CurlMix Net Worth: Growth, Success, and What’s Next
CurlMix Net Worth vs. Other Hair Care Brands: 5 Surprising Lessons from Building a $25M+ Beauty Empire (And Why Kim Lewis Said No to Shark Tank)
Introduction: What Is the Net Worth of CurlMix?
How much is CurlMix worth? That is a question that I hear frequently, particularly when I am talking to other beauty entrepreneurs and curly-haired people who aspire to make their passion bigger. The reason why the net worth of CurlMix is a hot topic is simple: this Black-owned brand located in Chicago not only played by the book, it wrote it.
Kim and Tim Lewis, the founders of CurlMix turned down a $400,000 offer on Shark Tank and invested in themselves. Their gamble paid off. As of today, CurlMix has a net worth of between $25.5-38.4 million (2023 pre-money valuation and 2024 crowdfunding round, respectively). This is faster than most deals in the Shark Tank, and it is possible due to the trust that the Lewises put in their intuition, listening to their customers, and in each other.
What is so impressive about the net worth of CurlMix?
Is it the money only or is there more? I will go through the background story, the characters and the comparison of CurlMix with the largest hair-care companies. You will also learn some real life lessons on the way.
The Birth Story: Kitchen Table to $32M.
It started with love, not of curls only, but of one another. CurlMix was started by high-school sweethearts Kim and Tim Lewis in 2015. Kim had earlier founded the Natural Hair Academy, a social media platform of curly-haired women. The story of CurlMix is not just a love story but a hustle of doing things and making turns and a community that most brands can only dream of.
Initially, CurlMix provided a subscription box that was DIY: a customer was provided with a kit to prepare flaxseed gel at home. The model was creative, but it entered a plateau and sales stopped. Kim and Tim listened. Ready-made products were demanded by customers, thus CurlMix changed and introduced pre-mixed gels, shampoos, and conditioners. Sales went through the roof: in 2018, only a few years after its launch, the sales reached the mark of $1 million.
It becomes even more insane: Kim entered CurlMix in all free competitions that she could find. She lost 20 times, and every loss made her pitch perfect. Practice till I was blue in the face, she says now. Such perseverance is not common.
The next question is, How Much Is CurlMix Really Worth Today?
Let’s look at the hard numbers. The net worth of CurlMix is difficult to estimate due to the fact that the company is privately owned and is expanding at a high rate. Here’s what we know:
- ( 2023 ) pre-money valuation: $25.5million.
- ( 2024 ) crowdfunding round: $38.4 million
- ( 2024 ) lifetime sales: More than $32 million.
- Annual revenue (2023-2024): Approximately, 10 million dollars.
- Customers: 260,000 and growing
- Employees: About 30 (as of 2024)
CurlMix has increased its net worth as the company raised over $5 million in equity crowdfunding, supported by more than 8,500 small investors, most of whom were customers who believed in the brand to an extent that they put their own money into it. That’s uncommon. Venture capital or private equity is relied upon by most of the beauty brands. CurlMix created a community, and made it into co-owners.
Funding and Growth Milestones
| Year | Milestone | Value/Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | CurlMix launches as a DIY kit | — |
| 2018 | Sells first $1 million of ready-made products | $1 million |
| 2019 | Appears on Shark Tank; declines $400K for 20% deal | $4 million valuation |
| 2020–2021 | Raises $1.2 million from Jeff Weiner, Arlan Hamilton | $12 million valuation |
| 2021–2022 | Crowdfunding raises over $4.5 million from 7,000+ backers | $12 million+ |
| 2023 | Pre-money valuation $25.5 million | $25.5 million |
| 2024 | Revalues at $38.4 million in latest crowdfunding round | $38.4 million |
These are impressive numbers, but keep in mind CurlMix began with a windfall of 100,000 dollars in the hands of Tim as a result of his winnings in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. They were not associated with Silicon Valley. They believed in something and had the determination to follow through.
The Net Worth of Kim and Tim Lewis: The Founders Story.
What of the personal net worth of the founders? It is here that it becomes blurred--and subjective. Kim and Tim are still the majority shareholders in the business and CurlMix is their primary income earner. Their net worth is probably in the millions with tens of millions of revenues and a company worth more than 25 million. The twist to this is that they have been putting the majority of their earnings into the business, they have employed additional employees, and they have established a 30,000-square-foot factory in Chicago.
They are not glitzy billionaires. They are the type of entrepreneurs that show up daily, respond to customer emails and yet appear to be enthusiastic about producing great products. That is the type of net worth that cannot be purchased by money.
Revenue, Growth, and What’s Next.
