Britney Crowell never set out to start a business—she was just trying to feel like herself again.
The idea for CurlCaps, her now-viral brand, was sparked by a painful and unexpected outbreak of scalp psoriasis. “It was inflamed, flaky, and honestly embarrassing,” Crowell recalls. “I felt really insecure, and I didn’t know how to manage it.”
Ironically, her mom is a beautician—but natural hair wasn’t her specialty. “I felt stuck in between,” she says. “The doctor told me to cut back on hair products, so I made the decision to go fully natural. I was already kind of natural, but I was still straightening sometimes. After that, I was like, ‘Alright—I’m done with the heat.’”
She even went vegan for a while, trying to reset her body and mind. But the emotional weight of the psoriasis lingered. “I love going out and being social, but I didn’t feel like myself with everything going on with my hair. I needed something that made me feel good again.”
So, she made it.
“I’ve always been a DIY person,” she explains. Taught by her aunt to sew, crochet, and work with her hands, Crowell decided to customize a hat. She cut the back out, lined it with satin to protect her hair, and gave her curls the room they needed to breathe. “It wasn’t supposed to be a product—it was just for me.”
But then a friend saw the hat and said, “I would buy that.” That one comment flipped a switch.
With help from her then-partner, who had experience sourcing materials, Crowell made a few more and posted a single photo on Instagram. That’s when everything changed.
“It took off immediately,” she says. “This was back when Instagram felt more like TikTok—people were sharing everything. It was the golden age of hashtags like #naturalhairjourney.”
Crowell decided to test the waters and launched an Etsy shop—quietly, in the middle of the night. “When I woke up, the orders were already rolling in. By the end of the week, I had sold out 500 units. I was shocked.”
Was she prepared? “Not at all,” she laughs. “It was overwhelming. But sometimes, if you don’t get a big push, you won’t take the baby step. That first week was my push.”
At the time, Britney was still working her full-time job. CurlCap was just an experiment—until the demand proved otherwise. What made the product resonate so deeply wasn’t just the design. It was the feeling behind it.
“The heart of CurlCap is about honoring Black women,” she says. “I wanted every curl pattern, every hairstyle—twist-outs, locs, puffs—to feel seen. That mattered to me.”
Looking back, Crowell realizes the brand has always been rooted in something bigger. “I didn’t know it then, but I was recreating what I saw growing up in my mom’s salon—a sense of community, beauty, and care,” she reflects. “CurlCap became my way of carrying that legacy forward.”
She pauses for a beat before adding, “Now, it feels like a love letter to my mom. But, whew—when it was happening? It didn’t feel like a love letter. It felt like chaos. Still, I wouldn’t change a thing.”
“The Big Three”: Britney Crowell on Her Patent, Making History, and Finding Her Voice Through Black Girl Ventures
When Britney reflects on what she’s most proud of with CurlCap, she lights up—but she also laughs. “Okay, there’s a big three,” she says. “And honestly, each one tells a different story about who I’ve become.”
1. The Patent: My Armor
Before anything else, it was the patent.
“That’s what I’m most proud of—because it was my armor,” Britney explains. “Without it, none of this would’ve happened.”
Crowell had no idea how powerful a patent could be until she had one. “It sounds nice when you hear about it on a podcast or something, but when it’s you, it’s different. It became a real resource I could use to protect my ideas, negotiate deals, and walk into rooms differently.”
Her instincts were sharpened from a previous job where she managed an internet fraud department at an electronics company. “I used to review every single order. So naturally, when
I was shipping CurlCap orders myself, I noticed everything—addresses, names, patterns.”
One day, an order came through that raised red flags: a male buyer with an unfamiliar name and what looked like a business address. “It just didn’t add up. And sure enough, I later found out he was a licensing agent.”
When Crowell reached out to him on Instagram, the first thing he said was: “You have a patent on this? I’m surprised.” That told her everything.
“It became clear over time that if I didn’t have that patent, he probably would’ve taken the concept and done something completely different with it,” she says. “I learned later through my licensing network that he had a reputation. That situation really confirmed it for me—your patent is your protection.”
