Artificial Intelligence

Dawn Myers and Richualist Transform Textured Hair Care

Dawn Myers built Richualist to solve the overlooked challenges of textured hair care, creating a specialized hardware solution that reduces wash day duration and styling fatigue.

Radwan AbdulhadiEditor and technology writer

Published: October 12, 2026 · Updated: October 12, 2026 · 3 min read

Dawn Myers and Richualist Transform Textured Hair Care — Image: TechCrunch

The Origin of Richualist

For years, routine wash days for textured and curly hair have remained arduous, time-consuming processes involving extensive detangling, specialized products, and manual styling. When founder Dawn Myers watched a hair product pitch on television around eight years ago, she reflected on the countless beauty tools available on the market that focus primarily on straightening or altering the chemistry of naturally curly hair. This realization underscored a broader industry gap.

Myers noted that the beauty hardware segment has historically overlooked textured hair, describing it as an area that remains complex, expensive, and largely neglected by mainstream research and development teams. After sketching an initial concept on a legal pad and constructing a primitive prototype using hardware store materials, she established the foundation for her company, <a href="https://richualist.com/">Richualist</a>.

Developing the Mint Hardware Tool

The core innovation behind the startup is a styling tool called Mint, designed to help users detangle, condition, apply gel, and style textured hair in a single stroke. The device incorporates refillable product pods and integrated warming technology to gently heat styling products prior to application.

According to company figures, the device reduces typical styling sessions down to seven to ten minutes while lowering shedding and breakage by up to 70 percent. The development process was significantly aided by materials science company Dow, which collaborated with the startup after spotting an emerging opportunity in the textured hair care sector.

Navigating Funding and Adversity

Securing early financial backing for hardware startups is notoriously difficult, particularly when addressing niche consumer problems. Myers eventually sold her home and liquidated her retirement account to fund initial development. Over a five-year period, her team conducted proprietary research to establish usage metrics that did not previously exist within the industry.

In 2022, just as the company prepared for market expansion, Myers received a stage three colorectal cancer diagnosis. Despite undergoing rigorous medical treatment, she continued closing funding rounds from her laptop and later applied to Shark Tank, eventually securing deals with investors Mark Cuban and Emma Grede.

Retail Expansion and TechCrunch Recognition

With support from Emma Grede, the brand expanded its retail footprint to Ulta's online platform. As demand continues to surge, the company has prepared to market itself as sold out while exploring further avenues for growth and scaling.

Building on this market momentum, <a href="https://techcrunch.com/tag/richualist/">Richualist</a> was selected among <a href="https://techcrunch.com/tag/startup-battlefield-200/">Startup Battlefield 200</a> enterprises to exhibit its hardware innovations.

Showcasing Textured Hair Innovation at Disrupt

The selection grants the company a prominent platform at <a href="https://techcrunch.com/tag/techcrunch-disrupt/">TechCrunch Disrupt</a>, the annual startup conference. Myers expressed enthusiasm about bringing specialized textured hair technology directly to the main stage alongside advanced tech solutions.

Additional details regarding the startup's conference participation and upcoming product roadmaps can be found directly through <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/11/dawn-myers-is-making-it-easier-to-style-detangle-and-care-for-curly-hair/">TechCrunch</a> coverage of the event.