At 28, Aris Singleton stepped into the role of chief executive officer of the Chicago-based textured-hair care brand, Thank God It’s Natural, following the heartbreaking loss of her aunt, Chris-Tia Donaldson, who founded the company and passed away from breast cancer.
Now, four years into her leadership, Singleton is poised to enhance the company’s product offerings, utilizing her strengths as a young CEO while continuing to honor her aunt’s remarkable legacy.
Singleton’s journey with tgin began long before she took the helm. In high school, she contributed to the company by managing its social media account and shipping T-shirts from her bedroom in Detroit.
Chris-Tia Donaldson, originally an attorney at the Chicago law firm Sidley Austin, launched tgin after her bestselling 2009 book, “Thank God I’m Natural,” became a sensation, detailing her personal experiences with textured hair and providing practical hair care tips. The book resonated with a community that lacked sufficient representation in the beauty market, prompting an enthusiastic demand for more products tailored to Black women’s needs.
In 2013, building on the success of her book, Donaldson launched tgin. Since its inception, the brand has seen significant growth, with products now available at major retailers including Target, Walmart, Ulta, and Mariano’s. The brand has also expanded internationally, recently securing a partnership with Boots, the United Kingdom’s prominent health and beauty retailer.
Under Singleton’s leadership, the company has thrived, employing 30 individuals and generating an impressive annual revenue of $20 million. Known for its commitment to natural ingredients, tgin’s product line includes the popular Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer and Rose Water Smoothing Leave In Conditioner, with prices ranging from $9.99 to $18.99.
Donaldson’s fight with Stage 4 breast cancer began just two years after launching the business. Before her untimely death in 2021, she encouraged Singleton to return to the company. Singleton recalls, “Chris-Tia said, ‘Hey, I need you to come back and work for me. My assistant’s going out on maternity leave. I just need you for six months.’ I’m, like, ‘Look, I don’t really want to do the whole family dynamic thing working with you. I love you.’ Here I am, eight years later.”
Adding to this dynamic, Aris Singleton’s mother, Piper Farrell-Singleton, is also involved in the business as tgin’s chief strategy officer. Her guidance has been instrumental in Singleton’s journey as a young female leader in a competitive industry.
Throughout her life, Singleton faced her own struggles with hair, experimenting with a relaxer and ultimately embracing her natural hair, even shaving it off at one point. Today, she expresses herself through her hair, sporting a vibrant blue hue.
Recently, Singleton has observed a shift in how Black women present their identities through hair. “In the last couple of years, I have seen Black women show up unapologetically as themselves, expressing themselves through their hair,” Singleton shared.
She has also noted an increase in hair care brands targeting Black consumers, but remains cautious, stating, “A lot of these brands are not owned by Black people or Black women, and I don’t necessarily have an issue with that. My issue is not having Black women at the table, on your board, within your organization.”
Singleton believes her relative youth has introduced a fresh perspective to the company. “I am a millennial, but I can relate to Gen Z. I know what it is they want,” she said, emphasizing her unique position in bridging generational gaps in the marketplace.
The tgin Foundation, a nonprofit initiative tied to the company, aims to provide support to women facing breast cancer, a cause deeply intertwined with Singleton’s personal narrative.
“My ultimate goal is to be able to help other young women entrepreneurs,” Singleton stated. “I want to make sure I am pouring into Black women, that we have a seat at the table, we have a voice, especially since I know firsthand how uncomfortable it can be showing up in these rooms.”
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