How Kristina Youssef’s Passion for Hairstyling Led to the Creation of KYK Hair Care
With its professional salon-quality prices at affordable prices, KYK Hair Care is beloved around the world—with famous fans including Paris Hilton, Katy Perry, Demi Lovato and more—and it all begins with visionary stylist Kristina Youssef.
Her passion for styling hair began in high school, bringing her straightener to school to do her friends' hair, before she pursued it as a full-time job out of a spare room in her parents' house. It wasn't long before her talents and professionalism spread by word of mouth and she started styling for some big names, eventually inspiring Kristina to develop her own line of products for gorgeous and healthy hair in the form of KYK Hair Care. We had the pleasure of chatting with Kristina to learn more about her story and the power of KYK in the interview below.
Name: Kristina Youssef
IG handle: @kykhair
Hometown: Victoria, Australia
1. Kristina's love for hairstyling started as a hobby in high school.
"I was the girl with the hair straightener from home in the school bathrooms doing everyone's hair.
After graduating university as a social worker, I started doing hair from home as a side hustle while applying for social work jobs. After endless rejections in job applications, I realized my passion was hair, so I started finding ways to turn that weekend side hustle into a full-time career. I was only 21 years old at the time.
All I had at the time was a table and a chair in a spare room downstairs in my parents' house. I remember saying to my dad 'Can we paint the room? Can you help me make it look like a salon?' to his response, 'When I see customers waiting for appointments and I see you get busy, I'll help you.' Sure enough, two weeks later I achieved that. I had customers waiting in the foyer area and it was at that point that I knew it was hair I was destined to do."
-Kristina Youssef
Also read about: How Maya Smith Is Closing the Texture Gap With Her Family-Ran Haircare Business, The Doux
2. She started working with celebrities within the first year of her career, including Australian fitness guru Ash Bines and fitness trainer, model and icon Paige Hathaway.
"At the time, they were looking for a hairstylist on social media and they received a lot of recommendations to have their hair styled by me, so through the classic DMs, we arranged to work together.
I have worked on TikTok star Leah Halton, TV personality and winner of I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! Skye Wheatley.
However my products have been styled on some major celebrities more recently like Paris Hilton, Katy Perry, Rita Ora, Sofia Richie, Demi Lovato, singer Saweeti, Abigail Ratchford, Anne Winters, Mary Bonnet, Christine Quinn, Tammy Hembrow, The Kid LAROI, Chrishell Stause, Emma Hernan, Casandra Fine (Cassie), Chelsea Lazkani and Bretman Rock."
-Kristina Youssef
3. The "KYK" in KYK Hair Care stands for "Kristina Youssef Kreations."
"It represents my creativity, innovations and passion."
-Kristina Youssef
4. The brand's mission statement is "to formulate innovative, high performance, salon-quality formulas and products at affordable prices, making quality products accessible to all consumers."
"As a stylist of 14 years, I always wanted to provide my customers with good quality products but couldn't justify paying the hefty price tags. I never shopped for expensive products and I always resorted to items in my budget. When I started KYK Hair Care I wanted to change that. I did not want to be limited to a certain demographic only. I wanted everyone to be able to afford it whilst reaping the rewards of quality ingredients. Other brands opt for higher margins. We keep our margins as low as possible to give the benefits of lower prices to our consumers."
-Kristina Youssef
Also read about: Kerisma Knits Co-Founder Lihui Ke Shares the Inspiration Behind the Beloved Knitwear Brand
5. One of the best pieces of advice she ever received had to do with expanding her horizons.
"A good friend of mine once told me, 'You can't become a global phenomenon, whilst driving around the streets of Melbourne.' At the time, I was torn between giving up my 14-year career as a bridal specialist and moving forward with KYK Hair Care full-time. But all along she was right—I couldn't be both, I couldn't do both. Sometimes you need to give up what you love, give up what you know, give you what's safe and comfortable for a dream—a dream that can easily become your reality with the attention and dedication you fuel into it."
-Kristina Youssef
6. Maintaining a strong will and working hard in the face of adversity has helped her get to where she is today.
"When I face hardship, rejection or am told I can't do something, it always fuels me to work harder. I keep my notes in my phone next to me at night. When my mind is thinking about all the things I need to do, I'll list them in my notes to get them out of my head, ready for the next day.
Consistency is key! Without consistency you won't grow. For me, my social media and platforms play a major role in getting me to where I am today, and the habit is showing up every day on there. Being present, being authentic and sharing the highs and the lows. Consumers want a brand that is not only transparent but also has personality.
I seek consumer feedback on our products, which is crucial for our research and development process, always seeking the best version of a product through customer satisfaction
Working hard has to be the biggest reason. The effort to always be willing to put in the work. It's the work ethic itself (not complaining about working seven days a week, or working long days or after hours). It's the commitment of wanting to push through and succeed."
-Kristina Youssef
7. Her current favorite hair trend is hair with a healthy, glass-like appearance.
"We have seen that girls have been opting for healthier hair options, from consciously trying to incorporate more heatless styling options to hair oiling. Magic Drops is seven oils and vitamin E in one formula, giving both hair health and a glass-looking finish. It be used on both wet or damp hair. Our latest styling product for the best version of your hair."
-Kristina Youssef
(via KYK Hair Care)
Also read about: Sisters Eda & Serra Levent Share Their Personal Story Behind Skincare Brand Cool as a Cucumber
8. The most rewarding thing about the wok she does is helping people.
"Helping others—both consumers who struggle with a problem and find a solution through our products and colleagues in the industry who now found a solution to their issues.
We get consumers email us saying how much our products helped them. For example, our Root Me hair growth serum helping alopecia patients, post-chemo patients and others struggling with hair loss. While stylists and hair dressers have leveled up their hair game as a result of our products with thousands stating that our best-selling Magic Dust Volume Powder is the best on the market, like no other, and a staple in their kit. Comments like this and knowing we have helped others is the most rewarding."
-Kristina Youssef
9. Over the years, Kristina has defied all of the odds to succeed and get to where she is today.
"I was just a young girl that started from humble beginnings with no financial support. I started with nothing—just a dream and determination.
I was born with congenital heart disease. and despite the cardiologists telling my mum I wouldn't have an ordinary life, I didn't let it limit me or define me. I plan on turning this ecommerce brand into a globally recognized company and KYK Hair Care will be my legacy.
If you dream it, and you believe in it than you can achieve it."
-Kristina Youssef
For more on our favorite brands and the stories behind them, click HERE to read all about Goldie Tees founder Debbie Rudoy.