A Legacy in Beauty: Renee Cottrell-Brown
By Candis White, COO, High Time Acquisitions LLC

For Women’s History Month, we are proud to highlight Renee Cottrell-Brown, a respected leader whose work has helped shape the beauty and haircare industry for generations. Renee comes from a family deeply rooted in the beauty business. Her father, Comer Cottrell, founded Pro-Line, a pioneering company in the Black haircare industry that grew into a portfolio of successful haircare brands. Renee played an important role in helping expand the company and its product lines, contributing to the development and success of several influential products—including the iconic Just For Me brand, a product line many of us grew up with in our households.

I recently had the pleasure of catching up with Mrs. Cottrell-Brown to reflect on her
remarkable journey in the beauty industry. Let’s jump right into it!

“My message to women today is you can do anything you aspire to do. Don’t let society, politics, or anyone else hold you back. All it takes is a dream and the dedication to get it done.”

Q: When did you first realize that you wanted to become involved in the beauty
industry, and what initially drew you to the business?

A: At just sixteen, I discovered my calling in the beauty industry. My father, Comer Cottrell, the founder of Pro-Line products, was a firm believer in strong work ethics. He saw summer vacations as the perfect opportunity for me to contribute to the family business and learn firsthand about entrepreneurship. In 1970, Pro-Line was still in its infancy, with limited product distribution. My dad and his brother were selling a line called Trade Secret exclusively to salons and barbershops. Seeking to grow the business, he aimed to develop a consumer line of haircare products and market them directly to customers through door-to-door sales.

During my high school summers, a friend and I sold Pro-Line products door-to-door in densely populated areas of Los Angeles. Our motivation was twofold: earning money for back-to-school shopping and indulging our love of fashion, which kept us focused and determined.

That summer job was my first experience with cold call selling, and it proved to be challenging. To attract customers and build brand awareness, I created a sales letter and marketing brochure that we left at potential customers’ doors. This proactive approach simplified our selling process and helped us connect with the community.

Soon, people started reaching out to the company to purchase more products, especially after we returned to school. This was my first experience in generating awareness and demand. Pro-Line capitalized on the momentum by expanding distribution into small retail outlets.

Unfortunately, my friend and I worked ourselves out of a job after those summers, but by then, I was preparing to attend the University of Southern California. Pro-Line was thriving, selling and marketing over a dozen products to larger West Coast retailers and military bases, while continuing to serve beauty professionals. The company phased out the Trade Secret brand and transitioned all products under the Pro-Line name. While in college, I supported the company by assisting employees in production and sales administration.

In 1978, Pro-Line launched the Curly Kit—which grew the company from $2.5 million to $10 million in one year—and began employing advertising and marketing professionals. That same year, I graduated from college and joined the company, working in the advertising department to create trade and consumer campaigns that helped drive sales.

The company relocated to Dallas in 1980. At the time, I was married and expecting my first daughter, Autumn, so I chose to remain in Southern California as a sales representative. Within two years, my efforts in sales led to significant business growth, and my father promoted me to district manager, responsible for sales across thirteen western states.

In 1986, I moved to Dallas, Texas, recognizing that to truly excel in the business, I needed to be at the company’s headquarters.

Q: Working within a family legacy can come with both opportunity and responsibility. How did you establish your own voice and role within the business?

A: Throughout my twenty-five years at Pro-Line, I consistently achieved rapid growth and advancement. In every role I held, I contributed significantly to both profit levels and productivity. My ability to identify consumer needs and translate those insights into effective marketing strategies played a key role in these accomplishments.
During my tenure, I was responsible for conceiving, positioning, and launching several new product lines. One notable brand, Just For Me, was specifically developed for African American girls and generated over $20 million in revenue during its first ten years. Another significant product line was Pro-Line Men’s Comb-Thru, a five-SKU brand designed to soften the texture of men’s hair and provide a range of grooming products to help maintain their style. Both brands continue to be available in the market, demonstrating their lasting impact and relevance.

