Candice Thurston is the founder of Candi&Co, a salon group launched in 2014 that focusses on curly and afro-textured hair. For over 7 years, Candice has been part of the leadership driving the hair revolution and has been a loud voice challenging the hair norms of society while also investing in training, salon owners and product development.
Her mission is to de-racialise, destigmatise and revolutionise hair and beauty notions by focussing on the science of hair and the formation of all textured hair. She wants to ensure that all people from all races and cultures feel beautiful and confident. She is fuelled by passion, personal experience and says "I want women to know, self-love starts with loving your hair, your skin and everything that makes you unique.”
Candice's experience in the beauty and haircare industry started long before she decided to spread her wings and venture on her new journey. As a mixed race woman, she started understanding hair textures from a young age where she styled the women in her life's hair who had various textures. From here she was determined to one day give Black and Coloured woman a product and salon experience that was professional, respected them and understood their hair needs.
Candice has looked after major brands such as Axe, Shield, Dove and worked on hair brands such as Dove hair, Sunsilk, Organics and other Unilever international hair brands as the Senior Brand Manager. A proud moment for Candice was working on the 2010 World Cup marketing campaign and managing the MTN South Africa Consumer portfolio from 2010 till 2013. She then ventured into launching Candi&Co. that now boasts ten salons.
Candice is an honours graduate and holds a Chartered Marketer Degree from GIBS. Candice has paved the way for many women who aspire to be hairstylists by giving them the training they needed to upskill themselves.