Bryesha | Luster's PINK

In this unfiltered chat, Resa Luster-Mac of PINK Product's Inc. spills the tea on  running a legacy haircare beauty brand while juggling innovation with tradition. Expect laughs, inspiration and plenty of gems about staying grounded by always having the willingness to learn and the importance of self-care!

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:12

Hey everyone, we have a special guest in the studio today. Our guest wears so many hats and wears them beautifully, might I add. She represents both legacy and innovation. As third generation chief officer of a black-owned hair company, she carries forward a tradition built on culture, community, and care. Beyond the boardroom, she's a fashionista, fitness goals, a loving wife, and a busy mom of three. Here with us today, let's welcome Risa Lester Mack. Hi, thank you so much for having me. Gorgeous! You look amazing today.

SPEAKER_01 0:52

Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 0:53

Absolutely. How are you feeling? I feel great.

SPEAKER_01 0:55

I'm excited to be here.

SPEAKER_00 0:57

I'm so excited you pulled up and came through despite this crazy weather what happened. I know.

SPEAKER_01 1:02

It's crazy out here. It was like summer on Monday. It's like it's gonna snow. It was supposed to snow today, but now it's gonna snow Saturday.

SPEAKER_00 1:12

Jesus. It's well, we're getting to spring, so I thought, you know, the rain meant it's gonna be snow. This is warm. We got all four seasons in what? One week?

SPEAKER_01 1:22

Mm-hmm. We're gonna But keep the hats on. That's why I tell my husband. Keep the hats on the kids.

SPEAKER_00 1:28

Uh-uh.

SPEAKER_01 1:28

Because the weather just changes so quickly, like a lot of sinus infections. Like you know, that's how you get sick. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:34

I was gonna say, and plus in school too, with germs, you never know what kids bring back home. That's a lot. So keep the hats. That's your motto.

SPEAKER_01 1:40

Keep the hats on.

SPEAKER_00 1:41

Keep the hats on. Until when? When the hats come off.

SPEAKER_01 1:44

Until the jackets need to come off. Like we gotta put a jacket and put a hat on.

SPEAKER_00 1:48

Okay, okay. All right. So we got a lot to talk about today, so we're gonna get right to it. So first we're gonna first get down to business. Okay. So Lester Product Inc. is the world's leading African American owned manufacturer of premium hair care products. So can you share with us a little bit more about your role as chief officer and what inspired you to want to step into that leadership role within the company?

SPEAKER_01 2:15

That's a two-part question. Okay, so my role. I'm a third generation luster. Um I tell people I wasn't forced into my family's business because I wasn't. We literally, we were all brought up not to go into the family business. Really? We were told what opposite? The opposite, which is what I recommend everybody do. Um we were told, find your passion in life. If it's finger painting, if it's medicine, like go to school for that. It just so happened I love, like, I've always loved fitness. I was a tomboy for some time. Uh but I liked fashion and makeup and all of that as I got older. I worked in retail in college. I interned different places as well. Um, and when it was like my senior year of graduating, my dad came to me and was like, would you be interested in coming into the family business? And I was caught off guard, like, wait, what? I was in school telling people I'm gonna move to New York, I'm gonna do this, I'm gonna do that. I'm working at the time I was working at Express and um Armani Exchange, and I was inquiring, like, okay, what are the corporate positions? What do those look like? Oh, okay. I wasn't, it wasn't even on my radar, and I and I had an African-American professor that asked, like, the class, like, what field do you want to go into? And she was familiar with my last name. Okay. And I said, Oh, I'm gonna go into beauty or fashion somewhere. And she was like, Somewhere. Like, she couldn't even connect the dots, and she said something to me, like, you wouldn't go into your family's business. And I was like, No, just no. I mean, you're on your own path. Yeah, because my I was never forced to go into the family business, which I am grateful for because I've seen kids who were forced to go into the business, and it's a disaster. And at the end of the day, it comes out, I never wanted to be here. You told me to go to school for a while, you told me to go to school for medicine, you told me to go to school for business. So it's so important as parents, we allow our kids to do them. Like, especially me as a parent, like I see my kids like I don't force things like extracurriculars on them. Like, what do you like? Okay, let's explore. But just so their brains are small, but just so they could know what's out there, you know?

SPEAKER_00 4:14

Good for you. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 4:16

I do push academics though.

SPEAKER_00 4:17

But outside of that, that's fantastic that you should. Yes. Okay, so what inspired you then to want to step into the a leadership role?

