curls, culture, and confidence with nicol varona cancelmo of ocoa beauty

Nicol Varona Cancelmo is the co-founder and Marketing Lead of Ocoa, a premium hair care brand dedicated to helping Latinas embrace their natural curls. Inspired by the beauty of the Dominican Republic, Ocoa offers high-end curly hair products with clean, nourishing ingredients, empowering women to love their natural texture with confidence. Founded in 2021 by Nicol and her sister Cory, Ocoa emerged from their personal curl transformation journey, igniting a passion for natural beauty and self-love. Nicol oversees Ocoa’s marketing strategy, ensuring the brand’s message resonates with its community. A mom of two and a lover of curls, Nicol blends her personal passion with professional expertise to drive Ocoa's success. She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Management from Penn State University and a Social Media Certification from Georgetown University. Through Ocoa, Nicol continues to inspire women to embrace their authentic selves. Moments: 1:38 meet Nicol and learn about her Dominican upbringing and growing up around entrepreneurs 5:23 how Nicol and her sister Cory found their way to haircare with no experience 10:37 rebranding to Ocoa and feeling like they finally “arrived” as a brand  11:30 is the narrative on curly hair shifting?  12:40 what Nicol has learned from starting a business and quitting her full-time job to go all-in on Ocoa Beauty 17:23 changing popular narratives about curly hair and the Dominican Republic 24:07 mistakes Nicol made along the way and what she's learned about brand building 26:48 tips for working with family 29:10 advice for turning your passion into a sustainable business 33:35 Some of Nicol's favorite things Connect with Nicol and shop Ocoa: Nicol on Instagram Ocoa on Instagram Shop Ocoa online Shop Ocoa at Urban Outfitters Support Ocoa's iFundWomen campaign