I used my savings to start a hair care brand, my side hustle made me a multi-millionaire in two years
A WELLNESS enthusiast who would make natural hair care products at home has shared how her side hustle became a multi-million-pound business.
Janell Stephens was saving as much money as possible while learning about holistic health as a licensed therapist and wellness coach before launching Camille Rose.
Janell worked on the haircare brand for around two years before it became profitable.
“I started Camille Rose with my own savings as a side hustle, balancing it with my work and family,” she told The Sun.
“Late nights and weekends became my time to research, test, and hand-package products.
“The demand grew, and while managing everything was challenging, my passion and determination made it all worthwhile.
“In those early days, I was reinvesting everything back into the business – testing products, improving packaging, and scaling up production to meet growing demand.
“Patience and persistence were key.”
Janell became obsessed with launching the brand after becoming frustrated by the lack of “clean, effective” products on the market.
She would struggle to find any that were suitable for her children who had skin sensitivities and eczema.
“I sought every remedy under the sun,” she said. “However, a lot of them contained steroids which I was not comfortable putting on my children.
“I sought out natural solutions and worked with a herbalist. I would create skincare in my kitchen.
“This was my first experience in understanding the scalp as I would gently rub homemade creams on my children’s heads to get rid of dry patches.
“Their hair glistened. I spent so much time up to my elbows in butters and oils and other natural goodies that my skin glowed and I moved to hair care.”
Janell said her friends and family would comment on her hair and skin after mixing ingredients like shea butter and coconut oil.
They gave her the nickname “Master Mixtress” while inspiring her to turn her passion for natural products into a business.
The brand now has several products that target specific needs including hair growth.
“For clarifying, I recommend our Sweet Ginger Rinse, £9.99 from Boots UK, which is infused with ginger and lemon juice,” she said.
“Ginger and lemon are acidic which help cleanse the scalp. Ginger helps improve scalp circulation while also stimulating each hair follicle, which in turn promotes longer, stronger hair.
“Ginger helps strengthen your hair due to its many vitamins, minerals and fatty acids.
“Last year Camille Rose launched an entire collection of Rosemary items to strengthen hair. Strong hair prevents breakage and gives great length retention giving the appearance of hair growth.
“The collection includes Rosemary Oil Hair + Scalp Cleanser, £13.99, Hair Mask £13.99, Leave-in Conditioner £12.99, and Hair Oil £12.99.
“Rosemary has almost a cult-like following when it comes to helping promote hair growth. Much of the credit goes to carnosic acid, a phenolic chemical compound in the plant.
“Carnosic acid helps stimulate the scalp by increasing blood circulation.
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“One of my favourite scalp and hair serums is Camille Rose’s Rejuva Drops, £16.99, which are infused with castor oil, peppermint oil and saw palmetto which nourish the hair while slowing the ageing process by blocking DHT.
“It rejuvenates, stimulates, and strengthens the hair follicle.”
Janell said managing stress and eating healthy are just as important as topical products for haircare.
She also swears by protective styles but warns braids shouldn’t be too tight as this can “break hair at the scalp.”
She said her brand “Camille Rose has grown significantly” since she launched it in 2012.
“While I can’t disclose exact figures, I’m incredibly proud to say that it’s now a multi-million-dollar brand with a strong presence in major retailers nationwide and internationally,” she said.
“Seeing the impact and growth of our products has been truly rewarding.
“Every product we create is made with care and with our customers in mind. My mission has always been to help people embrace their natural beauty and feel confident in who they are.
“I’m so grateful for the support of our community and the opportunity to continue innovating and delivering products that make a real difference in people’s lives.”