She now refers to this experience as her Three P’s: passion, purpose, and preparation. “You can be passionate. You can be walking in your purpose. But if you’re not prepared, someone else will take what you’ve built.”
2. Making History with Disney
That same patent became the key to Crowell making history—becoming the first Black woman to hold a patent in her category and license it to Disney.
“It was wild. I didn’t even realize I was making history when it happened—it just started unfolding,” she says. “But the deal only happened because I was prepared. That licensing agent?
He moved fast once he realized I had the legal protections in place.”
While the Disney deal looked glamorous on the outside, Britney learned hard truths about the business world behind the scenes. “You start to realize some people aren’t investing in your vision—they’re just trying to see how far they can push it or flip it. It made me wiser. I wouldn’t trade the experience, even if I’d do some things differently.”
3. Finding My Voice with Black Girl Ventures
For all the legal wins and headline moments, Crowell’s proudest transformation may be the one that happened within.
“Black Girl Ventures changed me,” she says plainly. “They’ll never know how much.” When she joined the BGV ecosystem, Britney was silently struggling—trying to regain control of her company from a partner and dealing with an emotionally imbalanced relationship. “I had never known a man to be jealous of a woman until that moment,” she shares. “I started dimming my light to make him feel comfortable. I didn’t even recognize myself.”
Then she met Omi, founder of BGV, at Pitch Master Bootcamp. “Omi told me, ‘You’re just in the wrong environment. Once you’re out of it, you’re going to shine.’ And she was so right.” Other women echoed the same message. “They saw the light in me before I did. One even said, ‘You’re holding back—we can feel it.’”
That experience cracked something open. “I started pitching differently. Showing up differently. I wasn’t carrying someone else’s insecurities anymore.”
Through Black Girl Ventures, Britney also formed deep connections—like with Therese from Yes Girls Create, who became one of her biggest supporters. “Therese told me, ‘You need to brag on yourself more.’ And she’s been holding me down ever since.”In fact, Therese recently invited Crowell to speak at a youth conference she’s hosting at St. John’s University. “It’s full circle. Now I get to pour into young girls and tell them: protect your ideas, believe in your vision, and never shrink yourself.”
As Britney puts it, “There’s that quote: Don’t blame the flower if it doesn’t bloom—check the environment. That’s what Black Girl Ventures is. It’s a greenhouse. It’s where you go to grow.”
From securing her intellectual property to making history with a global brand—and reclaiming her power through community—Britney Crowell’s “Big Three” remind us that success isn’t just about what you build. It’s also about how you protect it, who you become along the way, and who’s in the room to remind you of your light.
“I Had to Bet on Me”: Britney Crowell on Reclaiming Her Business, Her Power, and Herself
The biggest risk Britney ever took wasn’t financial. It was personal.
“The hardest, most transformative decision I’ve ever made was betting on myself—completely,” she says. “Walking away from both of my former business partners—my ex and the licensing agent—was a massive risk. But I knew I had to do it.”
That leap required more than courage. It required unlearning the very systems and relationships that once gave her business its foundation.
“At some point, I had to ask myself: What if I can do this better without them? That question alone felt radical. It was like declaring war on everything I’d been told about needing help, staying quiet, or playing it safe.”
Once she began tuning out the noise, something deeper came through. “I could hear God clearly for the first time in a long time,” Crowell says. “And He was like, If you do this—if you leap—it’s going to be worth it. But you’re going to have to do something wild.”
So she did. She started over.
“I had to bring my business to the floor and rebuild it on truth, on my actual value. I had to prove that I was the one bringing the magic, not them.”
For a while, she had forgotten that. Gaslighting, emotional manipulation, and subtle power plays had slowly eroded her self-trust. “When you have a business partner who truly believes they’re the prize, you start to question your own worth,” she says. “But I was the one who built this. I was shipping every order while working two jobs. I gave everything. And somewhere along the way, I forgot that.”
She credits Black Girl Ventures with helping her remember.
“They were like, ‘Wait—wasn’t it you we saw doing all the work?’ They reflected me back to myself when I couldn’t see me anymore. That’s the danger of dimming your light—eventually, you forget it was ever shining.”
