Mia Fiona Kut, the founder of Luna Nectar—sustainable, waterless hair density and haircare products that are kicking the taboo of women’s hair loss—is one of 10 recipients of Visa She’s Next Grant Program. The fund is meant to support women business leaders through a $10,000 grant and access to an accelerated mentorship program through York University. Two-thirds of women will experience hair loss at some point in their lifetime, and 81 per cent feel a stigma attached to discussing their hair loss; Mia’s product helps this group. We chatted with her to learn more. —Vita Daily
Hi Mia! Please tell us a bit about yourself to start.
Hello! I’m the founder of Luna Nectar, on a mission to kick the stigma of women’s hair loss and provide natural, sustainable solutions for healthy, voluminous hair. In my spare time, I love dancing, kayaking, and learning more about neuroplasticity.
When and why did you launch Luna Nectar? What niche were/are you aiming to fill?
I launched Luna Nectar in the summer of 2017. Hair loss has been a lifelong struggle for me, ever since I was a child using drugstore shampoos that didn’t cater to textured hair. I was also easily prone to anxiety, which leads to more hair fall. The catalyst that propelled me to take action was when my sister used a chemical and hormone-based lash density serum, that caused her lashes to fall out, as well as gave her chemical burns. I realized that women of all ages were resorting to these types of products and procedures for beauty, and I wanted to create a clean, safe, and cost-effective alternative that brought balance back to stressed-out scalps and hair, without having to sacrifice well-being for beauty. After experimenting for a year and half, I created an-all natural lash and brow density serum that was dermatologist-tested and trichologist-approved. The serum is also waterless, as to save our precious water resources, as well as increase the efficacy and potency of the product. Through collecting all these experiences from women of all ages who struggled with hair loss and finding clean, natural haircare products that actually worked for their hair type, I decided to create Luna Nectar to shine a light on female hair woes and kick the stigma of speaking about it. Hair fall can come from all types of factors such as stress, PCOS, postpartum, harsh shampoos and conditioners—the list goes on! Up until recently, the majority of hair loss research was done on men—I wanted to provide a safe space for women to be able to share their hair journeys.
What products/services do you currently offer, and what makes them unique?
We offer two products that specialize in hair density: the Atmosphere Hair Density & Scalp Serum, and the Moon Boost Lash & Brow Enhancing Serum (nominated for Best Hair Treatment by CertClean Awards). Our products are all infused with adaptogens that target hair density and scalp wellness, such as He Shou Wu, Gotu Kola, Angelica, and Skullcap, inspired from the traditional Eastern remedies of my childhood. They are also dermatologist-tested, trichologist-approved, and water-free. We also have eight more haircare SKUs ranging from scalp scrubs to leave-in conditioners that contain hair density-boosting adaptogens to bring homeostasis to the scalp, for healthier-looking hair.
Congrats on being one of 10 recipients of the Visa She’s Next Grant Program! Why is being a recipient of this grant important to you, and what does it mean for your business success?
Thank you so much! It is an honour to be recognized by the Visa She’s Next Program. I very much appreciate the initiatives that Visa and iFundWomen have in supporting and spotlighting woman entrepreneurs—sometimes entrepreneurship can be a lonely journey, and it is a very tough mental game with fires to put out daily. It was amazing to have that instant connection and bond with my fellow recipients, who are also going through parallel journeys. Being a recipient of the grant means that I have extra dollars to put towards spreading awareness about solutions for women’s hair loss, as well as R&D for new hair essentials that reduce hair fall and support the overall health of hair. Also, I am looking forward to the mentorship program with York University!
What have been some of the key milestones in your career thus far?
Some key milestones were getting mentioned in Vogue twice this year (and selling out three times in two months) for Top Lash Serums for our bestseller Moon Boost Lash & Brow Enhancing Serum, and also being invited to pitch on Dragons’ Den this year!
What are your business plans for the future?
My business plans for the future include more community-building initiatives, continuing our expansion into the United States with larger retailer placements, and finding new ways to help contribute to raising the lab testing and sustainability standards in the clean beauty industry. I’m also working on a second business project, to do with neuroplasticity!
Top three pieces of advice for young female entrepreneurs just getting started, or dreaming of starting their own biz?
My three pieces of advice for young female entrepreneurs would be: to just get started! Put something out there to test the audience. It doesn’t have to be perfect right away, but putting something out in the world will give you feedback in order to improve your next iteration. Second, when in doubt, start with a specific niche first, then later expand to a wider audience. Third, make sure you know your numbers! Depending on your strengths, you may be more naturally inclined to one area of the business or other, but it’s so important to know every financial aspect of your business inside and out – the one who knows the finances controls the business.
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