Rebecca launched Pro Blo Group with a dream, drive, passion and a product she believed would revolutionize the way women blowout their hair or as they call it in the U.K, ‘blow dry’ their hair. Rebecca was convinced that there was a gap in the market for women who wanted to achieve that salon look but couldn’t afford the time or cost, so she set about creating a blowout system that was luxurious yet affordable and CurlME by Pro Blo was born in December 2014.
Pro Blo Group
Fast forward four years and Pro Blo is dominating the hair industry, loved by stylists around the globe, organically endorsed by celebrities such as Huda Beauty and rapidly growing a loyal customer base, or as they are called ‘Blo Queens’ Pro Blo is a phenomenon and a success story that we wanted to hear all about.
Rebecca recalls the moment she decided to walk out on her secure job to pursue what was then a dream:
“I had finally got the promotion I had worked so hard for but it just didn’t fulfill me and I knew I wanted more, I remember my dad saying to me, find something you love and you will never work a day in your life and that stuck with me. I craved the concept of doing something I loved, something I was truly passionate about. Pro Blo grew very quickly in the beginning but I was conscious that ‘overnight success’ was not a real long-term business plan so I stuck to my 9-5 banking and ran the business around the clock. I remember booking a day off work in the bank to go and launch into Selfridges, thinking back it was crazy!
But I balanced both and survived of very little sleep for the first six months until I decided to walk away from the bank, I just knew if I didn’t give Pro Blo 100% of my time I would always question, what if. The day I walked out on my job, I sublet my apartment and moved back in with my mum, every penny I had gone into the business. I had no idea what I was doing, no business plan, no understanding of the industry, no knowledge of manufacturing or logistics, or pretty much anything, but I knew I would make it happen. I believed in the idea but more than anything, I believed in myself, in my ability to make it happen and in my heart and my head I knew that I would launch the product to market and I would make it a success.”
Rebecca is from Liverpool, England a place renowned for glamour and big blowouts! Rebecca would spend Saturday morning in the salon having a weekly blowout and then try to recreate the look at home in between salon visits. Cosmetologists and stylists have always used a technique of leaving brushes in their client’s hair to cool, the hot to cool mechanism allows the hair to lock in the curl. A blowout obsessed Rebecca quickly learned it was impossible to recreate the salon method on yourself so became the queen of the top knot in between her weekly salon visit. The lightbulb moment was in Rebecca’s apartment when her hairbrush barrel snapped away from the hande:
“I was standing in the bathroom with a broken hairbrush and quickly wrapped the barrel into my bangs and heated up the ceramic, ten minutes later I removed the barrel and I was hooked! From that moment I knew I had stumbled upon a product that other women craved (they just didn’t know it yet). The idea was simple, I wanted to give women a salon blowout who either can’t afford a weekly appointment or can’t afford the time. That was the beginning of everything and remains the core of my business”
Pro Blo does exactly that, offering a range of detachable blow dry brush sets to cater for all hair types, creating salon-worthy hair at home. If you want curls, bounce or volume? If you want 6, 8 or 12 CurlME barrels in your kit? Pro Blo has got you covered!
A humble plan to sell on eBay was quickly halted and Pro Blo launched to Selfridges within the initial 3 months of business. Fast forward four years and Rebecca has a £2m empire working with National stockists such as Selfridges, ASOS and Harvey Nicols, distribution in Russia, Kuwait and Europe and more than 12 product lines, including a styling range which is the UK made, vegan and cruelty-free. The further endorsement came in 2018 when CurlME was awarded Beauty Awards 2018 for best hair styling product.
Rebecca leaned on social media in the initial growth of Pro Blo and believes the opportunities on social platforms are endless, but only if you get it right;
“Social media platforms are very saturated with brands and business trying to be seen. Pro Blo launched four years ago and rewind four years content was a lot more organic and the algorithm was chronological so it was a space that you could reach users with very little budget. Fast forward to today and you really have to be smart with your strategy and where you invest your marketing budget, it’s really easy to spend with little return on your investment.’’
Despite the social media changes Pro Blo boasts a social media following of over 500,000 users who are very active and largely promote the brand across their personal platforms;
“It’s honestly amazing! We call our followers and customers our Blo Queens. I just feel it gives them a part in our brand because ultimately they are the biggest part of Pro Blo and social platforms give us the opportunity to connect. We receive thousands of tags, direct messages and photos so to be able to interact is just the best, but equally to be able to share real results, real reviews it really allows us to show our credibility. The flip side is the not so great feedback but that is even more important, it allows us to hear what our Blo Queens want and to become the best we can be. I love that we can drop two new product designs out there and have our Blo Queens choose which one makes it to market. To me, that is just so cool and so relevant in 2019.”
Pro Blo almost feels like it is becoming a machine and what was once a one-woman team now boasts a very on-brand HQ and employees a full team:
“Our new HQ is everything I imagined, we moved in earlier this year and I’m already thinking of expansion for the future, but that is my problem, when I achieve one goal I am already focusing on the next, but that is something I’m working on, I need to learn to celebrate the small successes along the way! As the business has grown so has our team and it is so exciting to feel part of something bigger.”
Finally, I asked Rebecca:
What motivates you?
Freedom! Freedom and feeling fulfilled were what I wanted when I started Pro Blo. Now I would say it is more the thrill of the chase!
Biggest lesson you have learned?
Where do I start? I have learned so much, the good, the bad and the really ugly! The hardest lesson was letting go of people’s opinions because people really do have them! I have made mistakes through lack of knowledge but this is the best learning curve, right? But ultimately I have learned that anything is possible if you are willing to work really hard and commit 110%, to always trust my gut and be true to myself, my morals and what I believe in.
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![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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