Crowell first tried to leave quietly. “I offered to buy them out the right way,” she explains. “But people don’t always respond well when you decide to reclaim your power. All of a sudden, you’re the villain. It was wild. These were people I trusted—but how much could I really trust someone who made me trust myself less?”
That line—how much could I trust someone who made me trust myself less—became a turning point. “That realization cut deep. But it also gave me the clarity I needed to rebuild with intention.”
She also leaned on her legal team for reality checks. “One day my attorney said, ‘If all they did was help you source materials, why did they feel entitled to your best?’ That unlocked something in me. I had been giving away too much—for too little.”
With funding and support from Black Girl Ventures, Britney finally got her business back. But what she reclaimed was bigger than ownership. It was an identity.
“I’m not that passive girl anymore,” she says. “I used to be the ‘yes’ girl, always trying to keep the peace, worried about whether everyone else was okay. Now? It’s ‘No. I’m not doing that. And you’re blocked.’ Just like that.”
The shift wasn’t just emotional—it was energetic.
“I’ve worked so hard this past year to protect my energy, to set boundaries, and to move through life with intention. Before, I couldn’t even network freely because I was worried about how someone else on my team might feel. Now I’m finally building relationships from a place of confidence, not codependence.”
She smiles, thinking about how far she’s come. “When I look back at pictures from that time, I looked happy. I was faking it so well. But I was in deep. And I didn’t even know how deep until I got out.”
Now that she’s on the other side, her clarity is sharp. Her boundaries are solid. And her direction is non-negotiable.
“There are some things I will never do again. No one gets 50% of what I built from scratch. That version of me is gone. She’s not coming back.”
The biggest risk Britney Crowell ever took was trusting herself again. And it turned out to be the most rewarding one, too.
“Get Out of Your Own Way”: Britney Crowell on Insecurity, Pitching Through the Fear, and Learning to Receive
I. The Real Setback Was Me
For Britney, the biggest setback wasn’t a failed deal or a botched launch. “It was me. It was the insecurity,” she says. “Because if I’d been rooted in confidence earlier, so many of those other challenges wouldn’t have even stood a chance.”
There were moments she knew something was off—whether with the licensing agent or her ex-business partner. “But I ignored it. I second-guessed myself over and over again, even when my intuition was screaming. And that’s the most dangerous thing—when you stop trusting your inner voice.”
Learning to rebuild that trust changed everything. “Once I started listening to that voice again, things began to align. I started making decisions that felt right, not just convenient. I stopped asking for permission to lead my own business.”
The lesson? Insecurity will invite confusion. Confidence will clarify everything.
II. Pitching Through the Fear
One of Britney’s proudest moments—winning a Black Girl Ventures pitch competition—only happened because she made peace with not being perfect.
“As a Virgo, perfectionism can be paralyzing,” she laughs. “If I hadn’t pushed myself to get in front of people, I probably wouldn’t have done any of this.”
That push began with the Pitch Master Bootcamp, where she trained alongside other founders. Then she attended a Pull Up & Pitch event in Philly as a warm-up. “I bombed it,” she says, grinning. “But honestly? It was great. I didn’t know anyone there, so I could fail out loud and keep it moving. That experience took the fear out of it.”
She also found strength in visibility—watching others pitch helped her see herself differently. “I saw Danasia from The VVS LTD pitch when I was still in the audience. She had cue cards. She didn’t try to make it look overly polished. She just showed up. And I thought, Oh... I can do this my way.”
That moment planted a seed.
CurlCap isn’t just a product—it’s a vehicle. Britney envisioned a future where she could create
hands-on community workshops, giving young people the chance to customize their own hats—mirroring the creativity and confidence she grew up with in her mom’s salon.
When it was time for the actual competition, Britney was prepared—but more importantly, she was grounded. “I wasn’t performing. I wasn’t trying to impress. I was just being myself. That’s when I started to hear myself differently. For the first time, I believed the words coming out of my own mouth.”
III. Crowdfunding & The Ego Check
Winning was one thing. Asking people to support her campaign? That was another.
