Keith L. Williams, a talented actor at just 16 years old, has recently ventured into the world of entrepreneurship. He has launched his own hair care and grooming line called SLYCK by Keith. Keith, frustrated with the lack of hair products that met his expectations, decided to take matters into his own hands. Instead of complaining or settling, he took the initiative to conduct thorough research and develop meticulously crafted formulas that would effectively nourish and fortify his hair, ensuring its strength, moisture, and overall health. I had the chance to chat with the entrepreneur and gain insights into his journey and the process behind creating SLYCK by Keith.

Cox: Keith I first want to say congratulations on starting your haircare line, Slyck by Keith, at only 16 years old. That’s amazing. Before we get into it, I need to know what your inspiration behind it was. 
 
Williams: The way it came about was when I dyed my hair. That was a bad idea, partially because I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I did it. I didn’t know exactly what bleach would do to my hair in terms of texture, dryness, and moisture needs. I just knew it would change the color of my hair. And that’s all I knew. 

But what you need to know is that when you dye your hair and it has bleach, you will need moisture to keep your hair healthy and strong. That’s why you don’t experience hair breakage. Michael, I couldn’t find products to keep moisture in my hair. Like none of them were working for me. Nothing was working or holding! 

Cox: Okay, so you did all this research, and nothing was working. What made Keith say it’s time for me to start my own business? 
 
Williams: I thought about it because even the products that did give me a little bit of what I needed still didn’t suffice. So, I said, let me just talk to people and see what their needs are too. I started testing out homemade products on my hair and my family’s as well. Then, from there, we found out which formula was perfect for the moisture I needed. And Slyck by Keith was born. 

It had the definition and strength I needed for my hair. 

Cox: I love that you created something out of a need, and you also realized others had the same issues. One thing about your product is that it has high-quality ingredients but is also affordable. 

Williams: If my mom were here right now, she would tell you how much I splurge on self-care products. I’m huge on taking care of yourself when it comes to hair and skin needs. When we go to Target, the bill always comes out too high because of the products I like to purchase. 

But once I got past the product naming and creation, I focused on pricing. I wanted the pricing to tell the customer that I thought about what was in their pockets. And I wanted to make sure they could afford it. People deserve high-value products at affordable prices. 

Cox: I know you mentioned hair moisture but take me through the entire product line. 

Williams: We have our conditioner, shampoo, curl cream, hair growth serum, and hair gel. Those were the five core products I felt would be important for the business. But we also have something for beards: beard balm and oil. 

Cox: Wait, where did the beard products come from? 

Williams: As we were finalizing the five core products, some of my uncles and older male cousins started asking if we had anything for beards. And I’m from Texas, where they are serious about their beards. So, we talked to our manufacturer, and they said they could come up with something for beards too for our product line. Then we surveyed more people, including my uncles and cousins, to see what they were looking for in beard products. 

Cox: It sounds like you and your mom were a duo package when it came to building this brand and business. 

Williams: Yes, anytime I was working on the logo or name, for example, she would help me add or take something out. She would let me know what she liked or didn’t like. 

Cox: Speaking of names, how did you come up with Slyck by Keith as the final name of the business? 

Williams: The first name we were toying with was one my mom came up with. She has dreams and visions, and there was a word that came to her. We played around with it, but it didn’t sound right. Then, when I looked up the definition, the meaning wasn’t the right fit. So, we went back to the drawing board and came up with ‘slick’ but wanted to have it spelled a different way. It couldn’t be normal; we wanted to make sure we were different. So, we switched out the I with the y, and there you have it, Slyck by Keith. 

Cox: As a young entrepreneur who is still in high school, how has the experience been for you? I know it’s a lot to deal with. 

Williams: Honestly, it’s because I have the help of my mom and older brother. We have a shared mindset about making sure we accomplish this. And we work really well together. 

My mom is the one who signs off on everything. I always run everything by her. My brother is very creative and thinks outside of the box. So, when I have ideas out of the blue, he comes to help me figure out all the details. 

Cox: What has this entrepreneurial journey taught? 

Williams: It’s like pursuing acting; if you want something, you have to be willing to do the work. From creating the concept of the business to getting the funding, it’s about having the drive and determination to see it through. And you have to love what you are doing. 

Cox: Last question before you go: How would you describe yourself as an entrepreneur? 

Williams: Motivated and selfless. 

You can check out his entire product line by visiting https://slyckbykeith.com

Photo Credit: Rowan Daly.