Ep 20: Julissa Prado, Rizos Curls - Proudly Leading Latina Curls to the Forefront Artwork

Black on Shelf

The Black on Shelf podcast episodes will inspire and empower you as Tenaj chats with emerging Black and Brown founders who will share their compelling stories, as well as leading Black and Brown industry experts sharing insights on how to build your brand and get your business retail-ready.Tenaj will also feature a special solo series titled “The Check-out” to share reviews on new, trending, and interesting products that she discovers during her product hunting trips in-stores and online! The Black on Shelf podcast will also open up the floor to the Black on Shelf community to share their personal favorite Black and underrepresented product finds! We tend to go for products and services we can easily relate to...things created with us in mind. It is time to put an end to the struggle of finding these products. It is time to champion and uplift the true VIPs and get all things black and brown on the physical and digital retail shelves!

All Episodes

Black on Shelf

Ep 20: Julissa Prado, Rizos Curls - Proudly Leading Latina Curls to the Forefront

November 10, 2021 • Tenaj Ferguson • Season 1 • Episode 20

This week, I spoke to Julissa Prado, Founder and CEO of Rizos Curls, a clean hair care line aimed at embracing and celebrating the beauty of curls, coils, and waves. Julissa was born and raised in Los Angeles; she is a first-generation American, her parents are from Mexico. Early in life, Julissa noticed the various textures of Latina hair amongst members of her family and community; yet one thing was consistent, everyone went through great lengths to straighten their hair. Her cousin conducted her first hair straightening experience with a clothes iron. She received so many compliments about her hair that day, all the attention got her hooked to the straightening bandwagon.

However, she soon discovered that the straightening process led to hair damage. With the desire to repair and restore her curls, Julissa saved up money and bought many curly hair products, but none worked. She decided to create a curly hair cocktail using natural ingredients and became her community’s “curl whisperer.” Julissa was the go-to person for hairstyles for special events and celebrations; her homemade hair product was indeed a hit.

Rizos Curls’ products ship to over 57 countries; they are also available at Target, Sally Beauty, and Alta. At Alta, it is the first curly hair product to be featured on their shelves. One of Julissa’s most recent milestones is having Mexico be the first country outside of the United States to sell her products at a major retailer and becoming the first Mexican-owned curly hair product line in the country. It was a full-circle moment for her as she reminisced about her father once working as a shoe shiner in Mexico, and now she is making waves in that same place. She describes her success as being bigger than her.

For the full show notes, visit our website: https://www.blackonshelf.com/episodes

Stream Black on Shelf NOW on Apple Podcast, Spotify, YouTube, Google Podcast, Amazon Music, Stitcher, and Pandora!

Connect with Rizos Curls:

Follow Rizos Curls on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rizoscurls/
Follow Rizos Curls on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rizoscurlshair
Visit the RIzos Curls website: https://rizoscurls.com/

Connect with Black on Shelf:

Follow BOS on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/blackonshelf/
Connect with BOS on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/black-on-shelf/
Connect with Tenaj on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tenajferguson
Follow BOS on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Blackonshelf/
Visit the Black on Shelf website: https://www.blackonshelf.com

Watch the full interview on Youtube: https://youtu.be/8crodQ0UTfk