“I’ve never done anything like that. I reached out to everyone—every contact in my phone, every email I had. And the emotional rollercoaster that came with that? Whew.”
Some people showed up in ways she never expected—family, friends, even distant acquaintances who gave more than she thought they could. “That moved me deeply,” she says.
“You realize who’s been watching—even when you had no idea they were paying attention.”
But not everyone showed up. And that led to a moment Britney didn’t see coming: entitlement.
“I caught myself one day, like, Wait… why didn’t so-and-so give? I started feeling that frustration—and then God humbled me quick. That’s not who I am. I don’t ever want to feel like someone owes me support. I had to rebuke that energy fast.”
That moment became a mirror. “It was wild because I’ve never been that person. But when everything’s on the line, those feelings come up. And you have to check yourself. The gratitude has to be louder than the expectation.”
Even her nephew gave her a full-circle moment. “He wears CurlCap because he wants to. He didn’t do it for me. He did it because he liked it. And if he didn’t? Oh, he would’ve definitely told me!” she laughs. “Kids are raw like that.”
The Advice? Find Your Why. Make It Bigger Than You.
When asked what advice she’d give to other founders preparing for a pitch or launching a campaign, Britney doesn’t hesitate:
“Figure out your ‘why’—and make sure it’s bigger than you.”
Because there will be days when you don’t feel worthy. There will be moments when you second-guess your entire mission. “But if your reason lives outside of you—like my mom’s salon, or the girls I’ll work with through my workshops—then you have something real to come back to.”
For Britney, the bigger vision includes teaching kids how to customize CurlCaps, building community through creativity, and creating the same safe, affirming space she experienced growing up. “That’s the physical manifestation of it all,” she says. “That’s what makes it real.”
“I bet on myself—but other people did too. And that changed me. It reminded me that I’m not alone. That what I’m building matters. And that I’m never going back to playing small again.”
“Where Did You Allocate the Funds?”
When asked where she allocated the funds from her Black Girl Ventures pitch competition win, Britney doesn’t hesitate:
“To get my business back.”
She needed a lawyer—immediately. That chapter of her journey wasn’t just a business challenge; it was a spiritual initiation. “The whole year was little baby steps toward reclaiming what I had built,” she says. “But I knew I couldn’t keep waiting. I had done everything I could to resolve things peacefully. It was time.”
What followed was a mix of divine alignment and unthinkable betrayal. “Things started to shift once I really bet on myself. I won the pitch competition. Then, out of nowhere, I was selected for a business program at Dartmouth through Shea Moisture.
These weren’t opportunities I was winning before. And that’s when I realized—sometimes God won’t bless you while you’re still surrounded by people who’ll fumble the blessing.”
Still, nothing could prepare her for what came next.
The Day Everything Almost Disappeared
Britney had stepped away from daily operations, watching the business decline while she fought for ownership behind the scenes. “I had moved back home. I was watching the value of CurlCap drop because I wasn’t doing what I normally did. But I knew it was temporary. I was humbling myself to rebuild.”
One day, she got invited to speak at a local school’s Black Girl Magic Club. She decided to grab some CurlCap hats from her storage unit to give to the students—a place she rarely visited anymore.
“That day changed everything,” she says.
As she arrived at the unit, she was shocked to see her former business partner there—someone she hadn’t seen in months. “His energy was off,” she recalls. “But I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt. I asked him, straight up, ‘What’s going on with the business? Are you going to give it back?’ All he said was, ‘I gotta think about it.’ Then he disappeared.”
Britney left to grab gift bags and returned shortly after. What she found was gut-wrenching.
“There were three men digging through my unit, throwing everything away. Thousands of CurlCap hats. Gone. I was crying. I was shaking. They said, ‘Someone paid us to clear it out.’”
That someone was her business partner.
The workers called him directly, and when he answered, he simply said, “Everything has to go. Stop playing.” Then he hung up.
Britney was stunned.
“I asked him to his face, ‘Why are you doing this?’ And he said, ‘You didn’t see anything.’ He was trying to deny it all. That was the first time I fully realized—he was gaslighting me.”
