's a lot to be gained from the experience and lessons learned by others!