She may be an award-winning actress, but Taraji P. Henson has a not-so-small side gig of being really serious about creating beauty and wellness brands that empower women. Her latest venture, the scalp-focused TPH by Taraji P. Henson, just launched on HSN.com with 12 products, including six exclusive bundles and, as the 52-year-old shared with us, she’s just getting started.
On her latest launch…
I launched the hair portion of TPH out of my own necessity. When I moved to LA and I started in the industry, I had to wear protective styles that I couldn’t afford; I had to make the effort to save my hair and keep my hair healthy. I didn’t want to stress it when I was on all these different productions. I started wearing installs and wigs, but it was always a task for me to figure out how to take care of my hair.
On formulating her products in her kitchen…
There certainly wasn’t any education around where I could find the right products, so I made my own formulation in my kitchen—and I would travel with it everywhere. I went on vacation with a girlfriend of mine and her daughter—they have protective styles as well—and they were complaining about itchy scalp. Complaining about all the complaints I had. I put my thing together in the bathroom, and I was like, “Hey, try this,” and they used it. It was like, “Oh my God, this is amazing. My style feels incredible! Where do I get this?” I told them to give me a minute! On “Think Like a Man,” when I wore that bob…everyone went crazy when they realized that was my real hair. I got all the questions: “How do you keep your hair so healthy and so bouncy? It looks so healthy.”
I couldn’t explain how I did it in 141 characters on Twitter, so I created it. I made it affordable, I made it bathroom art, I made it alluring and appealing to the eye because I’m a girl. I like pretty things. I wanted something on the aisle that wasn’t just a gimmick, like something that jumps out at you, but it jumps out at you when you use it. I stand behind my products. This is like my baby. This is my baby. This line is very important to me.
On creating her dream product…
I think I’m doing it! The one thing that I really want to create is a dryer, a hooded dryer. I have this amazing idea for a hooded dryer. That’s literally what I want to get into next is tools.
On skin-care holy grails….
I love Guerlain products. I was in Paris last year at the Chanel show, and my makeup artist used this cream on my face. I was like, “Oh my God, what is that?” I raced to the store when I got back to the states and bought the entire line. I just love it. Expensive as hell, but I love it.
On her self-care standards…
I take time for myself—time is something that you cannot get back. I used to work, work, work, work. I used to say yes to everything. I looked up one day, and I was burnt out. I didn’t have joy and happiness inside of me, and I needed to get back to that. The only way you get back to that is by taking time full for self. Turning everything off, not answering emails and taking time for self. I find myself doing that a lot more now.
On the makeup move she can’t master…
I’m pretty good at all of it. I guess I need to get better at acrylic nails. Not that I even wear them a lot, but it’s something that I do; I’m a very creative person. Even when I’m not on the stage or in front of a camera, I’m still creative. It’s like arts and crafts to me. I have a whole nail station. I even have a salon in my house! I like to go and play with nails. I have these silicone hands that I practice on. I just want to get better with acrylic nails. That’s one thing I haven’t mastered.