She stayed at the storage unit all night to protect what she could. Later, she learned her partner had stopped paying the storage bill altogether. The unit went into default and was scheduled for public auction.
But here’s where the story turns.
Redemption Through Divine Timing
Thanks to the funds from Black Girl Ventures, Britney was able to buy back her entire inventory at auction—for less than what she would’ve had to pay him directly.
“That’s how I know God is real,” she says. “The man who ran the facility told me, ‘This was the only way you were ever going to get your stuff back in your name. He was never going to give it up willingly.’”
She hadn’t planned to be there that day. But one act of generosity—speaking to students—led her to intercept what could have been the end of her business.
“I told him that day, ‘You’re going to regret this.’ But I wasn’t even angry anymore. I knew I wasn’t the one fighting. This was bigger than me.”
Rebuilding on Her Own Terms
With her inventory and business back in her hands, Britney is filled with gratitude—and a new level of clarity.
“I wake up every day so glad. So relieved. I got it back. And that’s because I bet on myself. And because Black Girl Ventures gave me the support I needed to act when it mattered most.”
This isn’t just a comeback—it’s a redemption story worthy of its own book. She pauses, then adds with a smile: “It’s a whole book.”
And we’ll be the first in line to read it.
“Support for Women of Color Entrepreneurs Can Be Limited. Has This Been a Hurdle for You?”
“Without question,” says Britney. “Limited support for women of color entrepreneurs isn’t just a hurdle—it’s a constant uphill battle.”
She explains that because opportunities to raise capital are so limited, it creates an atmosphere of scarcity. “When one opportunity opens up, it feels like everyone’s racing to the finish line. You just want to get your foot in the door.”
But the impact isn’t just financial—it’s deeply psychological.
“You start to internalize the rejection. You begin to question your idea, your voice, your value—when in reality, the system just wasn’t built for you to win.”
She says that mental spiral is one of the hardest things to overcome. “It makes you wonder, What am I doing wrong? But the truth is—it’s not you. It’s the system. There are just so few opportunities to begin with.”
That’s why ecosystems like Black Girl Ventures are crucial.
“When I look at some of the ideas other communities get funding for—some of them are wild—it reminds me that the barrier isn’t the brilliance of our ideas. It’s access. That’s why Black Girl Ventures is so important.”
For Crowell, the ecosystem BGV creates is rare—and powerful.
“I live in New York, but I was able to go and Pull Up & Pitch in Philly. Just showing up there and seeing that line of entrepreneurs—these weren’t people waiting for sneakers or a concert. They were standing in line because they believed in themselves. They were betting on themselves.” That level of hunger, she says, is a testament to what’s possible when access meets intention.
“If you're willing to stand in line for an opportunity like that, I know you’ve already been doing the hard work behind the scenes. But the opportunities are just so few. And that scarcity can feel defeating.”
Still, Crowell believes in the power of community-centered ecosystems.
“That’s why these spaces matter. They help us rise. They help us stand out. And they remind us—we’re not the problem. The system is. But we’re building something stronger anyway.”
What Is the Most Essential Quality for an Entrepreneur to Embody for Success?
Without hesitation, Britney answers: “Persistence.”
“You don’t always hear ‘no’—sometimes it’s just not right now, or not this way, or not with this person. But you have to be able to see that. You need discernment. And you have to keep going.”
She laughs, but her conviction is serious: “Lord knows I’ve been knocking on the WNBA’s door every which way, and I will not stop. I need WNBA CurlCaps. It’s going to happen. I don’t kid myself.”
For Crowell, persistence also includes the humility to reassess.
“When someone tells you no, alright—you take it on the chin. Then you refine. You ask, Why did I get a no? Was it because my pitch wasn’t great? Was there something else in the way?That’s humility.”
And then, with a grin: “But there’s always a loophole. Always. There’s a crack somewhere with my name on it—and I will find it.”
How Do You Define Success?
For Britney, success isn’t about numbers—it’s about impact.
“I define success by the people who are touched by what I do,” she says. “I recently started doing more speaking engagements, and that’s been a game changer. I didn’t even know people would show up just to hear me talk.”
