The Interview: TGIN CEO Aris Singleton on legacy, leadership and the future of textured haircare
TGIN, short for Thank God It’s Natural, is a Black-owned, female-founded hair and skincare brand specialising in textured hair, with a particular focus on curly, coily and natural hair.
Founded in 2009 by Chris-Tia Donaldson, a Harvard-trained lawyer who turned her passion for natural hair into a successful beauty business, TGIN was built around a mission to celebrate and serve the textured-hair community. Following her diagnosis with breast cancer, Donaldson passed away in November 2021, but her legacy continues through TGIN and the work of its team.
Today, TGIN is led by Donaldson’s niece, CEO Aris Singleton, who worked alongside Donaldson during the brand’s launch and returned to the company in 2017. Under Singleton’s leadership, TGIN continues to build on Donaldson’s vision by creating high-quality products for textured hair while championing natural beauty and supporting the communities the brand was created to serve.
Singleton tells TheIndustry.beauty about the early days of the brand and how it stays authentic to its original purpose and community. She also discusses the importance of brands and institutions working together to ensure Afro and textured hair is properly represented in training, salons and product development, as well as the evolution of textured haircare from a niche category into a more mainstream part of the beauty industry - and what still needs to change.
Could you share your journey to becoming CEO of TGIN and what you set out to achieve?
My journey with TGIN began back in 2009, during the brand’s early days. I was helping behind the scenes as a teenager while my aunt, Chris-Tia Donaldson, built the company from the ground up. After earning my Finance degree from Texas Southern University, I officially rejoined the business in 2017, where I had the privilege of working closely alongside Chris-Tia and learning every aspect of the company.
When I stepped into the CEO role in November 2021 following her passing, my focus was very clear: to honour her legacy while positioning TGIN for its next chapter of growth. That meant preserving the authenticity, purpose and deep community connection that have always defined the brand, while also expanding our global reach and impact. As a young Black woman leading a global beauty brand, it was also important to me to demonstrate that leadership at the highest levels is possible, particularly for other women who may not always see themselves reflected in those roles.
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Since stepping into the role in November 2021, what have been the most significant milestones?
Since becoming CEO, we’ve focused on building on TGIN's strong foundation while scaling responsibly. We’ve continued to grow the brand’s presence across major retailers in North America and internationally, further strengthening our position as a leading textured haircare brand.
A key milestone has been expanding our international footprint, including our launch into Boots in the UK, which has significantly increased accessibility for our customers. At the same time, we’ve grown awareness not only of the TGIN brand, but also of the TGIN Foundation, which supports uninsured women undergoing breast cancer treatment.
Internally, we’ve worked hard to build a strong leadership team and operational infrastructure that supports long-term, sustainable growth. On a personal note, completing my MBA while leading the business has also been an important milestone, helping to shape my perspective as a modern business leader.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced and how did you overcome them?
The greatest challenge was stepping into leadership during such an emotional time for the company following the loss of our founder. We had to navigate grief while continuing to lead with purpose and serve our customers and community.
Beyond that, we’ve faced many of the same pressures seen across the industry: supply chain disruptions, inflation, and rapidly evolving consumer expectations. What helped us move forward was leaning into our values, staying close to our consumer base, and relying on the strong foundation Chris-Tia built. Transparency and trust played a critical role in helping us navigate uncertainty while continuing to grow.
How has your leadership style evolved as the brand has scaled?
Early in my career, I was very focused on execution and understanding every function of the business. As CEO, my perspective has shifted toward empowering others and creating an environment where people can lead confidently.
My leadership style today is highly collaborative and people-centred, grounded in accountability. I strongly believe that great leaders create opportunities for others to thrive - something I learned firsthand from Chris-Tia. As the organisation has grown, I’ve become increasingly focused on developing future leaders within the company to ensure long-term success.
As the brand grows in visibility and commercial reach, how do you ensure it stays authentic to its original purpose and community?
