Meet Esther Joseph | Full-time Law & Society Student and Student Intern at a Black-Owned Law Firm

We had the good fortune of connecting with Esther Joseph and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Esther, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I started my business in June 2020 during the early stages of the pandemic thinking that would probably be out of a job for some time and that it would be good to have a couple hundred a month to tie me over with groceries and bills. I started out doing hair because all of my friends told me I should, but didn’t really like being in other peoples’ hair for hours at a time. Because of that, and covid restrictions, I decided to move towards e-commerce and hair care in October 2020. I launched my website and my line of satin-lined hoodies. In November 2020, I decided to curate an Ayurvedic Hair Growth Oil for personal use. I gave some to my roommates at the time and asked them to try it out. One of my roommates said her hair stayed moisturized which is difficult since she dyes her hair often, and all three of us experienced thicker hair. So I decided to sell it as a product while continuing to use it on my hair to see results. In two months my hair grew. That was when I knew, this is where my business was going to specialize in. I did so much research from Black cosmetologists about the science of hair, what stunts peoples growth, the difference in hair textures and porosity, good ingredients to use in products, and wash techniques. I took all this new found knowledge and formulate, a leave-in conditioner, a hair butter, and a deep conditioner. I am in the process of making a shampoo bar and a wrap lotion. Using the products I have made, my hair has achieved lengths that I thought weren’t achievable for me because of my genetics. Once I started selling the products, my customers would message me with rave reviews about how their hair has thickened up so much in a month, and I tell them “that’s how it starts”. Now I am so excited to see my business and consumer base grow. I just recently got my first international orders and people love and respect the product I put out. It gives me a sense of pride and humility all at once.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I currently work as an unpaid student intern at Koradek Law. I is a Black-female owned and operated firm with an all female staff. I found the place on instagram from a page that was promoting my business and stumbled across a post promoting their firm. It had always been a dream of mine to one day work at a Black owned law firm, so when I saw that post, I jumped at the chance to direct message them on their Instagram page. I got a response and was in email correspondence with the firms partner. She offered me an unpaid position and I accepted knowing that knowledge, education, and experience would be very beneficial for when I decided to apply for law school. I wanted to gain experience and decided if becoming a lawyer was what I wanted to do before applying to law school by getting hands on experience from experienced attorneys. I wouldn’t say that it was easy or hard but it was very daunting. I just didn’t want to mess up or disappoint my bosses or myself. I’m so grateful that I am getting to learn every week from my peers and know that this is going to take me to the next level in my career

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Home of Drake, the 2019 NBA champions the Toronto Raptors, and lots of small businesses. First thing first we would be staying that the Fairmont Royal York Hotel downtown. Absolutely stunning. We would then go to a spa and have a full body massage, facials, waxing, the whole 9 yards. we would then eat at their 5 star restaurant, and, maybe chill the rest of the night watching Girlfriends and eating a bunch of candy. The rest fo the week we can eat at many of the small businesses around the city and try new cuisine everyday. We can go take a pottery class, or a pole dancing class, take a water taxi and visit the Toronto Islands and have a picnic, go to the movies of course. If she is visiting in the summer pre-covid, Caribana weekend would be a must, getting dressd up and playing mas repping out Caribbean countries. Maybe we go to the CNE carnival or Canada’s Wonderland and ride every rollercoaster except Behemoth, Leviathan, and the Yukon (I’m a wuss with heights don’t judge me). If she is coming in the summer, I’m sure my friends would be having a getty (Toronto slang for small chill gathering) so we will definitely be swing by.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to give a shoutout to my besties Dom & Nadine for letting me bounce off ideas on them. Fellow girl bosses Dominique Fyffe of Beauty by Dom and Deandra Holland of Dream Beauty inc. these two ladies have helped me so much with business advice, promoting, and supporting me endlessly. Youtubers Yaya and NowIamNappy; I learned how to formulate hair products and educating me on Ayurvedic ingredients, emulsifiers, alcohols, etc. Another Youtuber and cosmetologist CynDoll who is so incredibly knowledgeable about the science of hair, how to make it grow, and why Black women have been stunting their hair growth. Through her videos I have learned so much about Black hair and that it is not just the products in your head but also the aftercare that is required for hair growth. Finally I would like to thank my little sister Abigail for being my hair product guinea pig and trusting that I would not make her go bald.

Website: https://nsorommahair.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nsoromma_hair/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nsorommahair/