Black History In The Making: Tiffini Gatlin, CEO & Founder of Latched and Hooked Beauty
We are our ancestors’ wildest dreams come true! And in our Black History In The Making interview series, we’ll show you just how accurate that statement is. During Black History Month, we will be highlighting change-makers, way-showers, creatives, and entrepreneurs who embody the spirit of #BlackExcellence.
Today we kick off the series talking about hair with Tiffini Gatlin, the CEO and Founder of Latched and Hooked Beauty. The Black Hair Experience is a foundational part of our culture, in the U.S. and across the diaspora. For Black women, our hair is our crown. And if our hair isn’t right—nothing feels right. Ms. Gatlin is an entrepreneur who helps Black and brown women get our hair looking beautiful, while keeping our scalps and hairlines healthy. The epitome of #BlackGirlMagic herself, she helps us all show up channeling our magic as well.
Tiffini has been featured on Essence, BET, and Good Morning America, and was honored by Ulta on their Ulta Beauty Muse 100 list. The category? “Hair Raisers: Hairstylists and influencers who are changing the game one lock, braid, twist, and strand at a time.”
Tiffini gave us insight into her journey as an entrepreneur, her proudest achievements, and what she considers to be her biggest contributions to the culture.
LH | Linked Inclusion
How did you get started? What or who inspired you?
TG
My first beauty business Curlkalon Hair was my baby. I created the first pre-curled and looped crochet hair for black women to prevent them from hot water burns while protective hairstyling. However, after a failed business partnership, I decided to sell the company and go into business solo expanding on my original vision and offering a wide variety of hair extension options that were not only pre-styled but non-toxic and safe to wear. I was inspired by the lack of options Black women had to shop non-toxic synthetic hair extensions, and ultimately by my two daughters.
LH | Linked Inclusion
There is no such thing as an overnight success. How long has it taken you to reach to this point? What have been some of your struggles along the way?
TG
I've been an entrepreneur since 2010 but specifically in the beauty industry since 2015. There have been a long list of struggles along the way and I don't know if you ever steer clear of struggle in some capacity, however I'd say the biggest struggles have been early access to capital to scale my business, being taken seriously as a viable beauty brand, and gaining the trust from consumers as a brand that has their best interest in mind when creating products.
LH | Linked Inclusion
How do you keep going when you hit roadblocks?
TG
It's not always easy. I pray. I confide in my husband and close friends. I read letters from my customers about how we helped them or just how much they enjoyed our product(s). And most importantly, I just keep moving forward. No matter how small the movement, I take the next step that moves me forward.
LH | Linked Inclusion
Have you encountered racism in your career, and if so, how have you dealt with it?
TG
Yes. I've encountered racism in my former corporate career and as an entrepreneur. I truly believe that someone who is being racist either doesn't know better or they do and they don't care. It hurts, but the way I deal with racism is the way I deal with most things that piss me off. I get vocal about it if I feel like it would benefit others from being aware of it, and I work hard(er) with hopes that no one has to deal with the same systematic racism I may have dealt with.
LH | Linked Inclusion
What are your proudest achievements so far, personally and professionally?
TG
Personally, my proudest achievements are my 4 children. They are the most amazing contributions I have placed on this earth. Professionally, it's the countless accolades (magazine articles, grants, national tv appearances etc.) I've been given over the years as a Black founder.
LH | Linked Inclusion
What do you consider to be your biggest contribution to the culture?
TG
My highest contribution to the culture is the pre-curled and looped crochet curls in a beautifully decorated box. I'd venture to say, had I not brought that product to market, pre-styled crochet options wouldn't be as prevalent on the beauty market as they are now.
LH | Linked Inclusion
Name someone from Black history and culture who inspires you.
TG
Madame CJ Walker's hustle and how she became a millionaire from selling a .50 cent product is really inspiring and lets me know anything is possible. Lisa Price is someone who inspires me because, like me, she started her passion to profit business in her home and I believe her authentic personality has made her one of the most successful Black women in beauty. I aspire to follow the path she's blazed for so many of us.
LH | Linked Inclusion
Have you ever felt like you are our ancestors’ wildest dreams come true? Tell us more.
TG
I do. I like to believe that our ancestors purposefully got into good trouble to make it easier on us and all they could imagine is that we would be bold enough to live the lives they fought so hard for but never had the opportunity to see come to fruition. I always feel like I was the chosen one to continue to unlock doors that were not meant for me to walk through. I'm the little rebel they'd hoped I'd be.
LH | Linked Inclusion
What is some advice that you wish someone had shared with you when you were starting out?
TG
I wish someone told me that failing is part of the process. Don't beat yourself up too much about it. Take every failure as an opportunity to learn and grow.
LH | Linked Inclusion
Why would you consider yourself and your achievements to be Black History In the Making?
TG
I consider my achievements to be Black History in the Making because not only did I recognize a gap in the beauty market and fill it, I created an opportunity for others who may want to invent and bring a similar product to market without the various barriers that initially stopped me in the beginning of my journey.
Tiffini Gatlin is an innovator with over 15 years of experience in direct to consumer sales. Currently, she is the CEO and Founder of Latched and Hooked Beauty. Latched and Hooked Beauty has a scalp-first approach to textured hair care with a mission to diversify the hair extension space with high-performance synthetic hair fibers and clean formulas that don't irritate or cause inflammation of the scalp.
Since her business launch five years ago,Tiffini has garnered the support of companies like Visa, Paypal and Google for Startups who awarded the brand with a $100k non-dilutive cash award to support her company’s vision to make beauty simple and accessible for Black women. Tiffini holds a BA in Public Relations from Clark Atlanta University. She enjoys community service with her sorority Delta Sigma Theta and traveling with her four children and husband of 16 years.
You can connect with Tiffini on social media here:
Lisa Hurley is a writer, speaker, and activist whose work focuses on anti-racism, texturism, and destigmatizing introversion. She is also a passionate advocate for inclusion, equity, and gender equality. Lisa is the Editor-At-Large of Linked Inclusion™, co-host of Real Talk on Racism, co-host of The Introvert Sisters podcast, and a member of the Black Speakers Collection.
She has been quoted in Forbes, Essence, and Fast Company, is a contributing writer for No White Saviors, and was selected as one of pocstock’s The Future of Black America Top 50 Leaders for 2022. Lisa is always interested in sharing meaningful conversations! Feel free to connect with her on social media.
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