SPEAKER_01 4:26

Uh, it just happens. It just happens. It's my family. The Luster family is very reserved, like, which is why for so long, um, we've taken some hits when the newer brands started coming out and making a lot of noise on social media. The company was built in the 50s by a black man. So my grandfather's motto was always walk softly but carry a big stick. In other, in other terms, walk softly, but your product should speak value. You should not have to boast about yourself in this product, right? Right. So when the newer brands came out, like, hey, yes, I'm staying, I got this going on. Like my family was like, oh my God, like, oh my god. And it's like, no, no, no, we gotta do this. We're gonna be like, fine. Come on, let's get to get to talking. Oh no, no, no, no. We were so against social media. Then it turned into let's get influencers, but you know, influencers, a lot of them just want to check. Buy this, black-owned brand, support, really selling, look at my hair, and then tomorrow it's another brand they're advocating for, you know? So um, passion. But I know what we're doing here at Lusterland. We're the only brand that is family-owned, black-owned. We're the oldest family-owned, black-owned brand in the world. Yeah. We are formulating, we are manufacturing. We're our our formulas are EU compliant, you know, and a lot of the false things are put out there like mineral oil is bad for you. Baby, that's why your hair was thriving when you were a kid. Yeah. Because your mom was using pink lotion. Now you just use straight up coconut oil and olive oil, your hair could be dried out by the end of the hour, okay? So, so just passion. I know the greatness that what we're doing in the family business. And my grandfather, he started off as a barber on the south side of Chicago. He came from Mississippi. His family was threatened to leave or it was not gonna be good. Yeah, they had a farm. They were of color, right? We're black, they had a successful farming business. Okay. Um, people found out they didn't look like us, and they said, hey, if y'all don't get out of here within 24 hours, his parents, they went to his parents, he was a little boy. Okay. If you don't get out of here in 24 parents, you guys are not gonna be okay tomorrow. Sheesh. So with less than 24 hours, they had to flee Yazoo, Mississippi.

SPEAKER_00 6:36

What? In case you're gonna be able to do it. And come to Chicago. Started from scratch. Wow, no, I did not know that. Oh my gosh. Okay. That's an interesting backstory.

SPEAKER_01 6:47

I need to go find out about this farm. I might be able to get it back. Because a lot of families are doing that now. Yes, I was gonna say if you were threatening, you gotta go. Like back then in the whatever, like the you couldn't play with them. So Okay.

SPEAKER_00 7:03

So as we know, business a lot of times isn't linear. There's ups and downs, highs and lows. So it it it is a cycle. So would you say there are any valuable lessons that you've learned that helped shape how you navigate now with the company?

SPEAKER_01 7:18

Yes. Um be willing to pivot.

SPEAKER_00 7:22

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 7:23

I am in, I'm I'm in I'm a third generation to a family-owned business. It's not as easy as people think. Like the ownership is my dad on an uncle. My grandfather left the company to his three children. And so with that, it's a lot of pushback. Like social media. I remember graduating from college saying, like, we gotta do this, and this is serious. And we saw people like, oh, we need billboards, we need print ads. So it's a lot of pushback on simple things. It's like, I know what I'm gravitating towards, and this is kind of skewing up, you know, at age. We gotta bring it, you know, a little bit down to stay relevant. And so it's pushback. Even social media and getting me out there to tell this family story when I was younger. Um, before I got married and had kids, rather. Like, they were like, oh no, we don't need her out the line, so I'm gonna kidnap her. Like, they just literally were like petrified of all this because safety concerns, and it's like, oh no, it's okay, you know, I'm not gonna do anything crazy. You know, I'm just telling the family story, talking about products. But I sometimes sit and reflect and I'm like, well, was I really able? Lusters are very shy.

unknown 8:25

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 8:26

Like, we're very shy, very reserved. Our products have always spoken for us. And just as people, we're reserved, under the radar type people. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. So I don't even know at the time if I was really able to do what I'm doing now.

SPEAKER_00 8:38

What do they say now about social media? Are they like okay with it?

SPEAKER_01 8:41

Like, oh, they're like, um, yeah, they see the correlation. So they're like, wait, you went live? Like explaining going live to them is like, you know, wait, what? You went live, and okay, these are the sales. Okay, then we have e-commerce sales, then we have distributors calling, and people are posting about the brand, and then they're citing things you said from the live. Like, what is going on? And the people calling my dad, like, hey, what product do I need to buy? He's like, I've known you for 20 years. You never asked me what product I need to buy. Now you need to know. So they see the impact, they're forever grateful. Okay. Um, it's a moving ship. It's just, I'm the one they send out to talk because the Lester family is rather reserved. Yeah. Uh, I'm the one they sent out to talk.

