LEGACY IN ACTION: RESA B. LUSTER-MAC & THE HAIRCARE EMPIRE IN CHICAGO

Last month, we kicked off Season 2 of Unlock The Science of Beauty – powered by MyAvana –  with one of the most powerful conversations we've had yet. Resa B. Luster-Mac — wife, mother, entrepreneur, and Chief Officer of the Pink Brand at Luster Products Inc. — sat down with our founder, Sakeya Donaldson, to talk about what it really means to carry a legacy forward.

Resa is a third-generation member of the Luster family, the Chicago-based company founded in 1957 by her grandfather Fred Luster Sr. While we talked a lot about the family business, this was such a great opportunity to sit down with a woman who found her own path, earned her place at the table, and is now leading one of the most iconic brands in Black haircare into its next chapter. 

When we launched Unlock The Science of Beauty, our mission was simple: bring young people into proximity with the leaders, innovators, and changemakers shaping the future of beauty and STEM. Resa B. Luster-Mac absolutely fits the bill. Our time with her served as an opportunity to document parts of her personal journey, and It was a business masterclass on Black ownership.

SHE WASN’T SUPPOSED TO WORK THERE

It’s rare in this day and age that minority owned companies groom their children or family members to take on the family business. That was the case for Resa, whose family encouraged her to find whatever she was passionate about and pursue it, and not worry about working for Luster Products Inc. 

"I wasn't raised to go into my family's business,” recounted Resa. “My family was like, 'You're never going to work here. That's not an option. Go make your own way in this world.'" 

And that’s exactly what Resa did. During her time at Columbia College in Chicago, Resa fell in love with fashion and beauty, and had every intention of moving to New York to build her own career. It was actually a Black professor who discreetly held up a mirror — when Resa announced her New York plans, the professor pulled her aside and said, essentially: you already have something. Go look at what your family built. And looking back, Resa believes that her unique journey led her to where she needed to be.  

"I've seen people who own law firms or have their own practice, and I've seen the next generation just tear it down because there was no passion. When you make somebody do something they probably don't want to do, they're going to resent it. But if you let people find themselves wherever they might be, they end up where they're supposed to be.”

In 2016, Resa led the launch of Pink Kids – a collection designed to make wash days easier, less painful, and more joyful for children. This was deeply personal. As a mother of three, under three, Resa understands the frustration of parents who want to use products that care for their children’s hair.  Today, she leads the entire Pink Brand both domestically and globally. 

But where does the legacy of Luster Products Inc. begin? And how have they managed to launch and sustain brands like  Luster's Pink and S-Curl, for nearly 70 years? 

THE LEGACY SHE STEPPED INTO

To understand how Resa and the third-generation of Luster’s is leading the brand forward, we must consider their brand’s backstory and unique family history. 

Fred Luster Sr. built Luster Products Inc. from nothing – a journey that began on the Southside of Chicago in 1957. Without any formal education, Fred Luster Sr. had to quit school before finishing the eighth grade to help support his parents and 7 younger siblings. During his upbringing, their family had run a successful farm in Mississippi – but were eventually forced to flee after enduring racial threats and violence. Eventually, the Luster family migrated to Chicago, where Fred Luster Sr. opened a barbershop, which became the grounds that cultivated his entrepreneurial spirit. When people sat in his chair, they’d cover diverse topics, but his keen attention to detail allowed him to identify problems hustlers, doctors, attorneys, and everyday working people were facing when it came to their haircare. 

Setting out to find a solution, Fred Luster Sr. started as a kitchen chemist, mixing formulas and testing them on clients. At a time when major manufacturing didn’t consider the needs of Black consumers, Fred Luster Sr. saw an opportunity to serve his community – and word spread about his products fast. From products experienced in-house at his barbershop to selling products out of his car in the Chicago land area, the business eventually became a full manufacturing operation: cosmetic chemists, production lines, research and development, the whole shabang. Since 1957, the business has grown astronomically – selling products globally in 70 countries. And the company is still 100% Black owned, family-operated, and manufactured in Chicago – out of what the family lovingly calls Lusterland. 

For Resa, her grandfather's story is a monument of hope that is a constant reminder for her team, young innovators, and anyone who may think that their starting point determines their ceiling:

“My grandfather would often say, ‘I fit the statistic to end up in an early grave, to be in the welfare line, to be in prison, to not make it.' He knew that our work was to make sure people who look like us can win at life,” shared Resa. 

Multiple studies and industry sources, like Cornell University, report that around 30-40% of U.S. family businesses transition into the second generation, roughly 12-13% continue into the third generation, and only 3% survive to the fourth generation and beyond. Black-owned businesses face steeper challenges as it relates to legacy building and succession – and often face higher early-stage failure, resulting in an even lower likelihood of multi-generational transitions. For Resa, being a part of that small percentage of brand owners – especially within the beauty industry–  isn't something she takes lightly. It’s something she fights to protect every day. 

LEADING WITH THICK SKIN AND CLEAR VISION

Running a family business comes with an undeniable pressure. During our conversation with Resa, she didn’t sugarcoat the responsibility that comes with it – and even when the day ends, she’s still a daughter, granddaughter, and family member of the Luster Family. Which means that in real time, she’s navigating both family and boardroom dynamics. Even when she’s in a room full of people who’ve watched her grow up, she has to assert herself as a leader who’s familiar with the current generation and what will push the company toward visibility, in an era when storytelling is just as important as the product on the shelf.

