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 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.
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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
Connect with narrative:
On Instagram
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