Our mission has always been to redefine beauty by cultivating a community that empowers women to be their best selves. Staying authentic starts with listening and making decisions based on our consumers’ needs rather than simply following trends.
Representation remains central to everything we do, from product development through to marketing and partnerships. Importantly, many of the people leading the company and creating our products are part of the communities we serve. For us, growth isn’t about moving away from our roots; it’s about deepening our impact.
What opportunities do you see specifically in the UK textured haircare market right now?
The UK represents a vibrant and increasingly influential market for textured haircare. Consumers are looking for brands that deliver performance while also reflecting authenticity and cultural understanding.
There’s a noticeable shift toward holistic hair health, with growing demand for products that support long-term hair wellness rather than simply styling. At the same time, increased education and awareness around textured hair are creating opportunities for brands that can offer both effective products and expertise. There’s also strong potential to serve multicultural consumers seeking solutions tailored specifically to their hair needs.
How is TGIN currently approaching growth in the UK in terms of both sales and brand awareness?
Our approach in the UK centres on increasing accessibility while building meaningful relationships with consumers. We’re investing in education, digital engagement and community-led storytelling to ensure that people understand not just what our products do, but what the brand stands for.
Strategic partnerships with trusted retailers are also key, helping us expand visibility while ensuring that consumers can easily discover and access our products.
You launched into Boots last year - how has that partnership performed so far?
We’ve been very encouraged by our partnership with Boots. It has provided a strong platform to introduce TGIN to a broader UK audience, while aligning with a retailer that is committed to serving diverse beauty consumers.
The launch has significantly increased accessibility for textured hair consumers across the UK and we’ve seen strong engagement to date. We’re excited about continuing to build on that momentum together.
Are there any further retail or distribution expansions planned in the UK?
The UK remains a key strategic market for us. We’re continually evaluating opportunities that align with both our long-term vision and consumer needs. Our focus is on sustainable growth through partners who genuinely understand and support textured hair consumers. While I can’t share specific announcements at this stage, we remain very optimistic about the opportunities ahead.
Are there any new categories or innovations you're particularly excited about?
We’re particularly excited about innovation in areas like scalp health, hair wellness and long-term strength. Consumers are increasingly seeking simplified routines that still deliver high performance.
At TGIN, innovation always begins with listening: understanding the real challenges our consumers face and developing solutions that genuinely address those needs.
With increasing attention from organisations like the British Beauty Council on making Afro hair training more widely accessible, how important is education in your broader mission?
Education has always been foundational to TGIN. Chris-Tia’s journey began with educating women about textured hair through her book Thank God I’m Natural, before the product line even existed.
We believe consumers deserve access to accurate, culturally relevant information. Education also plays a critical role in challenging long-standing misconceptions around textured hair and beauty standards. Ultimately, empowered consumers can make informed decisions and achieve better outcomes.
How can brands and institutions work together to ensure Afro and textured hair is properly represented in training, salons and product development?
Representation needs to be embedded, not treated as an afterthought. Educational institutions must integrate textured hair into core curricula rather than optional modules.
Brands can contribute research, insights and educational resources, while salons and industry bodies can help establish more inclusive standards. Crucially, people with lived experience and professional expertise in textured hair must be involved in shaping these conversations.
Do you think we're moving away from the idea of textured haircare as a niche category toward it being part of mainstream beauty - and what still needs to change?
We’re absolutely seeing a shift toward textured haircare becoming part of the mainstream beauty conversation. Major retailers globally are dedicating more space and resources to the category, and consumers increasingly expect brands to cater to diverse hair types.
That said, there’s still progress to be made - particularly in education, professional training, product innovation and representation at leadership levels. True success will be when textured hair is no longer viewed as a specialty, but as an essential part of the broader beauty industry. At TGIN, we’re proud to be contributing to that evolution while staying rooted in the community that has supported our growth.