SPEAKER_00 9:21

And you're an amazing spokesperson, might have. Yeah, yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:24

Well, I mean, it didn't, like I said, it didn't start this way. We're all, we are terrible at public speaking. What? All of us. Now that I can't believe I in college, when it was time like to speak in a classroom setting, girl will go to the bathroom high. Stop. Maybe they will forget. I've been back five minutes. Okay, maybe I could go back now. No, even when I first got to Luster, like we were in New York for an activation, and I got on the stage and I was like sweating bullets. I was so nervous, and my dad was like, uh, so if there's any like public speaking opportunities, it's my father or I who called to do it. The other ones will go missing. They'll go missing just like I did in college. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:00

Well, you do it well. You do it great.

SPEAKER_01 10:03

A lot of practice.

SPEAKER_00 10:04

Okay, so we're gonna talk a little bit of stats here. So the global beauty industry is valued at over $600 billion, and it's expected to surpass that by 2028. I saw. Skincare is the largest segment, followed by cosmetics, hair care, and fragrances. With that being said, what challenges do you think black-owned brands still face when competing in such a large market? And how can consumers better support black-owned beauty companies? Buy black.

SPEAKER_01 10:32

Um, you know, it's so funny. I talk about this all the time. A lot of brands have sold. Like we've seen all the brands when my grandfather was, you know, building luster, like they built themselves and they sold off. Um general market brands could never figure out how to connect to us as black women. They could never figure it out, which is why we're seeing them acquiring so many brands now.

SPEAKER_00 10:55

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 10:55

Um, I just, you know, tell people buy black, know who like people separate. I still go live and people are like, You're not a black owned company. They're just using you. I'm like, whoa, slow it down. Slow it down. We are black owned. A lot of people, there is a false. And some people never knew Luster was black owned ever.

SPEAKER_00 11:13

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 11:13

I'll go live and they're like, Wait, wait, wait. Luster don't just mean like, what that's a it's a black family with the actual last name Luster. And it's like, yeah, I'm Risa Luster, Mac. I'm married, so I have Mac as well now. Right, right. But you know, yeah, it's a real black family out of Chicago, Southside, who makes hair care products. And people are like, well, I never knew this. And I used the product. I thought y'all was white on. Or it's either I thought you guys are white on or I thought you guys sold.

SPEAKER_00 11:38

Right. I was gonna say that. That's a popular one that I hear sometimes.

SPEAKER_01 11:42

Yeah. And we have not sold. We've never taken on investors. Like I said, my family has my dad went to school for business. My uncle went to school for chemistry, and my aunt went to school for technology. So my grandfather did a great job in making it. Yeah, and it was crazy. So my grandfather started off as like a kitchen chemist. He would be in his barber shop mixing ingredients together because his clients would complain about a dry, itchy scalp. And so he passed it on to his clients, like, here, just try this. Like he wasn't looking for compensation. He's like, he just saw a issue and he needed a neat, yeah. So he just created something here, try it. Then word spread around the Chicagoland area around this amazing product. But you know, with time, you realize, okay, I need to bring science into the mix. So my uncle, my dad's brother, went to school for chemistry. My dad went to school for business, and is the reason the company has scaled. We're sold in over 70 different countries. And then my aunt went to school for technology, and my grandfather was like, Have you lost my mind? What is that? Like he was almost like, she, so she, when she finished her certification, she did not come into the family business. She went to work for some banks that are well known, which is now have like sold in, I guess, like it'll be equivalent to like BMO owning them now. Okay. Um, and then he saw that he, oh my god, I need I need to bring technology in here. Like, we gotta, okay, we gotta implement systems. And then he was like, Yes, my daughter. Okay. And he brought her in. And that was his end goal for his three children to take over the family business.

SPEAKER_00 13:01

Oh my gosh, what a great story. This is phenomenal. Thank you. Um, okay, so I've never done this before, but I think it's it'll be fun. I've got a rapid fire questions round if you're down for that little game. I'm excited. Okay, all right. So it's rapid fire, so just say whatever comes to mind. Okay. All right, you're going on vacation and you can only pack one hair care product. What is it gonna be?

