Meet Olivia Young | Software Engineer & Founder of The Curl Lab

We had the good fortune of connecting with Olivia Young and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Olivia, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
It actually started with a very personal moment. In February of this year, I cut all my hair off and decided to embark on my natural hair journey – and honestly, I was completely clueless. I didn’t know where to start, what products to use, or how to care for my new curls.

But that’s when my software engineer brain kicked in. When you don’t have answers, you build solutions. So I did what I know best: I built an app to help myself. I created software that would help me decode and understand my own natural hair- tracking curl patterns, product interactions, what actually worked for my hair type.

That’s when it hit me. While I was solving my own problem, I realized I wasn’t alone in this struggle. Countless people starting their natural hair journey face the same confusion and overwhelming amount of conflicting information. What I built for myself could genuinely help so many others.

That’s when I knew: I had something valuable. Curl Lab wasn’t just another app – it was a solution to a real problem that people were actively searching for answers to. And that’s what inspired me to turn it into a business.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The Curl Lab is launching in just a couple of weeks, and I couldn’t be more excited. We’re the world’s first AI-powered curl intelligence platform – and it’s truly revolutionary.

With just a single photo, our proprietary Strand Scan™ technology analyzes your unique curl DNA in under three minutes. It identifies everything from curl pattern and porosity to elasticity, damage indicators, and scalp condition. Then we factor in contextual details – hormonal stages, location, climate, your styling preferences – to create a personalized Curl Blueprint™ that evolves with you.

Users get customized routines, smart product recommendations, and monthly re-analyses that adapt as their hair changes. We even have a built-in product scanner that eliminates costly trial-and-error saving users hundreds of dollars on wasted products.

I’m most excited about giving people, especially those with overlooked course and curly hair, clarity and confidence. We’re cutting through the overwhelming noise and misinformation with science-backed, personalized intelligence.

This isn’t my first rodeo as a founder. I was a full-time entrepreneur for four years and owned my own digital marketing agency before this. That experience taught me invaluable lessons about business, client relationships, and what it takes to build something from scratch.

But launching Curl Lab feels different – it’s more personal, more purposeful.

The biggest challenge this time around has been time management while being a wife, mom, and active in my community. I’ve had to get comfortable with saying no to some things so I could say yes to this vision. But I realized that building something meaningful is also a form of service.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend were visiting, I’d make sure they experience the real Houston – the vibrant, creative, delicious side that locals love. Here’s how I’d show them around:

Monday: Dinner at La Lucha for the absolute best chicken and oysters in town, followed by coconut lime sorbet at our little Jamaican neighborhood ice cream spot.

Tuesday: Browse Barnes & Noble for cool finds, then shop River Oaks.

Wednesday: Poetry night at Avant Garden – Houston’s creative energy is unmatched.

Thursday: Spa day at Hotel Zaza to reset and rejuvenate.

Friday: Picnic at Discovery Green with good food and good company.

Weekend: Catch a movie at iPic for the luxury movie experience, then brunch and live music at Axelrad – the perfect way to end the week surrounded by Houston vibes and community.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have so much gratitude to share, because I truly didn’t get here alone.

First and foremost, my husband. He’s also a software engineer, so he gets it on a technical level, but more than that, he’s been my biggest believer from day one. He’s supported me both mentally and physically through this transition into being a SaaS founder. When self-doubt crept in – and it did – he was there reminding me that I could actually do this.

Having a partner who understands the entrepreneurial journey and genuinely wants to see you succeed is invaluable.

I also want to recognize Unity of Houston. Beyond just the business, they’ve kept me spiritually grounded through this entire process. The tools and community they offer for life have been essential in helping me stay centered and aligned with my purpose, especially during the challenging moments of building something from scratch.

My parents deserve enormous credit too. Their unwavering support, love, and belief in me laid the foundation for everything I’m doing today. They showed me what it means to believe in yourself and your dreams.

And I have to give a huge shoutout to Flatiron Coding Bootcamp. That’s where my entire journey into software engineering began. Without that initial investment in my education and that community of learners, none of this would have been possible. Flatiron gave me the technical skills and the confidence to start building.

Website: https://www.livthedev.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliviaauzenne/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivieTheDeveloper

Other: Feel free to follow @curl.lab.app on Tiktok for information and to stay up to date on our launch date.