Incoming

Myleik Teele Is Fighting the Patriarchy (And Its Receding Hairline)

The Curlbox founder is changing Black women’s lives from the follicle on down, but she has some advice for men, too

Shane Paul Neil
LEVEL
Published in
5 min readFeb 5, 2020

--

Illustration: Olivia Fields

Update 6/7/22: Level has a new home. You can read this article and other new articles by visiting LEVELMAN.com.

IIt’s all too rare to find a business coach whose business isn’t just coaching, but Myleik Teele has built an empire of her own — while teaching others how to craft theirs.

If you’ve seen a Curlbox package show up on your front door, you can thank Teele: the subscription-based business catering to women with curly hair has been growing steadily since she founded it in 2011. By now, the Atlanta-based, former public relations executive has partnered with companies like Target, Shea Moisture, and Procter & Gamble, all of which were eager to cater to Curlbox’s loyal fan base. (Seriously, the monthly boxes sell out like they’re Jordan retros.)

“I can’t say too much, but there are men who are still adjusting to a Black woman being in charge.”

In spite of her success, there’s no bravado here. A conversation with Teele showcases a “you…

--

--

Shane Paul Neil
LEVEL
Writer for

Writer (duh) and photographer. Bylines @levelmag @complex @ebony @huffpo shanepaulneil.com