SPEAKER_01 13:29

Esclano drip.

SPEAKER_00 13:31

S curl no drip. Okay. What is a hair trend that needs to end? It could be past, present.

SPEAKER_01 13:38

The edges. Please stop with the edges, guys. I mean, I don't mind the edges. Let me explain why I say this. Dermatologists are now claiming the constant brushing of your baby hair and the girls are flat ironing them. The edges, yeah. It's causing like traction alopecia. Thinning, thinning really badly on these young girls. They ain't even made it to college yet. So let's like kind of, you know, do your edges every other day, every two days. But not every day with the excessive brushing. Then those hard gels you guys are using with alcohol that's breaking the edges off. Uh, these edges are like broken off. Like it's a drastic difference between your hair length and like the edges now. It looks broken off, especially when you blow dry it out because you can see everything when you're straightened.

SPEAKER_00 14:19

You can.

SPEAKER_01 14:20

Um, so you know, those hard 24, 50, 100-hour whole edge gels, a lot of alcohol in there. Our hair needs hydration, hydration, hydration. You're breaking your hair off because it is lacking hydration. So let's let's be more mindful. More young people are experiencing traction alopecia.

SPEAKER_00 14:37

Traction alopecia, that's what they call it.

SPEAKER_01 14:39

That's self-inflicted. Oof. That's self-inflicted. It's not like the regular alopecia where it just happens you're losing your hair. Traction alopecia is self-inflicted due to high tension styling. Oh gosh. And young girls with the wigs, the tight braids. Like protective styles were not meant to be worn 365 days out of the year. You gotta work your hair. Let your scalp and hair breathe, thinning hair. That's what I'm trying to do now. Yeah, let it breathe. Let it breathe.

SPEAKER_00 15:08

And even some of the like you said, edges. I see some girls like cutting hair to make edges.

SPEAKER_01 15:13

And it's like, if you gotta do all that, I don't mind you cutting it, but like the constant brushing and using the glue. Yeah. Some people are using glues to lay glue? Glue.

SPEAKER_00 15:23

Okay, they don't take it too far.

SPEAKER_01 15:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:25

Okay, so what is the most important thing you can do to maintain healthy hair?

SPEAKER_01 15:30

Uh keep it hydrated. The number one need of people with curly, coily, textured hair is hydration, hydration, hydration, and moisturization. So you got to keep that hair extremely hydrated. Just like your skin is losing hydration, okay, your hair is as well.

SPEAKER_00 15:45

Okay. So, on the contrary to that, what is damaging to your hair without you maybe even knowing it? Well, the number one styles right now are braids. What kind of braids are we talking? Just kind of synthetic braiding hair.

SPEAKER_01 15:58

The number one style right now is braids. That's tension. And that braiding hair is sucking the life out of your hair. Have your braiders braid your hair with pink lotion and that braid gel. Uh, synthetic braiding hair, we don't really know what it's made of, made up of. Like we're hearing so many different things. It's not healthy, it's this and that, but it's sucking the life out of our hair. It's drying it out. I would grab that no drip, our S-Curl no drip. It's an OG item, but it is glycerin-based, and glycerin is amazing for your hair. It's a humectant, it's gonna draw more hydration to your hair or our instant moisturizer, which is a newer formulation on it, infused with more natural ingredients. Uh, but that's gonna be amazing for that style. Three to four times a week, and you'll be good to go.

SPEAKER_00 16:39

Ooh, you landed on us. I love this. Okay. Um, perms. Are they good, bad? Yes, no. I tell everybody when I go live.

SPEAKER_01 16:47

So I just believe in being very real, right? We love that. So a lot of people have things to say about relaxers. And okay. I personally believe, do you, whatever you choose to do. But I do happen to know we are the only black owned family-owned brand that is manufacturing relaxers and have an owner that uses them. How many other owners are using their own relaxers? They probably not. So uh, there you go. I'm just saying, mic job, okay.

SPEAKER_00 17:15

And oh, okay, so And she would beat us down.

SPEAKER_01 17:18

My aunt would beat us down. We was like, We're not doing it. Oh my God. And her hair is long, it is healthy, it is strong. She's actually one of my grandfather's first like clients to receive a relaxer. So I just believe, do you? And a lot of people aren't relaxing their hair like they used to back in the day.

SPEAKER_00 17:34

True.

