Gillian Nelson, founder of Sunny In Denbigh, turned a personal quest for effective natural hair care solutions into a flourishing business that now empowers women everywhere. What began as a way to solve her own challenges has grown into a trusted brand that celebrates authenticity, community, and the beauty of natural hair. Through Sunny In Denbigh, Nelson has created a space where education and high-quality products come together to help women — particularly women of color — embrace and care for their hair, no matter the season. As the brand prepares for another groundbreaking year, Nelson continues to inspire with her journey of resilience and purpose.
As someone who turned a personal need into a thriving business, what do you think is the most fulfilling aspect of starting a product-based company?
The most fulfilling part of starting a product based business is to see that something you created for yourself and your family, is now serving and providing solutions for other people who have similar struggles. It is very satisfying to receive testimonials from customers sharing their hair victories because of something you created. Now that’s super fulfilling!
Fear of judgment and failure kept you from sharing your products with the world for years. Now that Sunny In Denbigh is thriving, how do you handle vulnerability in the public eye, and what advice would you give to other women battling similar fears?
It’s always a vulnerable place to be open about your life and something that you’ve created with the public. However, as I’ve gotten older and more seasoned on social media, I have realized that authenticity is key. Freeing yourself from other people’s opinions and judgment about you is so liberating and this has allowed me to walk in my truth and serve our community at the highest level. I would tell other women with similar fears to push past it . It’s not easy to do and it’s definitely a process, but if you were able to care less about what other people think of you then and only then will you be able to show up in your essence and walk fully in your purpose!
Natural hair care is as much about education as it is about products. What are some hair care tips you can provide, especially women of color as we navigate the fall/winter seasons?
This is absolutely true while good quality hair products are important. Hair practices are equally or more important. Taking care of your strands and being intentional with your regimen is a big part of the equation. For the fall and winter months, I would recommend keeping your strands covered as much as possible, curly hair is super delicate and prone to breakage when exposed to harsh conditions. The extreme cold weather and below freezing temps can be very stressful for curly strands. Keeping your ends secure and tucked away is going to be essential for length retention and healthy hair growth during the cooler. Also, when wearing your strands out, be mindful as curly hair will snag on sweaters, scarves and woolly clothing. It’s sim[le and common sense approaches like this can be game changing when caring for curly strands during the cooler months.
Sunny In Denbigh has grown organically from word-of-mouth and personal recommendations. What exclusive news can you share with us about the company as we approach the new year?
Sunny in Denbigh has grown by leaps and bounds since the beginning of 2019. While, we have lots in store for the upcoming year, we are most excited about introducing our redesigned subscription program and offering incentives for customer referrals. Our best customers come from word of mouth and we love introducing our Sunflowers to new products through our subscription program.
What other vital information would you like to share with our readers at this time?
Please follow us on our social media channels @sunnyindenigh, and also join our broadcasting channels to stay abreast on everything Sunny In Denbigh on Instagram.
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