we are delighted to bring you this week’s conversations with the
sensational sisters behind rucker roots,
the amazing vegan natural hair care brand that is inspired by and celebrates
roots! ione rucker jamison (cmo) and ellen rucker sellers (ceo) were raised by
a mother who concocted hair recipes using vegetables from their family garden,
so it was truly in their “roots” to become the fearless female entrepreneurs
that they now are! similar to
kai, the rucker roots brand has been selected as one of allure’s “best of
beauty” award winners and their brand has really taken off nationwide! rucker roots currently can be
found in 12 retailers across the u.s. including target,
amazon, belk, urban outfitters, heb, and j.c. penny salons; and they continue
to grow and expand their roots!
we are so grateful to have ellen and ione as our kai devotees and
friends! ellen and ione have been long-time wearers of kai. ellen has a
daughter named kai, who is now 17, and ione and ellen first discovered kai
around that time, when the kai signature products were gifted to ellen as a new
mom.
we highly encourage you to check out their incredible hair care
offerings (website and instagram),
and we hope you enjoy the below wonderful, insightful interviews with these two
fabulous sisters!
please stay tuned for a very exciting giveaway launching with
rucker roots soon!
xo,
gaye.
how did you start your
career? and how did you end up with your current role?
ione: ellen and i are
sisters, and we started our company, rucker roots, literally in ellen's
kitchen. i was living with ellen, along with my 3 kids, and we envisioned
rucker roots during this time. i was going through a divorce and needed to
focus on something positive that would make my kids' proud of me. my current
role as cmo of rucker roots has really transpired over the years because of my
strengths in running our business. ellen is the ceo. we have learned to work
well together over the years, but it has taken a lot of trial and error. being
sisters and best friends, as well as having the same vision for rucker roots
has guided our brand to become a nationally recognized award-winning
brand.
what do you like most about what you do professionally?
ione: i really enjoy
inspiring young people to believe in themselves and to dream big. i also really
love when our products truly make a difference in our customer's lives.
ellen: i love creating
products that i feel great about using on myself and my family. i also
love the flexibility i have in my career that allows me to give time to my
children and husband.
please share a few key points about the mission of your brand.
ione: our mission is healthy
hair starts at the root. we are a family and women owned business with strong
family roots. rucker is our family name and roots represents the powerful root
vegetable oils that are in our products.
ellen: our mission is to
provide healthy hair options that give women the ability to have versatility in
their styles.
how did you first discover kai? please share a memory of your
first-time using kai, which product it was, and anything special you noticed
during your experience.
ione: we have always loved
and admired kai fragrance - ellen's daughter is named kai, so i think that is
originally how we recognized the brand. we love the kai perfume oil, the scent
is amazing! the smell reminds me of being in a spa which always puts me
in a relaxed mood.
ellen: i have loved kai
products since my daughter kai was a baby. it was gifted to me when i first had
her. that was 17 years ago.
how do you embody kai’s “breath*life*flow”
lifestyle?
ione: i try to live by kai's
breathe*life*flow lifestyle by taking care of my body in all aspects (mentally,
physically, and emotionally). exercising, meditating, eating clean, healthy
foods, showing grace and being kind to others are how i live my life.
ellen: i embody kai's breath,
life, flow lifestyle through my daily routines. i take time daily to sit
quickly and breathe. because my day is pretty hectic with 3 year old
twins and a 17 year old.
what’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
ione: best advice comes from
my dad: money doesn't make you happy - happiness is an inside job.
always give back to your community and to the youth.
do you have a mantra you live by?
ione: mantra: treat the
janitor the same way i would treat the ceo.
ultimate getaway? best things about living where you reside
currently?
ione: favorite getaway;
charleston, sc or garden city beach, sc. i love living in charlotte, nc. we
have beaches and mountains only a couple of hours away. it's a great
place to raise a family and the weather is nice!!
ellen: my husband, bakari and
i, took a trip this summer to anguilla and st. barths. the getaway was
fabulous and so relaxing.
guilty pleasure?
ione: guilty pleasure is
netflix
ellen: i have sns dipped nails
- ballet slipper nude pink with gold sparkles on the tips
ideal way to relax/unwind?
ione: definitely spa day!!!
morning person or night owl?
ellen: definitely a night owl.
i stay up late regularly working, after the kids are down to bed and the house
is quiet.
what book are you reading currently?
ione: reading the book “who
not how” by dan sullivan
ellen: i am currently reading
"year of yes: how to dance it out, stand in the sun, and be your own
person" by shonda rhimes.
favorite food?
ellen: collard greens are my
favorite food. we are from the south and our father would have a garden
full of greens every fall and when prepared properly they are delicious.
also collard greens are packed with so many great vitamins like folate, vitamin
k, and iron.
what’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done?
ione: most adventurous thing
i've done was take my kids when they were 8,6, and 4 ziplining really high up
in the mountains in costa rica. i fear heights so this was beyond scary…i
look back and think about how dangerous it was all the time!
thank you, lone & ellen!