SPEAKER_01 17:34

Back in the day, they were relaxing it for it to be bone straight. Uh-huh. Um, today they're relaxing it more to relax the curl a little bit so it could be more manageable.

SPEAKER_00 17:42

Right.

SPEAKER_01 17:43

So they're really running it through almost you with like a texturizer versus like bone straight. I want my hair straight every day.

SPEAKER_00 17:48

So okay. So I've seen you switch up your hairstyles. You go from sometimes boho braids to silk press, natural curls, which you have to do. Pixie cuts, anything.

SPEAKER_01 17:57

I've been platinum blonde, I've done everything.

SPEAKER_00 18:01

So, with that being said, if you had to pick one style to wear for a year, what are you picking?

SPEAKER_01 18:07

My wash and go.

SPEAKER_00 18:08

Wash and go.

SPEAKER_01 18:09

Okay. Because it's just I have kids. It's easy. Uh-huh. While my kids are young, it's easy. Just I love my curls. Uh-huh. Um, it's just easy. You could wear it anywhere. You could wear it in the boardroom, you could wear it to the gym. I mean, I would have to pineapple at the gym rather, but I just love my wash and go. I'm so proud of my hair. And don't get me wrong, I was addicted to weaves.

SPEAKER_00 18:31

Were you?

SPEAKER_01 18:32

And my husband was like, Wear your hair. What is wrong with you? You are in a family business that manufactures hair care products.

SPEAKER_00 18:39

Right. I was gonna say, why would you even want to do that?

SPEAKER_01 18:41

Because I'm a woman. I wanted, I I used to wear wigs. What? I would get them installed, uh quick weaves, ponytails. Um, I would wear my hair curly, but I would wear clipping pieces to make it even bigger. I I just loved weave for like a long time. And then my husband was like, wear your hair.

SPEAKER_00 19:00

How did you feel about that?

SPEAKER_01 19:01

I was like, ugh, get away from me now. And then I was like, you know what? It makes sense. Let's do it. And then I think at that same time, that's when I started hearing people who were their hair was thinning out, and you know, and I used to bleach my hair. And you know, bleaching your hair, contrary to what people might believe, it also alters your curl pattern. It's more like relaxing your hair. The lighter you go, the more straight that curl pattern is gonna become and dry it out, which is why you see people who are platinum with textured hair and the hair looks like like cotton candy or just hay wiry.

SPEAKER_00 19:34

Is it a way to restore back to your natural curl pattern, or do you have to like cut it and start over?

SPEAKER_01 19:38

Cut it and start over. You need to do a lot of deep conditioning treatments. I would also recommend you use our S-Curl No Trip or Instant Moisturizer followed by our light, if you're like platinum, our light pink lotion. We make two different versions of pink lotion.

SPEAKER_02 19:49

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 19:50

Um, but you gotta keep that hair hydrated with that platinum hair color. That's the key.

SPEAKER_00 19:54

Okay, well, that's the game. Very nice. So now we're gonna switch to we talked about a little bit of the business side. Now I want to talk about a little bit personal side of side. So not only are you growing a family business, but you're growing a family of your own. Ma'am. The question is, how do you juggle it all?

SPEAKER_01 20:11

I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 20:12

Oh, you because I am a single woman, no kids, and when I come home, I am tired. Okay, not tired, tired. So how are you doing this? I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 20:24

Vitamins? Vitamins, hydration, drinking enough water. I sleep. My kids are small. My kids are I had three under three. So I had three kids in less than three years. Uh my kids are small. So they still need mommy. And mommy is working, my husband's an entrepreneur, he's working. Um you just go. You just you just go. You just go. You just figure it out.

SPEAKER_00 20:47

You don't think about it, you just go.

SPEAKER_01 20:48

Yeah, and I don't have a nine to five, you know. I have a a 24-hour gig. You know, it doesn't stop. It doesn't stop. Um, I do know that one of my favorite things to do is to exercise, and that is my outlet. So where some people would be like, oh my God, I'm so tired of stressed out, let me go lay down. I'm like, where's my treadmill? Where are my weights? Like, let me go exercise.

SPEAKER_00 21:11

I love that. Um, yeah, I see you or on the gram running half marathons. I'm like, girl, I'm gonna do that.

SPEAKER_01 21:17

This year I'm running the shamrock, the half Chicago half marathon, and the full marathon.

SPEAKER_00 21:22

The full one too.

SPEAKER_01 21:23

26.2.

