Ashley Taylor
Dr. Taylor is responsible for developing holistic Black Hair Care solutions through an in-depth understanding of consumers, products, packaging, and technology, in partnership with multi-functional peers for the hair care and beauty brand Mielle.
She attended Winston-Salem State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, then completed her master’s degree in chemistry at Louisiana State University in 2015 and was awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in analytical chemistry with a specialty in nanoscience/nanotechnology from LSU in 2017.
When people ask you what you do, what do you tell them?
I'm a beauty scientist. I feel like it's the easiest way to tell them that I’m a scientist who works in hair care and product development. But even then, there are so many levels involved. I work with product development, fragrance people, packaging, formulation, and so many others.
When I think about my role, I think of myself as an advocate and a liaison. When you think about trying to relate to a consumer, understand her tensions, understand why she wants certain things, you need to understand there are hair and beauty deserts out there where people can't easily get to a store, but they want to have that look. They know they need to repair their hair or skin, but they need access to the right places, or the price points may be too high, or the ingredients need to be more obscure.
I'm a scientist and part of the process of making these products. How do I make sure we're represented and heard? I understand the practicality of using a certain type of silicone or polymer, but is this the right choice for my consumer who has very tight curls? Scientifically, it makes sense because it's doing the job. But is it doing the job of easing her point of tension?
My consumer needs to feel like she's seen and she's been heard when she walks down the beauty aisle. I’m trying to make sure they feel like they've been represented in the room when we're discussing development. Someone created the things that I've been needing, and now, finally, I'm getting it.
What is the best lesson that you've learned from your worst teacher?
I often pay homage to my chemistry teacher at Piscataway High School in New Jersey. I was a junior throwing shotput, javelin, and discus for track and field. I had this big meet one weekend and recruiters were going to be there, so I was very focused. The following Monday my teacher announced we had a test, and I totally forgot. I didn't study a thing! Luckily enough, I still got a C on the test. However, I had a pretty decent grade in the class, so I knew that that was going to bring my grade down.
But with that C, this teacher told my parents that I shouldn't focus on science as a major at all, and that shouldn't be any part of my career. It was weird because, first of all, is she allowed to say that? Also, I felt like science was all I knew because my dad studied computers and electrical engineering, and my mom was in nursing school and worked in the hospital. They were coaching me from an engineering and biomedical standpoint, and science was my favorite class.
Science was the only thing I thought I knew. She actually motivated me, and she's a big reason I majored in chemistry. There were many points where I did have imposter syndrome, thinking maybe she was right. But that motivation, someone telling me not to do this, kept me going. I even went back and spoke at the high school! She was not there, but I was ready to show her my dissertation!
If you could snap your fingers and change anything about the industry, what would you change?
When I think about the things that are happening in the beauty industry, my favorite areas of inspiration usually come from Korean beauty and Japanese beauty. They are so far ahead in the sense of packaging. They’re coming out with tonics and solutions we haven't even thought of.
Beauty regulation of formulations, packaging, and ingredients just isn't a priority in the U.S. government. In the J-Beauty and K-Beauty world, anything seems possible and they go after it. We’re always behind in the U.S. So I’d want faster regulation and better budgeting for new products.
Startup companies sometimes have the leeway to do that. They can launch quickly, but from a regulatory and legal perspective, they don't have a lot of protection. And if their products lean hard into a trend that fades, then they are stuck.
Bigger consumer goods companies, on the other hand, have to plan more. It takes a lot of resources to get the product out and on the shelf. For instance, at one point everybody in beauty was into matcha, and a ton of startups jumped in. A bigger company will look at that and think, “Is this just a trend? Is it worth buying these ingredients? Is it worth me having to scrap this if people are done with matcha and now we're on to lemons or something like that?” When you think about trying to get that new ingredient out to the world, there are a lot of resources that go into putting that product out.
Who is a creative person you think should get more appreciation?
Okay, I am a huge Erykah Badu fan. People do pay attention to her, but I still feel like there's a lot of people who don't.
She's my background music anytime I'm doing things. My parents were big fans, so that’s what started it. When I go to see her perform, or find out that she's a doula, or read her posts, I’m amazed at where this creativity comes from. She has deeper messaging under all of it but she's still kind of just herself no matter where she goes.
Wherever she goes for her live shows, anywhere in the world, a mood shift follows. A calming presence. I wish more audiences would see it and feel it. It builds more curiosity in me. I marvel at how she sees the world and then reflects it to others.
Which city do you always like returning to?
My favorite city is Philadelphia because you still get that city vibe, but it's not as big as New York. I like art and I love creative pieces, and there are so many museums and cultural spaces there.
If you’re visiting Philly go to Philadelphia Magic Gardens on South Street. It's a mosaic museum and you get to see this guy, the artist Isaiah, take everything and anything and make it into art. It's a very colorful space with all these tiles and mosaics and things of nature. It’s another great example of all these unexpected things coming together to make something special.