“We are more of a solution-based brand for black women and Black hair care. So I feel like it’s like for us, by us.”
Meet Fola Fash, the visionary behind TAUPE TOOLS. In this edition of Founder’s Story by NOIRE, we had an insightful conversation with Fola Fash about her entrepreneurial journey—the challenges, the lessons, and the wins. Explore her story and get inspired!
For over a decade, the founder of TAUPE TOOLS, Fola Fash, has been at the forefront of the hair care industry, refining her craft as a hairstylist and salon owner. With years of experience and a passion for problem-solving, she has built a brand that caters specifically to the needs of Black women—offering innovative, solution-driven tools designed for textured hair.
Bridging the Gap in Hair Care
TAUPE TOOLS was born out of necessity. While running TAUPE, her Lagos-based salon, she noticed a recurring challenge—many of her clients wanted sleek, straight styles but feared heat damage. Despite performing countless silk presses with expert precision, she saw that clients struggled to replicate the results at home.
“I felt like there was a gap in the market for easy-to-use tools that are straight to the point,” she explains. “As a hairstylist, I want to provide solutions. Our clients loved how we did their silk presses, and they never experienced heat damage. That’s what inspired our first product—the TAUPE TOOLS Silk Press Straightener—which delivers sleek results in just one pass without compromising hair health.”
From that single innovation, TAUPE TOOLS evolved into a full-fledged brand, committed to empowering Black women with professional-grade tools designed for their hair textures.
From London to Lagos: A Global Hair Education
Her journey in hair care began in London, where she trained at the prestigious Sassoon Academy. While the school focused primarily on European hair, it provided her with a strong foundation in cutting and coloring techniques. However, she knew she needed to refine her expertise in Black hair.
“While I was in school, I realized I needed extra knowledge about textured hair,” she stated. “So, after my classes, I interned at a high-end Black hair salon in Knightsbridge, London. That experience was invaluable—it taught me the intricacies of caring for and styling Black hair in a luxury salon environment.”
This dual education gave her a well-rounded perspective, but her mission became clear: the hair care industry already offered countless solutions for non-textured hair. What was missing were high-quality, innovative tools made for Black women, by Black women.
Creating Solutions for Every Hair Type
“I understand the struggle because I experience it myself” – Fola Fash
The conversation around Black hair has been ongoing for years, with countless debates over the best products, routines, and techniques. Whether it’s 4C, 4A, or somewhere in between, the challenges Black women face in managing and styling their hair are diverse.
“There are so many different hair types, and everyone has a different method that works for them. My goal with TAUPE TOOLS is to create products that simplify the process—taking the guesswork out of styling while maintaining hair health.”
With TAUPE TOOLS, she’s not just selling hair tools—she’s offering confidence, convenience, and care. As the brand continues to grow, one thing remains at its core: innovation designed specifically for Black hair, ensuring that every woman can embrace her beauty with ease.
Understanding and Addressing the Gaps
One of the biggest challenges Fola noticed was that even though many women embraced their natural hair, they still wanted versatility. “A lot of people, even though they’re natural, still want variety,” she explains. “They want to be able to switch between curly and straight styles without compromising their hair health.”
To support this, TAUPE TOOLS offers high-quality, textured hair extensions that mimic natural textures like kinky straight, yaki straight, and curly hair. This allows women to change their look without relying on excessive heat or chemicals that could damage their natural curls.
Beyond extensions, Fola also realized that many common styling tools simply weren’t built to withstand the rigors of Afro-textured hair. “Most paddle brushes break after one or two uses when blow-drying natural hair,” she points out. Recognizing this, TAUP TOOLS launched durable paddle brushes and smoothing brushes designed for both natural hair and extensions, ensuring longevity and effective styling.
A Hairstylist’s Edge in Product Development
Fola’s deep understanding of hair—gained through years of working with diverse textures—gives her an advantage. Unlike many brands that rely solely on market research, she gets direct feedback from clients in her salon every day. “I listen to my clients,” she says. “They tell me their challenges, and I develop products that solve real problems.”
This customer-driven approach has been central to TAUPE TOOLS’ success. “As Black women, we all still have the same problems when it comes to hair,” she notes. Whether it’s maintaining silk presses, avoiding heat damage, or keeping twist-outs fresh for days, Fola prioritizes solutions that cater to the everyday needs of textured hair.
Navigating the Business Landscape
Starting and scaling a business as a Black woman in the beauty industry is no small feat. Fola’s journey hasn’t been without challenges—especially operating in Nigeria’s volatile economy, where prices fluctuate and business planning is unpredictable. But her resilience and clear vision have helped her thrive.
One of her biggest lessons? Thinking about scale from the very beginning. “If you’re opening a salon, think about how you’re going to scale before you even open,” she advises aspiring entrepreneurs. This forward-thinking approach led her to expand beyond the limitations of a physical salon into e-commerce, allowing TAUPE TOOLS to serve customers internationally, with a warehouse based in the UK for seamless global shipping.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Beyond providing solutions, TAUPE has also set a new standard in the African beauty industry. When Fola launched her premium salon in Nigeria, many were skeptical about her pricing model. “People didn’t understand why I was charging what I charged, but my clients kept coming,” she recalls. Over time, her success helped shift industry perceptions, proving that Black hairstylists deserve to be paid for their expertise.
For young African entrepreneurs looking to enter the beauty industry, Fola’s advice is simple:
Define your vision. Do you want financial freedom? Do you want to build a global brand? Your goals will shape your path.
Ignore the noise. “People will tell you what you should and shouldn’t charge, what will or won’t work. Stay focused on what you believe in.”
Create real solutions. The best businesses aren’t just about making money—they’re about solving problems that people truly care about.
Thank you for joining us on this episode of Founder’s Story with Afrique Noire.
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