Queer Eye's Karamo Brown, Honest Company alum launch personal care brand for bald men

By

Gabriella Lacombe

Published
Feb 10, 2020

Queer Eye's Karamo Brown and two Honest Company alumni have co-founded Mantl, a premium personal care brand for bald and balding men. 

Launched last week, the brand offers a range of grooming products catered to the bald and balding man's face and scalp, including a cleanser, age defense moisturizer, daily SPF and 'no-shine' sheets. 

To jump start its growth, the brand raised a pre-seed round of $1 million led by Airwing Ventures, in addition to receiving funding from Revolution's Rise of the Rest Seed Fund and numerous angel investments, including Brian Lee, co-founder of The Honest Company.

Ads

Mantl is overseen by Brown, as well as Peter Ricci, the former vice president, head of retail sales at The Honest Company, and Irene Kong, who previously served as The Honest Company's senior manager, product and packaging development before transitioning to the role of director, program and portfolio management. Ricci now serves as Mantl CEO, while Kong serves as Mantl chief product officer. 

According to the brand, the creation of Mantl was inspired by each founder's personal connection with a person struggling with baldness; which, in the case of Brown and Ricci, was their own struggle. Mantl said it aims to create a new category in men's personal care by "[empowering] men who embrace their baldness." 

"I am thrilled and humbled to establish Mantl alongside [Ricci and Kong]; I believe our products are answering such a strong need for premium personal care made for the bald community," Brown said.

"My reputation and passion for supporting mental health extends to the development of Mantl — this brand catalyzes and nurtures a conversation around what it means to be an attractive man who is bald or balding, ultimately empowering men who are dealing with this reality."

A nod to Ricci and Kong's past at The Honest Company, Mantl's products use premium and naturally-derived ingredients like aloe, willow herb, and ginger root, while avoiding sulfates, parabens, dyes, and synthetic fragrance. 

"We developed this product line for an efficient experience, with an easy three step routine, while being suitable for all skin types," said Kong.

"Using naturally-derived ingredients as well as carefully selecting what not to include in our formulas, we're providing men in all stages of balding with products that nourish and maintain a healthier face and scalp."

At first launch, the brand's products are available exclusively via its website at mantlmen.com. Prices range from $16.99 through $26.99.