SPEAKER_00 21:24

Oh my gosh, I may have to come out there and cheer you on. I know I do stand out there for the past two years. I come out because it comes down my block. So I can't go anywhere anyway. I'm trapped. Um, and they are phenomenal. Like the grit, the to stay in the race, like, oh my gosh. I want to run so bad, but the training to do it, I don't know if I have it in me right now. Maybe I'll start baby steps.

SPEAKER_01 21:47

You yeah, baby steps for sure. Like last year I just got out there and ran. So I do have running experience. Okay. Um, on my mom's side, it's a lot of runners over there. Like, people got full rides. I quit running in high school early on because I was like, it's too much. Of commitment. Okay. I need to live my life. But I was good. I ran in elementary school. I had a coach that realized, okay, she's really good at running. Then I had a teacher that liked to run a lot. And he asked my parents, like, could she come on runs with me? And I would. It was very professional, nothing. It was great. And then I ran for the University of Chicago's Youth Track Club. And I was terrible. That's terrible. Terrible at the club. I was terrible at track.

unknown 22:29

What?

SPEAKER_01 22:29

You know, my strength was cross-country. I was terrible at track, but I'm a distance runner. Okay. I was never a sprinter. So it would have me sprint, and I'm like, where did everybody go? Like, I don't, why am I still back here? And then I had a coach that was like, look, you are not a sprinter. We're trying everything with you. And I'm like, they're out the block. And the guns get in there. I was like, what y'all doing? They so much. Yes, I was left. And so they put me in longer distances and they were like, she's not a sprinter.

SPEAKER_00 22:58

And that's where you excel the longer distances.

SPEAKER_01 22:59

Yes. And it was weird because most, I guess, African Americans in the city of Chicago, they ain't really country people. But you know, you get to other countries, they do run longer longer distances. But like growing up in Chicago, it seemed like a lot of people of color tended to sprint. Okay, so fitness is your outlet. I mean, I played everything. I every sport you can think of. I just love fitness. Basketball, volleyball, soccer. Um, what else did I do? I snow.

SPEAKER_00 23:27

I did soccer too. A Y S O. Yes, I did too. Okay. Maybe we played each other. Probably. In High Park. In High Park. Yeah. Right in the dip, the midway. Terrible at it. But I'm not sure.

SPEAKER_01 23:38

I got better at soccer. But I could not be a forward or a defense.

SPEAKER_00 23:43

Oh, I didn't mind those. Goalie. No, don't put me in the little goalie thing.

SPEAKER_01 23:48

I wanted to be midfield so I could be anywhere I needed to be. Don't landlock me to I need to run around the whole. And I just have fun running around the whole field. Like I just did. Okay. Well, it worked for you. Yeah, I love being a midfielder. Okay. Loved it.

SPEAKER_00 24:02

So you pretty much got it all. The career, husband, children, and I do want to shout out, yes, your husband, Ross Max. Ross. An affluent entrepreneur and investor. Yes. So what's the secret to a lasting marriage? Because you guys have been together since was it 15?

unknown 24:22

I read.

SPEAKER_01 24:23

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 24:24

What is the secret?

SPEAKER_01 24:25

Well, no one's perfect. So our lives are not perfect, contrary to what is posted on Instagram. And I think that's so important to like tell people that because people are like, oh my God. I'm like, you think every day we wake up and it's like, oh my God, I just like it's like, no, we wake up days, it's like, you know, but that's just life. We're people, we're human. I have to give a big shout out to Michelle Obama. I mean, she said it after they got out of office and the kids has grown. But it's the truth. There's no marriage that's perfect. There's no marriage that is perfect. And when I hear people say, oh, my life is so perfect and my marriage is so perfect, I'm like, oh, they're probably really going through it. That's the first thing that comes to mind when people are like, oh, it's shit. I'm like, they're going through it. You're right. They're going through it. Behind the scenes. I don't want to know nothing about it. Okay. Perfect life. Got you.

SPEAKER_00 25:05

Um, but what works for you guys then? What works for you?

SPEAKER_01 25:09

Um, for the thing also is with both of us, like, I'm not an entrepreneur, but I'm in an entrepreneurial family business, and he's an entrepreneur. So we're we're busy. Yes. And then we have three little people that still need us, and I'm like, we have to be hands-on parents. Where a lot of people I find are kind of like, we'll just see y'all when we see y'all. My careers first. Right. That is unacceptable in our family. Yeah. Um, but what works with communicating? Overcommunicating.

