EXPLORINEER
en

Archive — US — techcrunch

Dawn Myers is making it easier to style, detangle, and care for curly hair

Dawn Myers, founder of Richualist, developed a hair tool for textured hair that simplifies wash days, reducing styling time to 7-10 minutes. Inspired by her own experiences, she identified a significant gap in the market. After overcoming personal challenges, including cancer, she secured funding and showcased her product on 'Shark Tank,' which contributed to its successful launch and expansion.

Key points

  • Dawn Myers struggled with the lengthy and difficult process of caring for her curly hair, prompting her to innovate.
  • She identified a market gap for effective tools for textured hair after seeing a 'Shark Tank' pitch.
  • Myers created the Mint tool, which detangles and styles hair while using heating technology and refillable product pods.
  • The product reduces styling time significantly and minimizes hair damage by 70%.
  • Raising $1.4 million in venture funding involved personal sacrifices; she sold her home and liquidated her retirement funds.
  • Despite battling stage three colorectal cancer, Myers continued to push her business forward, eventually appearing on 'Shark Tank.'
  • Her appearance garnered investment from Mark Cuban and Emma Grede, aiding her product's launch.
  • Richualist was recognized as a notable startup by TechCrunch and is expanding its market presence.

Why it matters

  • The growth of natural hair acceptance has surged over the last 15 years, particularly among Black women.
  • Dawn Myers's story represents a significant achievement in entrepreneurship for women of color, especially in the beauty tech industry.
  • The beauty industry has historically overlooked textured hair care, reflecting broader trends in diversity and inclusion.
  • In 2025, the trend of personalized beauty solutions and tech innovations in hair care products continues to gain traction.

Dawn Myers’s journey reflects a blend of personal resilience and entrepreneurial spirit, illustrating the demand for innovation in textured hair care while breaking barriers for women of color in tech and beauty industries.