For nearly seven decades, Luster’s Products has remained a cornerstone of Black hair care, built in a South Side Chicago barbershop.
Founded in 1957 by Fred Luster, Sr., the family-owned brand has evolved alongside Black culture while staying rooted in its original mission: delivering science-backed hydration, authentic representation, and community-first values.
In this interview, granddaughters and third-generation leaders Resa Luster-Mac and her sister Simone (Monie) Luster reflect on legacy, innovation, and what they want generations past and present to discover about Luster’s products today.
Exclusively Interviewed by Marshelle Renee Sanders
Marshelle Renee Sanders: Luster Products has been trusted in Black households for decades. What core values have helped the brand and the culture remain trusted over the years?
Simone Monie Luster: I think it really comes down to remaining true to the mission that my grandfather, Fred Luster, Sr., put forth. We’ve always stayed true to our roots and to who we cater to. We have a very direct relationship with our consumer, and we protect that. Everything we do is centered around authenticity and staying connected to the community that built us.
Marshelle Renee Sanders: Luster has had a long-standing presence in the community. Can you share a moment or a story that really captures that cultural impact?
Resa Luster-Mac: My grandfather didn’t start this company to become rich. He was a barber on the South Side of Chicago, and his clients came to him with real concerns, dry, itchy scalp, and brittle hair. There were no products on the shelves that addressed their needs, so he began mixing his own formulas right in his barbershop and giving them to clients. He didn’t even envision a company. But the results were so good that demand grew throughout Chicago.
When Luster became a corporation, what made him most proud was creating opportunities for people who looked like him. People were able to buy homes, send their kids to college, and build stable lives. Giving back has always been a huge part of who we are. We’ve built drinking wells in Ghana and donated to countless organizations in Black and Brown communities across the U.S. and globally.
MS: Over the years, how do you think Luster has influenced conversations around Black hair, beauty, and identity?
RLM: Our very first product wasn’t a relaxer; it was a hydrating cream. Hydration has always been our foundation.
Many people today look at relaxers without understanding their history. Relaxers were created because Black women needed access to jobs, to opportunity, to survival. Showing up with natural hair once meant being labeled unprofessional or unkempt. Relaxers allowed our mothers and grandmothers to provide for their families.
With the passing of the CROWN Act and other cultural shifts, there is now greater freedom to say, “This is how my hair naturally grows—kinky, curly—and I’m going to embrace it.” People are choosing to show up at work and at school as their authentic selves, reflecting how times have evolved.
At the same time, relaxers were originally created out of necessity. Curly and coily hair cannot be blow-dried daily without damage, and natural moisture patterns are easily disrupted by sweat from workouts or even overnight.
Luster’s has always evolved alongside the culture, aligning with its consumers’ real needs. And it’s important to note, our very first product wasn’t a relaxer at all, but a hydrating cream, rooted in care and practicality from the very beginning.
MS: What new products can you share that Hype Hair readers should check out?
RLM: The Pink Essentials Line is one of the most exciting things we’ve launched:
The Pink Essentials line features two lotions alongside a full assortment of stylers, hydrators, deep conditioners, and a deeply moisturizing shampoo, all crafted with a strong emphasis on natural, high-quality ingredients. While Luster’s iconic legacy products remain unchanged because consumers love them as they are, any formulation updates are made solely to meet European Union consumer safety standards, the most stringent in the world.
As a Chicago-based company that manufactures its own products, aligning with EU guidelines protects not only consumer health but also the well-being of the employees who produce these formulas every day.
Pink Essentials products are infused with thoughtfully blended ingredients, including peppermint oil, avocado oil, shea butter, plant proteins, and glycerin, creating multi-benefit formulas.
“We are the kings and queens of hydration. When you put Luster in your hair, it shines, it glistens, and it stays moisturized.”
MS: If someone is trying Luster for the first time, which products should they start with?
SML: I would absolutely recommend the Instant Moisturizer. It’s perfect for braids, locs, natural hair, and everyday hydration. The key ingredient is glycerin, which attracts moisture to the hair and helps prevent dryness and breakage.
The second must-have is our Hydrating Shine Shampoo. It’s sulfate-free, paraben-free, color-safe, and deeply moisturizing. A good shampoo sets the foundation for every hairstyle, and you truly can’t outrun a bad shampoo.
MS: What’s the best way for stylists and barbers to connect with Luster and help keep the legacy strong?
RLM: Social media is the best way to connect with us (as a side note, Resa goes live weekly on TikTok and Instagram, where you can chat with her directly). Through the TikTok affiliate program, stylists and creators can also earn while sharing products they already love and trust.
We’re always open to building meaningful relationships, putting products into professional hands, educating on the science behind our formulations, and continuing to show that Luster is still here: 100% Black-owned, family-owned, and leading the industry in hydration.
Join the Luster’s PINK community on Instagram @lusterspink, Facebook Luster’s PINK, and shop the full line at LusterProducts.com