SPEAKER_00 25:35

Overcommunicating.

SPEAKER_01 25:36

Overcommunicating. So just because I put it on the calendar and told you once, I'm gonna keep reminding you. And same with him. Like, overcommunicate. If you think anything is gonna come up, let me know. I let him know. So, because we have kids, you know, so we have to figure that out. It's not like we could just go be where we want to be. Right. Um, overcommunicating, um, patience. Because we also like, we're married, but we have three kids that are pulling at us all the time that need our attention. So that does, you know, um taking turns. When the kids wake up in the middle of the night, hey, you gotta get it. I can't do that. I'm gonna fess out, I can't do it. I'm gonna go. So just you know, that part um is really cool. That's fair. And just coming up with a system. We both work out now. So my husband and I both work out. Oh, he works out now? Oh, yeah. What? Oh yeah. All right, yeah, yeah, yeah. So like that is something where we'll both be encouraging to one another, like, babe, go to the gym. Like, Ross is going to the league. I need you to know the man is going to the league. What? He is convinced he is going to the league. I'm right with him. You know, the wives that like post on Instagram, like, I always wanted to basketball my husband. I'm that wife in the gym with him, like, get it, babe, we're going. So uh Ross Mac will be getting a uh, he'll be playing for some NBA team sometime soon.

SPEAKER_00 26:48

Okay, now we love to see it.

SPEAKER_01 26:50

But fitness is really a really big part of our marriage as well. The kids are in activities to keep them. I believe in fitness.

SPEAKER_00 26:56

So they're in like sports activities? Oh yeah. Good for them.

SPEAKER_01 26:59

A lot.

SPEAKER_00 27:00

A lot. You keep them busy.

SPEAKER_01 27:03

I just think that, you know, we're so big on academics that their school does, they're in daycare, so they don't have like a lot of um we switched it to a daycare where it's very academically rigorous. Okay. Like back in the day type schools. Okay. Which, you know, Ross is very passionate about education, as am I. Um, so I wanted that for them in the classroom setting, but they still need an outlet where they could play because these are babies. For sure. They're not just, you know. Um, so them being in activities, I believe, helps with their development. And through research, I found that it does as well. And when I was pregnant with them, when I was pregnant with my eldest child, I walked 56 flights of stairs every day, including when I was in labor. Yes. What? I I believe that those indoor friends have helped my children. Wow. Um, I'm very passionate about even my mother-in-law would call like me, like, stop while I'm working out right now. Oh my gosh, stop. I walked 10 miles with her pregnant. I was like eight or seven months pregnant, and then my doula and my mother was like, I just love fitness. And I think it's so beneficial for your children when they're in the womb. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 28:06

Oh my gosh, I love that. Um okay, so I always end things on a positive note because life can be hard. Challenges for us all. But I always ask my guests, what is something positive, any advice that you can share to leave us with? It can pertain to anything at all career, love, um, whatever, or something you could tell your younger self.

SPEAKER_01 28:32

I think there's two things. The first thing that I love and I stand on and I live by is always have the willingness to learn. Oh. Always, no matter how good you think you might be at something, things change. Look at luster. Things change, you know. Always have the willingness to learn. Never be stuck in this mentality of I know it all. I know it all. You can learn from your kids. Real life example. My family is learning from their kids. You know what I'm saying? Like they're five grandchildren. We're all in the family business and we each bring something different to the table. So they're learning from us as well. Um, and the next thing is find your thing outside of work.

SPEAKER_00 29:12

So a hobby.

SPEAKER_01 29:13

Find like mine is exercising. Find your thing outside of work. Know where your outlet is. Um and pour into it. You know, because that job might not always be there, but you will. So know your thing. Know your stress reliever. You know, it could be reading a book, it could be watching movies, you know, but know your thing. Know yourself. Take time to know yourself. Because I think in today's society, we're pulled in so many different directions for like work that we sometimes don't have the time to what do I like?

SPEAKER_00 29:42

Exactly. You know, once work is over, then what? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 29:45

Yeah. You know, and especially as a mom, it's like, you know, household, kids, husband, work. Like, okay, well, what do you like? And you meet I meet so many women who are like, I don't know.

unknown 29:55

I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 29:56

Really? I've had I raised my kids, I was married, I was I didn't really worry.

SPEAKER_00 30:01

Like, and they don't name anything for themselves?

SPEAKER_01 30:02

No, because you like as a mom, you're just spread so thin. As a woman, you're spread so thin because maybe you don't have kids where you're taking care of your parents or you know, your siblings' kids, like anything can happen, right?