After one event, a woman approached her with a story that hit hard.
“She told me her mother had cancer. And that my hat helped her feel more confident. That meant so much to me. I didn’t have words.”
She pauses for a beat. “That’s why I keep going. Because this isn’t even what I thought I was doing this for.”
Crowell originally created CurlCap to solve a personal problem—managing scalp psoriasis while maintaining her sense of style and confidence. “I thought it was just about that,” she says.
“But to exceed that original expectation, to see other people wearing the hat and telling their stories—that’s what makes it real.”
And when those stories are shared with her, she receives them with deep gratitude. “People don’t have to tell you why they wear it. But when they do—and it comes from a really honest place—that’s a beautiful exchange. That’s the measure of success for me.”
What Excites You Most About the Future of CurlCap?
Two things light Britney up when she looks ahead: workshops and women’s sports.
“The workshops are everything,” she says. “That face-to-face connection, creating something together, building community—that’s where I come alive.”
But her long-term vision? It’s rooted in the legacy of the athletes who raised her spirit before she ever launched a business.
“Couldn’t nobody tell me I wasn’t Serena Williams,” she laughs. “That’s how I grew up. Strength, beauty, grace—black women in sports are the blueprint.”
CurlCap, she explains, has always been bigger than just a product. She wants to honor the women who inspired her.
“I want to do things that celebrate them. A FloJo hat. A Sha’Carri hat. I want to create keepsakes—something that reflects what they mean to the culture, what they meant to me, and what they mean to so many.”
One moment in particular still gives her chills. “Nneka Ogwumike wore my hat courtside at a Nets game. It was on the jumbotron. I was like, Yo. That’s my hat. She’s wearing my hat.”
And just when she thought that couldn’t be topped, it was.
“Cheryl Swoopes saw it and asked where she got it from,” Britney says, still in awe. “Like—what?! Cheryl Swoopes?”
She takes a breath and lets the moment settle. “That’s how I know it’s coming. It’s not no—it’s not yet.”
Crowell smiles, full of purpose. “Everything else is aligned. Now I just need to get it right. Because I know what’s coming—and I want to be ready.”
Looking Ahead: What Does Success Look Like in Three Years?
Three years from now, success for CurlCap looks crystal clear to Britney: “Black girls need to see it,” she says.
“They need to see the range. Because we’re so often painted as a monolith—but we’re not. There are so many different types of women competing at the highest level, and each one deserves to be celebrated.”
For Crowell, that future vision isn’t just about branding—it’s about representation and impact.
“I think about how I would honor Black women in sports, and it wouldn’t just be about the product. It would be about showing the range—the many different kinds of Black women who are out here doing amazing things. Because they try to teach us there’s only one way to be, one version that’s valid—but no. There’s more. And I want to honor that.”
Her vision includes CurlCap workshops that bring athletes and communities together. “I want the workshop to pull in athletes—maybe even have those one-on-one moments where they’re customizing their own hats. It becomes more than a hat. It becomes a platform.”
And her commitment to the vision is unwavering. “Everywhere I go—women’s sports. Wake up in the morning—women’s sports. Eat, sleep, and breathe it. That’s the vision—and I’m already in motion.”
The Future for Black & Brown Women Entrepreneurs
When reflecting on the future of Black and Brown women entrepreneurs, Crowell doesn’t just offer hope—she offers strategy.
“The time we’re in right now is so important,” she says. “Especially coming off what this administration has done, the message has been loud. But so has our response.”
She’s inspired by the way Black women rise, even in the face of systemic barriers.
“We’re resourceful. We’re relentless. We love to prove a point. I said what I said—you’re not gonna stop me.”
She laughs, but it’s also the truth. “One thing we’re gonna do is find a loophole. One thing we’re gonna do is pull resources together. One thing we’re gonna do is magnify each other. We lift each other up. We say each other’s names in the rooms that matter.”
To her, the clarity we have now is its own kind of advantage.
“Now that you’ve shown me your hand, I know what I’m up against. I know your playbook—and I know my power. So in a way, this resistance only fuels us.”