For decades, Luster’s Products Inc.'s philosophy was: let the product speak for itself. The generations prior believed that showing up too loudly may come with risks, especially as a Black-owned business in an era that often punished audacity. But in the last few years of her leadership, Resa has recognized that invisibility has its own costs:

“A lot of people didn’t know we’re Black and family-owned. Some people are just now finding this out now... 69 years in. So I think right now we’re telling our story the way it’s supposed to be told and being authentic with who we are – and how we’re continuing to grow as a brand.” 

These are the types of cultural shifts that are supporting Resa as she leads. During our conversation, Resa provided a few examples of how, in this day and age self-advertisement isn’t enough. Luster Products Inc. is a generational brand that has something for everybody  – including the grandma, mama, daddy, baby, and the great grandbaby. And when you’re presenting yourself as a household name, the story that you have the power to tell can be multifaceted – it doesn’t have to always look one way b, but it can speak to the diversity of experiences within a family unit. As a leader, Resa’s strategy hasn’t been to rely on influencer marketing alone – she’s become the influencer, weaving in how she uses her products on her children as a serial entrepreneur, wife, and mother of three, under the three. This approach has allowed the brand to resonate with consumers in new ways, showcasing that the Luters don’t just produce products – that they’re real people, with life experiences and haircare needs too.

And let’s be clear – Luster Products Inc. is keen on integrity. In a beauty industry that is often eager to cut corners and move fast, one thing they’ll never compromise on is formulation. Like any great businesswoman, Resa is studying the competition closely – buying their products, testing them, and having her chemists reverse-engineer what’s actually inside.

What she finds isn't always pretty:

“Whatever that label says, they can verify it.  Sometimes they find products that are good for continued use – other times, they’re like if you keep using this, it might just take your edges,”  shared Resa.

This is where STEM matters.  While Resa has a sharp understanding of what works on textured hair, she’s supported by a slew of Cosmetic Chemists and Product Formulators on their internal teams that prioritize Luster’s products focus on hydration and moisture. Luster Products Inc. manufactures everything itself – no white labeling, outsourcing or mystery ingredients. In our interview, Resa mentioned how sometimes this delays the process as they may be waiting for ingredients to come in, but remaining conscious and in control from the ingredient stage to shelf is a commitment that’s a priority to the brand. 

At The Science of Beauty, we believe representation in STEM isn't optional — it's essential. And Resa is a living example of what it looks like when a young Black woman finds her way into leadership in the beauty industry on her own terms. Additionally, she’s a leader who does her due diligence – understanding that the products they create serve a scientific function to support their customers. Which means that every product involves chemistry, formulation science, ingredient sourcing, quality control, and rigorous testing. Their in-house chemists work at a molecular level to understand what textured hair needs and why.

"We invest in R&D and manufacturing — that's our flex. We own the entire process. We take pride in making sure that we are delivering on what we're promising."

But what makes Resa's story so powerful for young people is this: you don't have to be a chemist to lead in this space. You have to be curious, passionate, willing to listen and learn – and then have the courage to push the vision forward. Resa B. Luster-Mac and the third-generation of Lusters are doing exactly that, building upon a long-lasting legacy that started with their grandfather.

3 Key Takeaways from Resa B. Luster -Mac

1.  Let people find their own way. Passion can’t be forced. Whether you’re raising the next generation of your family business or building a team, the people who show up with genuine love for the work will always outperform the ones who were pushed into it. Give people room to grow, and trust that the right ones will always find their way back.

2.  Visibility is part of the work NOW. Having a great product isn’t enough on its own anymore. Telling your story – authentically, in your own voice – is how brands stay relevant and build trust with the next generation of consumers. Remember, like Resa shared, “No one can tell your story better than you.”

3.  Real Legacy is community, not just commerce. The most enduring businesses aren’t just built on great products – they’re built on a genuine commitment to the people they serve. Fred Luster Sr. measured success by whether his employees could buy homes and send their kids to college. That is the type of standard of care that turns a business into a legacy. 

THE FUTURE IS YOURS

Resa B. Luster-Mac is proof that legacy isn't something you're handed — it's something you choose and that you honor, dutifully.

She could have gone to New York.

She could have built someone else's brand.

Instead, she came home, found her place, and is now expanding one of the most long-standing names in Black haircare on the global stage.

For The Science of Beauty, that's the whole point. We want young people — especially young Black girls — to see themselves in leaders like Resa. To understand that science, business, and beauty aren't separate worlds. We're so grateful to Resa for sharing her story with us—and to everyone who joined the conversation. Your questions, your curiosity, and your engagement are what make this series so powerful.

And if you missed it? Don't worry. The full conversation is available on demand.

Special thanks to our partners at MyAvana, who make it possible for us to continue to bring incredible guests, powerful conversations, and more opportunities for you to see yourself in the future of STEM. We've got more incredible guests, more powerful conversations, and more opportunities for you to see yourself in the future of STEM.

Written by Jessica Clark for The Science of Beauty