SPEAKER_00 30:13

The oldest, you got responsibilities.

SPEAKER_01 30:15

Yes, so just you know, know your thing. Maybe it's just getting your nails done. I don't care what it is, but no, it was funny. I was on the phone with one of my friends yesterday. Yeah, and I was like, when's the last time we got your nails done? So I need to do go do it. That's your thing, go do it. You know, yes.

SPEAKER_00 30:30

Okay, I love that. You're such a positive friend. I can feel the positivity from you.

SPEAKER_01 30:34

Yeah, well, I'm I try to be passionate and uplifting. I try. But I like I'm I someone told me recently, and I didn't think this of myself, but I had a good friend tell me recently, Teresa, you're a straight shooter. I said, me? A straight I shouldn't. But in a good way, though. Yeah, he said he said it was in a good way. Yeah. Um, and I was like, I just never saw myself that way.

SPEAKER_00 30:55

Really?

SPEAKER_01 30:55

Mm-mm. And everybody around me was like, how did she not see that?

SPEAKER_00 30:59

I can see that for sure, but in a great way, like wanting the best for someone type of way. Yeah. You're amazing. You're amazing. Thank you. Um, anything else you want to share before we wrap it up?

SPEAKER_01 31:10

Um at Luster, we do have chemists of color. We're constantly innovating new things. So we have some things that are happening that I'm really excited about. Um, and just stay tuned, follow us on TikTok. Yes. We go live every single day, Monday through Friday, if the weekends permit with the kids.

SPEAKER_00 31:31

Every day?

SPEAKER_01 31:31

Every day.

SPEAKER_00 31:32

Wow. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 31:33

I am on live. And it's crazy because like we we were seeing some things happen in our industry, right? And like my dad and uncle are like, oh my God. And then we just for like in 2025, let's start going live. And at first it was hard because I'm like, oh my God, you're talking to yourself. It's not this. It's like, hi, Arisa. You know, you're talking to yourself. You have to keep going. So at first did it was terrible. Yeah. And the team was like, oh my God, what are we gonna do? She is not good at this.

SPEAKER_00 32:02

No, but then I heard practice makes perfect. Practice makes me. I need to start doing that too. And I'm so scared.

SPEAKER_01 32:07

But you're just talking to yourself on your phone. Literally, you're looking at yourself, and but you just have to get comfortable. And people are gonna have negative things to say. They come in all the time. Like someone was like, nobody wants that. What did someone say last week? Oh my god. Someone's like, nobody wants that pink water. I said, Maybe it's not water, it's actually mineral oil, which is way more beneficial for your hair. And somebody who actually has chemist standing behind her, I could stand on that. And the person was like, What? Well, okay, well, then they come back with something else. Well, um, you don't even know who owned the company. Yes, but honestly, in their defense, once you educate them, yeah, they're like, oh my God, I had no idea. And they hit that follow button. Really? Okay, so some are receptive to the information. Yes, very receptive. I mean, but you get other I don't like your lighting. How you in a like they say all type of thing. See, that's when I have to end the live. Bye bye. Goodbye. I mean, no, you just have to have thick skin. You have to have thick skin. Yeah. And I know what I'm doing is right. Right, exactly. Yes. And I tell people all the time, like, I I go live with my kids, I do video content with my kids. I'm using my family's products on myself, my children, my husband. I love people that make pharmaceutical drugs that would never touch what they bring to life. I use what we bring to life because I believe in them. And I'm a health and fitness nut. Like I love everything healthy and you know fitness. So I think that also speaks volumes. Because I've had people ask me before we started on live, do you really use the product family makes? And it's like, wait, what? And so the best example is showing people.

SPEAKER_00 33:38

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 33:38

I do, I stand on it. You do. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 33:41

So I love you, all your content. Oh, thank you.

SPEAKER_01 33:44

Keep it up. Thank you. This is amazing what you're doing as well. Girl, I had no idea you were into this from when I first met you.

SPEAKER_00 33:52

I know. It's been a journey. It's been a journey. I'll tell you a little bit about that off air. But it's been a journey. Good.

SPEAKER_01 33:58

Yeah, I'm excited. This is amazing. Thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_00 34:00

Thank you for being here.

SPEAKER_01 34:03

This is amazing. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 34:04

And of course, thank you all for watching and until the next episode. Love you. Bye.