Britt Buys Black: Interview with Cara Elaine, Creator of the Soul Curly Kit
As I wrap up this beauty segment focusing on natural hair, I had the opportunity to feature the winner of the giveaway I put on with Snaps x Styles this spring. Her name is Cara Elaine, and she is a content creator and entrepreneur (soon to be serial, I can feel it). We talked travel, natural hair and business. Check out my interview with her below:
Authentic Facts
Name: Cara Elaine
Hometown: A True Hoosier from Indianapolis. A Pike Red Devil!
Education: Kelley Grad from IU-Bloomington
Fave Black Business to Support:
Lilly’s Kloset (https://www.lillyskloset.net/)
Fave Brunch Spot: First Watch (recommends Kale Spinach Juice), Gallery Pastry Bar
Favorite Places to Travel: NOLA (annual), Belize, São Paulo, Brazil
Where to find her!
@JustCaraElaine (https://lnk.bio/1u2r) https://www.soulcurlykit.com/
www.CaraElaine.com
B: What inspired you to start blogging?
C: I went to study abroad when I was an undergrad in Brazil, and I wanted a way to keep up with my family and friends about what I was experiencing there. So I started this blog and that's all it was. Just this little travel blog and then overtime I continued to create content with it, and it turned into more of a natural hair, beauty and lifestyle blog. That's what I really focus on today essentially and what I really love.
B: And I know you’ve got something else brewing...
C: As soon as I stopped talking, it hit my brain! Yes, so my first baby is growing. Her name is Soul Curly Kit and it is a textured hair care kit provider for all the kinkises, coilies and curlies out there. It's a way for you to get hair products, tools and accessories in a convenient way. You don't have to think about it. You don't have to do your homework. You can just have what you need to get through your wash day routine and some things that’ll help make your natural hair journey easier.
B: So when did you go natural or have you been natural for life?
C: Oh no, I’m not a lifer. (laughs) I want to say somewhere between fifth and sixth grade somewhere in there I got my first perm and I was on the creamy crack until I got to my sophomore year in college and then I was like, “I don't have time to get my hair done. I'm just going to let it grow and see what happens.”
B:I would have loved the Soul Curly Kit when I went natural. I didn’t know what I was doing.
C: None of us did! (laughs)
B: So tell me more about the process of launching Soul Curly Kit.
C: What I envision for my business to be is not exactly what it is now, but I was able to launch and bring the customers in so that I can get their feedback on what more they're looking for. This first box is called the Curls in Bloom kit. You're going to see products from Imbue Curls and hair tools from Naturally Us Collective, which are Black and Latina-owned small businesses. You're going to see four solid products included in every kit: your shampoo, conditioner cream gel, and leave in. But then, you can customize your kit with the most necessary items for your natural hair journey and your needs. You can choose from a hair serum or oil as well as either some satin scrunchies or a mist spray bottle. It’s an opportunity to try new things. It's called a discovery kit for a reason. You never know what was missing from your routine that can really take it to the next level and make it easier for you.
B: What does it mean to you to be a Black-woman-owned business?
C: I mean because I have this entrepreneurial spirit about me, it feels like I'm home in a sense. This is my space. This is where I can really like, have MY thing. I'm excited and I look up to so many Black-women-owned businesses I have to say, especially in the hair care industry. I just honestly really rely on them for inspiration.
B: How do you deal with the saturation in the beauty industry as well as content creation?
C: Yeah, I mean I definitely feel saturation not necessarily from my business point of view [Soul Curly Kit]. But as a content creator and blogger, I definitely do feel saturation. But I would say that there's so much power in our collaboration. Collaborating with others in our same space, in our same interest. And I mean when you have something that tugs at your heart and pulls at your emotions, and your feelings and it is just something pulling you towards something, that's a calling. Regardless of whoever is doing it, doesn't mean that you shouldn't. I think it's really hard for us to have blinders on when we're pursuing our passions because regardless of what it is, it is so easy to just look at what's going on with the other people. How come it's not like that or why don't I have ___? Stay in your lane. Stay focused on what you want.
B: I love that. So this blog is based on finding authentic beauty in your everyday life. So what does that mean to you?
C: I have learned that I am way more creative than I think I am or thought I ever was, and so because of that, I understand I am always going to be overwhelmed with the amount of creative energy that is like a bouncing around in my head. I've grown to realize that that's okay to be overwhelmed by it. I try to keep notes in my phone with all these things that bounce around, so I can release them and then decide like what what do I actually want to tackle. I would have to say I guess authentic beauty is my creativity just comes to me and I've gotten to a point where I try not to let it overwhelm me. I embrace what I can do now, and try and think about how and when I can do other things later.
I told you this is just the beginning of Cara’s creative pursuits. Be sure to follow her on all her social platforms and grab your own Soul Curly Kit! I already got mine! (You can do Paypal pay-in-four too!)
Stay creative, stay beautiful!