From a young age, I was always drawn to beauty and hair care. Whether I was experimenting with DIY products in my kitchen or obsessing over YouTube tutorials, I found so much joy in learning how to care for my skin and hair. What started as a hobby soon became a passion—one that would ultimately turn into something much bigger than I ever imagined.
My name is India, and I started Synai Symone when I was just 14 years old. Now, at 21, I’ve spent nearly a decade building this brand from the ground up, driven by my love for hair care, my commitment to our community, and my mission to celebrate the beauty of Black hair in all its forms.
The Birth of Synai Symone
Growing up with eczema and sensitive skin meant that I relied heavily on unscented and skin-friendly products. I was always experimenting, mixing up my own concoctions for my skin and hair—or as my grandmother called them, my "juices and berries." From body butters to masks, oils, and soaps, I was obsessed with DIY beauty solutions.
The idea for Synai Symone first sparked when a teammate of mine asked to use a homemade body butter I had made. When she asked if I was selling them, I realized I had never even considered it.
Initially, I planned for Synai Symone to be a skincare brand, but my love for hair care pulled me in another direction. At the time, I was transitioning from permed hair back to my natural texture—we'll save that deep dive for another blog post. I fell in love with my hair during this journey, trying out different styles and accessories every week. I was a full-fledged YouTube girly, tuning into influencers like Naptural85, Daye La Soul, and Mini Marley to learn how to care for my natural hair. My ultimate dream was to be a natural hair guru with her own haircare brand.
Developing My First Product
Starting Synai Symone wasn’t easy... in fact, it's probably been the most draining yet rewarding journey I've ever been on. It took me three years and over 70 trials to develop my first product launch: the Repair and Restore Complex. Looking back, it was definitely my passion for creating a brand, backed by the grace of God, that kept me going after each failed formula.
At the time, I was working as a beauty consultant at Target, where I'd spend a lot of time studying ingredient lists on popular products to fuel my research. From that, I immersed myself in learning about emulsions, stability testing, viscosity—you name it! I felt like a chemist exploring the differences between a DIY product and a product you'd grab off the shelf. In another lifetime, I probably would have gone to school for cosmetic chemistry, but that too is a whole other story.
Taking the Leap into Business
At 16, I was about halfway through my formulation process. I decided to take the next big step and file for my LLC. Initially, my brand was Synai LLC, but when I realized the Instagram handle was taken, I pivoted to Synai Symone LLC. Many people ask where I got the name from—Synai is my middle name, and Symone is my sister's. She likes to joke that she owns half the business because of it. Although I had my LLC, I couldn’t open a business bank account without parental control, which I didn’t want. So, I made a decision right there in the bank: I would officially launch Synai Symone on my 18th birthday. And I did.
Launching Synai Symone
I invested everything into my business, from hand-designing the sleek black packaging to ordering materials and pouring my savings into bringing this vision to life. My goal was clear: to create products that wouldn’t irritate my sensitive skin while also educating our community about hair care—whether misconceptions, malpractices, or tips and tricks.
Having an aunt who is a licensed cosmetologist and salon owner, I was always fascinated by hair care—not just the maintenance and styling but the chemistry behind it all. She was my biggest inspiration, my very first customer, and my number one supporter every step of the way. She even gave me a shelf in her salon, becoming my first "retail" partner. Her belief in me and Synai Symone has meant everything. Love you, Auntie!
Beyond that, I wanted Synai Symone to be a brand that celebrates Black hair in all its forms. Too often, we judge each other for how we choose to wear our hair, whether it’s natural, colored, permed, braided, or cut short. While many brands focused solely on kinks, curls, and coils, I wanted to stand out as a brand that celebrates the versatility of Black hair. Whether it’s a fro, locs, braids, pixie cuts, buss downs, bobs, silk presses, fades, or waves—we eat every time! Each style also comes with different levels of maintenance, requiring tailored routines and products, yet I had never seen a Black-owned brand create a line that truly embraces all styles. I wanted to build a brand that people could turn to, no matter what they were trying to achieve with their hair.
The FAMU Influence
On my 18th birthday, I launched my first five products—all wash day essentials. Just as my business was taking off, I started my journey at Florida A&M University (FAMU), which became a major catalyst for Synai Symone’s early success. The support from my FAMUly was incredible, and for that, I’m forever grateful.
By my junior year, I launched my second product line, Refresh & Retain, inspired by my mom and sister, who both had locs yet had a hard time finding affordable products for their hair. I wanted to expand my brand to serve the loc community, and might I add, my FAMUly went crazy over the Aloe Vera Hydration Mist! This was the moment I started seeing consistent sales, but balancing my brand with school meant I couldn’t fully commit just yet.
Transitioning to Atlanta
After graduating and moving back to Atlanta, I was ready to pour everything into Synai Symone. However, I quickly realized that I had left behind my strongest support system at FAMU. Shifting from in-person campus events to selling primarily online was a challenge, and while I’ve participated in Atlanta events, success has been hit or miss. But through it all, I’m still here, still standing, and still pushing toward that same vision that ignited 7 years ago.
I now hand make each product in my dad’s kitchen, where my production equipment and ingredients take up about half of our cabinets (shout out to you, homie!). Depending on the batch and the intricacies of each item, the process can take anywhere from 2-6 hours, or even stretch out over the course of a week. It's a labor of love, and every step reflects my passion for quality and creating products that truly make a difference.
The Future of Synai Symone
Right now, I’m working on my third product launch, which is going to take everyone by surprise—so be sure to stay tuned! All I can say is that Synai Symone is on the rise to take over. This brand will be known not just for its amazing products but for its dedication to the culture, community advocacy, and education.
I want everyone to know that a fro is just as unique as locs, which slay just as hard as the buss down, which eats just as much as the pixie cut, which gives just like the waves and fades, which are just as fire as the silk press. All of these styles are beautiful and valid forms of self-expression. My vision is for Synai Symone to be a brand that serves our community in every way possible—a brand truly for us, by us. So be sure to grab your haircare essentials and stay tuned because we’re just getting started!
