Beauty Product Innovation and Development Strategist, Licensed Cosmetologist, and Educator.
Case Study: The Barb Shop x Elise Burnett Boyd
Crafting Products, Language, and Visuals for a Community-Centered Brand
Overview
The Barb Shop is a modern grooming brand created for the Barb: short-haired, bold, and unapologetically themselves. Founded with a mission to center short-haired individuals often overlooked in beauty, the brand delivers high-performing products that combine stylist-level performance with everyday ease.
Community-driven, inclusive, and affirming, The Barb Shop creates products designed for self-expression and individuality. From the flagship Soft Clay Pomade to its expanding portfolio, the brand continues to challenge outdated narratives by making short hair the focus—not an afterthought.
My collaboration with The Barb Shop began in 2022 through their BaR+D program and has since evolved into a multi-layered partnership spanning product development, packaging, education, and creative direction.
My Role
2022: BaR+D Program & Product Testing
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Tested prototypes in development as part of the brand’s BaR+D program.
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Provided feedback through three iterations of what became the Go-To Styling Cream.
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Helped refine the Texturizing Sea Salt Spray for balance, versatility, and everyday usability.
2023: Copywriting & Education
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Wrote packaging copy for both the Styling Cream and Sea Salt Spray, aligning tone and clarity with brand values.
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Created a Styling Cream User Guide, designed to build consumer confidence and support product longevity.
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Contributed multiple blog posts for the Barb Shop website, weaving stylist expertise into brand storytelling.
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Created videos for Instagram and Youtube to support brand visibility and contribute expert-led, product forward education.
2024–2025: Creative Consulting & Campaign Execution
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Served as hairstylist and creative consultant for the brand’s most recent photo shoot.
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Directed hairstyling and execution of visuals now featured across global advertising, the website, and social platforms.
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Ensured consistency in voice and visuals, strengthening brand cohesion across channels.
The Challenge
The Barb Shop needed to evolve from early prototypes into a professional yet approachable brand system. The team required:
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Products tested and validated by stylists for real-world performance.
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Packaging and copy that communicated value clearly and directly.
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Educational resources to support consumer use and build trust.
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Campaign visuals that could scale globally while staying true to the community.
The Solution
I approached the collaboration through both stylist and strategic lenses, supporting the brand in four key areas:
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Product Development Feedback: Salon-tested insights across multiple iterations.
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Copywriting & Packaging: Clear, affirming language that reflects brand tone and reduces friction in use.
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Educational Resources: Guides, videos, and blog content connecting expertise to consumer behavior.
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Creative Direction: Visual styling and consulting for global campaigns that align product performance with identity.
Measurable & Strategic Value
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Product Excellence: The Go-To Styling Cream and Texturizing Sea Salt Spray were refined through iterative testing.
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Consumer Confidence: Packaging copy and guides increased clarity and supported customer loyalty.
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Brand Cohesion: Unified voice and visuals elevated perceived value across platforms.
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Campaign Longevity: Creative consulting delivered assets that anchor current global advertising.
Impact
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Two cornerstone products, the Go-To Styling Cream and Texturizing Sea Salt Spray, now define the brand’s portfolio alongside the first and hero product, Soft Clay Pomade.
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Packaging and educational tools have strengthened consumer trust and usability.
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Blog contributions have expanded storytelling and engagement.
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Photo shoot images visually communicate the heart of The Barb Shop and how impactful the products are to affirming the identity of those with short hair.
Why It Matters
The Barb Shop’s growth demonstrates the value of stylist involvement at every stage of brand building. From early prototypes to global campaigns, my contributions helped ensure products, voice, and visuals aligned with the needs of both professional stylists and everyday Barbs. This work reflects a commitment to performance, clarity, and authentic representation in grooming.
Learn more about The Barb Shop