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You Go Natural slammed by 'Shark Tank' fans as they label product 'unflattering' and 'cartoonish'

YGN, founded in 2016 by Monique Little, has made it their aim to meet the specific requirements of people with curly, coiled, and kinky hair

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: You Go Natural, or YGN, is a trailblazing business that has transformed the hair accessories market by delivering new solutions for people with textured hair. YGN, founded in 2016 by Monique Little, has made it their aim to meet the specific requirements of people with curly, coiled, and kinky hair. Hair accessories from YGN are created to accommodate many hair kinds and styles, making them adaptable and suited for a wide range of consumers. Monique debuted her startup on Season 14, Episode 21 of 'Shark Tank.'

The commitment of YGN to inclusion and diversity is mirrored in its product line, which includes a wide range of colors, designs, and styles. The brand's commitment to offering solutions for people with textured hair has gained them a devoted following and reputation in the beauty industry. After considerable hustling, the corporation was able to walk away with a deal at the end of the episode. However, their business pitch on the show has sparked many doubts among viewers.

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Monique shocks Sharks with high valuation

YGN has revolutionized the hair accessory business by offering a diverse selection of items that meet the demands of those who have limited time and finances to spend on their hair care regimens. The brand's product range includes a number of headgear alternatives for both men and women, such as headbands, head wraps, turbans, and durags, all of which are meant to provide ease and style. The usage of satin lining, which is suitable for textured hair, is one of the distinguishing aspects of YGN's products. Synthetic satin is more breathable and simpler to keep than natural fibers like silk, which can combine with shed skin cells and hair remnants. This makes it a perfect choice for hair accessories that need to be washed and maintained on a regular basis.

The brand offers a variety of items for both men and women at differing costs. The Ribbed V2 Halo Turban, $35, is part of the Men's Spring collection and is available in three distinct colors: Oat, Java, and Avocado. The ribbed buns are $35 in the Women's Spring collection. Velvet Halo Turbans are $40, Active Halo Turbans are $38, Men's Open T-shirt Turbans are $35, and additional men's items are available. T-shirt buns are $35, Onyx Swim Turban is $48, Knotted Headband is $15, Satin Puff Pull (Set of 3) is $30, and more items are available for ladies.

Monique walked into the Tank with her brother and COO of the company, David Dundas, seeking $400k for 5% of her company. The company started in 2016 and made $100,000 in sales that year. Despite operating from her mother's living room, You Go Natural earned enormous success early on. The firm constructed an 8,000-square-foot production facility to satisfy client requests and increase operations.

YGN made an amazing $2.2 million in 2020 and showed no signs of slowing down. The creator explained that the epidemic limited people's hair treatments, so they went with a basic option. The increase in orders necessitated the appointment of more personnel. The next year, they extended their facilities and need further funding. Brand Foundry Venture Partners, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Capital Factory led a $2 million investment in Monique.

The pair ultimately managed to walk away with a deal with fellow Dallas-based investor Shark Mark Cuban after much back and forth from the Sharks.

'Stop the madness!'

Fans seemed to be confused after the product was aired on the show on May 5. One asked, "This looks like some amazing items but checking their website they only show it on Black and Brown models. Is it not good for other hair? Trying to be political correct in saying this. #sharktank. #yougonatural they are lucky to get @mcuban. I see NBA team names soon." While another expressed, "I did not get the whole thing but 50 million $ is lots of money and $100000.00 in the bank in questionable if you have 3 million $ in debts some other places you did not tell out." One fan realized, "They need to lower their customer acquisition cost. #SharkTank will definitely help!" Hearing the ask from the founders, a viewer tweeted, "400k for 5% - Stop the madness!"

On Reddit too, the valuation was brought into question by the viewers. One wrote, "They have so many issues.. too many to invest imo. They’re making so much sales, yet they’re not breaking even yet so it just didn’t justify their valuation at all…." One disappointed viewer wrote, "Companies like this are red meat for social media ad sales dogs. They've been drained millions on advertising, without driving commensurate sales. As a woman in this culture I question the product proposition. We already know how to wrap our hair, so I'm not who that line is for. Oh, there's the swimming version, which I'd say is almost comically niche of a niche of a niche. The men's product is unflattering in a cartoonish phallus way. Also, any men outside the culture risk accusations of appropriation or else they're already from the opposite end, the bandana wearing types that nobody likes. They've burned so much money and CAC is over the top."

One viewer on Facebook also shared their opinion saying, "Nobody should want to wear this."

'Shark Tank' airs new episodes on ABC every Friday at 8 pm ET. Missed an episode? Episodes can also be viewed the next day on demand, or on Hulu. Besides, you can watch old seasons and episodes on Amazon Prime Video and iTunes.

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