CurlMix is not only surviving, but it is doing well. Following Shark Tank, they have found a home in Ulta Beauty, which is among the largest beauty retailers in the U.S. and whose products are sold in 460 stores. Within a few years, their customer base had increased three times; 100,000 to 260,000. Their staff expanded to more than 30 employees out of a husband-and-wife team.
The following is what is driving that growth:
Direct-to-consumer sales: The bulk of their income is still through their web site and social-media stores.
Retail growth: Ulta Beauty is an enormous success, yet they are targeting additional outlets.
Subscription model: 20 percent of the revenue is recurrent, among the customers who receive their curly essentials on a monthly basis.
Community crowdfunding: Raising over $5 million through over 8,500 small investors.
Innovation: New products lines, such as 4C Only, serve even more hair types.
Kim has indicated that she envisions CurlMix becoming the next Proctor and Gamble, owned by a black person, publicly traded, and a household name. That may be a stretch, but with the past ten years, who is going to bet against them?
The Comparison of CurlMix and other Hair Care Brands.
What is the net worth of CurlMix compared to the big players? Now, to be honest, CurlMix is still a small company in comparison with such giants as DevaCurl (annual revenue of 100-200 million) or SheaMoisture. However, this is the point: CurlMix is designing something new.
| Brand | Annual Revenue (est.) | Valuation (est.) | Key Differentiator |
|---|---|---|---|
| CurlMix | ~$10 million | $25–38 million | Black-owned, crowdfunded, community-driven |
| DevaCurl | $100–200 million | Private, higher | Professional salon focus, legacy brand |
| SheaMoisture | $300 million+ | Acquired by Unilever | Mass retail, natural ingredients |
| Pattern Beauty | N/A | N/A | Celebrity-backed, social media focus |
CurlMix is not competing with DevaCurl or Shea SheaMoisture. It is creating a brand that people desire to be made of natural and clean ingredients, by people who are similar to them, and who believe in community ownership. That is a niche--but a strong one.
Lessons Learned: Why the CurlMix Story is not about Numbers.
Here I get personal. Being a content creator and chef, I have seen numerous brands emerge and fall. CurlMix struck me because it is not a fairytale, it is real life, with failures, hard work, and individuals.
There are five lessons learned on the Net-Worth path of CurlMix.
Bet on Yourself: It was a risk to walk out of Shark Tank, but Kim and Tim were aware of their value. I am applying that lesson to my own career.
Listen-Really Listen-To Your Customers: When sales were flat, they turned. They did not guess, but inquired and did.
Community > Cash: Crowdfunding is not about money. It transforms customers into brand evangelists and owners and provides brand loyalty you can never counterfeit.
Perseverance Works: Kim had pitched on twenty occasions before Shark Tank. My career has seen me rejected dozens of times. I hope that I will continue to see her.
Growth Is Not Linear: CurlMix increased lifetime sales by 2x, growing between $5million to $32million within two years. It is not a straight line to success, but a succession of leaps.
FAQs on CurlMix Net Worth
How much is CurlMix worth in 2025?
It is estimated between $25.5 ⁻ 38.4 million, based on the round of funding and valuation.
Did CurlMix take a deal on Shark tank?
No. They rejected a 20 percent equity offer of Robert Herjavec at 400,000 dollars.
What are the primary sources of income of CurlMix? Direct sales via the internet, subscription, and retailing (such as Ulta Beauty).
Who owns CurlMix right now?
The company is still owned and operated by Kim and Tim Lewis, and has thousands of small crowdfunding round investors.
Has CurlMix been externally invested in?
Yes--1.2 million dollars raised by Jeff Weiner and Arlan Hamilton and more than 5 million dollars raised through crowdfunding.
What has CurlMix founders done to expand their personal net worth?
Through retention, reinvestment of profits and growing the business not by cashing out on an early basis.
Is CurlMix profitable? The company gross margins are high (more than 50%), and it is investing in growth, thus it is probably breaking even or profitable, although it is not publicly disclosed.
What are the financial reports of CurlMix?
CurlMix being a private company does not release detailed financials however updates are communicated through crowdfunding platforms and the press.
Conclusions: The Future of CurlMix... and What It Means to You.
CurlMix has a net worth that is not just a number, but it demonstrates that authenticity, community, and hustle are not irrelevant. Kim and Tim Lewis did not use the script, they wrote their own. That was the true lesson of anyone who dreams to create something out of nothing.
What’s next for CurlMix? Further products, further retail, perhaps a public issue one day. However the core of the brand, the combination of love, grit and curls, will not disappear and that is worth more than any valuation.
CurlMix is one to watch in case you are considering going into business or simply want to be associated with a brand that does things differently. When the underdog emerges victorious, we all win a little, as well.
