As a formulating, cosmetic chemist in the multicultural and clean beauty space for over a decade, Erica has been the "brains" behind a number of popular products on the market, Erica earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University. She then advanced to Northwestern University as a National Institute of Health Research Fellow where she conducted research in Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology. However, her personal horror stories as a child who experienced hair and skin issues are what motivated her to dedicate her scientific career to developing innovative and quality products in beauty and personal grooming space. As a young girl, Erica experienced the trials and tribulations of caring for her kinky hair and battled with the social implication of having "Black hair" in a predominantly Caucasian world. Memories of five-hour visits to the salon, burn marks from hot combs and holding chunks of burnt hair are just a few of many troubling hair stories that Erica often shares. But now, Erica uses these past experiences as motivation to create solutions for the next generation to bypass her childhood struggles and trauma. She credits her many successful formulations to being a woman that passionately identifies with hair and skin care struggles, and pride herself on her ability to combine her formal education in chemistry with her own life experiences to innovate for the needs of texture hair and melanated skin tones.
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