Tina Knowles launched hair care line Cécred with daughter Beyoncé after years of mixing custom hair treatments

Before becoming the matriarch of one of the most celebrated families in music, Tina Knowles established a salon business specifically targeting professional women in need of quick hair styling.

During her appearance at the Fortune Most Powerful Women's Summit in Santa Barbara, California, Knowles elaborated on her hair care line, Cécred, which she co-founded with her daughter Beyoncé Knowles Carter in February 2024. This initiative draws upon four decades of her experiences in business, fashion, and entertainment. At her inaugural Houston salon, Knowles utilized products infused with human hair to enhance protein levels in her clients' hair. She also created personalized treatments using butter and hot olive oil to optimize moisture and balance, often for her daughters as well. Notably, both Knowles Carter and singer-songwriter Solange Knowles were involved in her salon operations.

"The dream has always been to create a product that encompassed everything needed in a single formula and in one application," Knowles explained to Fortune senior writer Sheryl Estrada. "Beyoncé shared that vision, as I was performing similar treatments on her hair."

Knowles indicated that Knowles Carter opted to independently finance the hair care line, steering clear of external investors due to a shared commitment to research and development. Potential investors hesitated at the initial costs. The aim was to develop a product that would effectively absorb into diverse hair textures rather than simply coating the surface to impart temporary smoothness.

"Our customers have undertaken the marketing for us, as it's fundamentally a quality product," remarked Knowles.

Cécred represents a familial narrative, as Knowles explained to Estrada. Her daughters contributed by sweeping the floors of Knowles's Headliners salon, and she drew inspiration from the entrepreneurial women she encountered there. The iconic musical group Destiny's Child began their journey by performing for salon patrons.

Knowles launched the Headliners hair salon following her divorce, recognizing the need to provide for her children. At that time, she resolved never to rely on others for support again. Acknowledging the long waits often associated with salon visits, she made it her mission to serve professional women efficiently, guaranteeing service within 15 minutes or offering a refund.

In her best-selling memoir Matriarch, published last year, Knowles discovered that the women in her family had long histories of working as seamstresses, a lineage tracing back to her great- and great-great grandmothers, who endured slavery. She later played a crucial role in styling Destiny's Child during their ascension and co-founded a fashion label.

Since its inception two years ago, Cécred has achieved the most successful debut for a prestige hair care line in Ulta Beauty's history, garnering 89 awards in the beauty industry and marking its expansion into the U.K. The brand’s team conducts testing of its serums and conditioners across three countries to ensure it meets the needs of various hair types.

Amid these successes, Knowles acknowledged how her experiences of two divorces have profoundly influenced her. After her first divorce at age 59, she felt as though her life had come to an end. Nevertheless, she chose to refocus and transform that moment into an opportunity. Rediscovering her passions for art and prioritizing her own well-being became essential to her healing. For years, she had maintained a low public profile to protect her children from scrutiny.

"I often neglected to take credit for my contributions as a woman,” Knowles reflected. “We simply do what needs to be done.”

At the age of 70, she navigated a second divorce, leaving her with additional introspections.

"Those experiences of divorce compel you to reflect on yourself," she noted. This period prompted her to write, partly to provide a truthful account of her family's story, often distorted by outsiders on social media. Composing her memoir proved cathartic, ultimately positioning her as a best-selling author by the age of 71.

Now at 72, Knowles is shifting her focus toward philanthropy, intending to fully dedicate her efforts to this field within a few years. She chairs BeyGOOD, Beyoncé's charitable initiative, alongside her work with Cécred. Additionally, she founded her own charity, Waco (Where Art Can Occur), in collaboration with her ex-husband, mentoring girls from less affluent Los Angeles communities and providing them with exposure to art, travel, etiquette, and essential life skills.

Looking ahead, she intends to contribute to the Vision Theatre project in Los Angeles' Leimert Park. Actress Marla Gibbs had invested in the theater with aspirations to transform it into a performing arts center but lost the property following societal unrest. The city has since allocated significant funding for its restoration, and Knowles aims to emulate Gibbs' vision by establishing it as a community arts center.

Knowles emphasized that after multiple changes in her career trajectory, she approaches new ventures fearlessly. Her advice for the younger generation is to commit fully to their endeavors, emphasizing the importance of learning from failures and applying those lessons to future pursuits. A robust work ethic and the absence of entitlement are crucial components of success, she asserted.

"Be authentically yourself," Knowles advised. "That is my guiding principle."