She frames it like a game—but one we’re learning to win. “If this were a sport, I’d say: I’ve seen your defense. I’ve studied your offense. Now I’ve got the advantage.”
Crowell smiles, her optimism grounded in lived experience. “My journey has made me an optimist. And now that we know the truth? There’s no stopping us. We’re not just going to match the momentum—we’re going to surpass it.”
How Do You Prioritize Self-Care and Maintain Mental Health as an Entrepreneur?
For Britney, mental wellness starts with something deeper than routine—it starts with prayer.“If it hasn’t been evident by now—I’m a prayer,” she says.
She prays every morning—and every time she shows up to something important.“I pray before I get on a call. Right before I press ‘Join Meeting’ on Zoom, that last-minute anxiety might try to creep up. So I say, ‘God, bless this call,’ and then—boop—I hit the button. There’s no room for anything else to get in.”
It’s a practice she didn’t always have, but now it grounds her before anything else does.
And while faith keeps her centered, play keeps her present.
She smiles as she shares one of her go-to rituals: “I have a dance break alarm that goes off every day. I stop, I do a silly dance—anything to remind myself, ‘Girl, you’re taking this way too seriously. You’re just a girl with an idea. Chill.’”
That quick burst of joy reminds her that success doesn’t have to mean pressure. The final pillar of her self-care practice is one that many women—especially women of color—struggle with: saying no.
“Everything is not a yes,” she says. “I stopped overextending myself. Culturally, that’s something we’ve had to do for survival. But at some point, we have to restore our own balance.”
Saying no, she adds, is more than a boundary—it’s a filter.
“If someone can’t handle your no, that’s already a red flag. If one no means we’re on bad terms, well… good riddance.”
For Crowell, peace of mind isn’t something you earn. “You deserve to be in a comfortable mental state. You don’t have to work for that. You deserve that right now.”
She sums it up simply: “Prayer, dance breaks, and saying no. That’s my trifecta for peace—and I protect it every day.”
What Is Your Favorite Quote or Mantra as an Entrepreneur?
When asked to share the quote that keeps her grounded in business and in life, Britney doesn’t hesitate:
“Everything and everyone I need to assist me in my prosperity will do so freely and willingly.”
“It just clears out all the noise,” she explains. “If we’ve got to fight about it, if it’s not flowing—I have to let it go. God’s will says it’s not supposed to be all that.”
The mantra also serves as a mirror.
“Am I doing this freely and willingly? Am I doing what I’m supposed to be doing?” She pauses. “That’s where obedience comes in.”
For Crowell, the mantra isn’t just about trust—it’s about alignment, clarity, and spiritual community.
“It reminds me I’m not doing this alone. And it invites the right energy. The people who are meant to help will show up—and so will I.”
Are there any particular podcasts that you would recommend?
The Sakita Method
What is a must-have tool or app that has streamlined your business operations?
ChatGPT and Excel
What’s Next for CurlCap?
When asked about the next chapter for CurlCap, Britney said, “Women’s sports. That’s it.”
She says it with a laugh, but the clarity is serious. “There’s nothing else. Nothing. Okay?”
Now that the biggest battle—getting CurlCap back—is behind her, she’s focused on what’s next. “That was the goal, right? But now the main goal is women’s sports.”
Workshops remain a key part of her vision—but now, they’re rooted in this next mission.
“It’s all tied to the same goal,” she explains. “I want to have workshops with WNBA hats. I want athletes involved. I want to create something that brings people together while honoring them at the same time.”
With the brand back in her hands and a clear vision ahead, Crowell is locked in. “That’s the direction. That’s where we’re headed.”
Any Last Words?
Rather than end with strategy or vision, Britney Crowell leaves us with something more essential:“It’s so important to have the right people around you. That’s all.”
“If people don’t want to see you shine, they’ll do everything they can to dim your light.” She lets that truth land. “So… yeah. Keep them up. Protect your energy.”
She circles back to where she started—on purpose. “It’s just really important to have the right people around you.”
And with that, Britney Crowell offers the kind of final word only an entrepreneur who’s fought to reclaim her light can give.
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