Q: Throughout your career, you have built and helped grow influential brands in the
beauty industry. What challenges did you face as a woman working and leading in
this space, and how did you navigate them?

A: My ability to build and maintain relationships at all levels, both within and outside the company—especially with customers—helped me avoid many obstacles throughout my career. Yet, one significant challenge arose at the start of my journey: earning the confidence and respect of my father. He was a highly successful and dominant figure, who believed women had a specific place in the workspace. This belief fueled my determination to prove my worth and exceed his expectations.

When I began my career at Pro-Line, there were no women in executive positions. This changed when I became Executive Vice President. I hired an experienced Vice President of Marketing and promoted the current Director of Sales to Vice President of Sales. Both women proved to be tremendous assets to the company. Together, as a sales and marketing executive leadership team, we increased the company’s revenue by $50 million before Pro-Line was sold to Alberto Culver in 2000.

Q: While working with High Time Products, you were involved in nearly every aspect
of bringing some of its legacy products back to market—from packaging and manufacturing to
marketing and the initial conversations about getting them back in stores. This
included the revival of both Dare 2B Bald and Bump Stopper Arctic Shave Gel. Out of all the products you’ve worked with throughout your career, what opportunity did
you see in these brands that made you want to help bring them back? What was 
your thought process as you approached reviving and renewing them for a new
generation of consumers? 

A: When I accepted my role at High Time Products, I brought with me a distinct advantage. Having served as a marketer for the original owners in 2007, I was already acquainted with the company’s brands. This prior experience gave me a comprehensive understanding of the product positioning, target consumers, and the specific benefits they sought. The brand name itself, Bump Stopper, clearly communicates its central benefit, making it easily recognizable to consumers.

Upon starting the job, my first initiative was to evaluate and refine the product lineup—a process known as SKU rationalization. Products that proved unprofitable were discontinued, resulting in a streamlined Bump Stopper line. Although lean, this product line became a reliable source of revenue for the company.

I conducted consumer research to identify future opportunities for the Bump Stopper brand. However, these opportunities required more significant capital investment than was available at the time. As a result, I shifted my focus to the Dare 2B Bald brand, which was in need of revitalization. This included updating its packaging and repositioning the brand to appeal to a younger demographic.

My interest in the male grooming market was longstanding, especially since my involvement in launching Pro-Line Comb Thru and Ultra Sheen for Men during my tenure with Johnson Products Company.

To further understand market trends, I researched when the bald style began resonating with younger men. My findings revealed a significant increase during the pandemic, which I had also observed anecdotally. More young men were adopting bald styles, likely for reasons of convenience, such as saving time and money by shaving their own heads.

Recognizing the need for a comprehensive regimen, I expanded the Dare 2B Bald product line. In addition to the Scalp Moisturizing Lotion, two companion products were introduced: a Soothing Scalp Cleanser and a Moisturizing Shave Cream, providing consumers with a complete care solution.

Since my retirement, the Dare 2B Bald brand continues to experience growth alongside the market, presenting ongoing opportunities for new product development and increased sales.

Q: During your tenure with High Time Products, I was fortunate and blessed to have
the opportunity to work closely with you and learn from your experience in the
beauty industry. As someone who benefited from your mentorship, I’ve seen
firsthand how valuable that knowledge can be. You also have been and continue to
be instrumental in your daughter’s success with her beauty brand.

As you reflect on your career and contributions to the industry, what impact or
legacy do you hope your journey will leave for future generations of women in
business? In recognition of Women’s History Month, what message would you share with women who aspire to lead, innovate, and build lasting businesses?

A: Now that I have retired from the industry at large, I am enjoying life and focusing on new pursuits. Although I am no longer involved in day-to-day business operations, I continue to dedicate my time and expertise by serving as Vice Chairwoman on the Board of Directors of NU Standard Beauty Health & Wellness Company. This organization holds special significance for me, as my daughter, Autumn Brown Yarbrough is the founder and CEO. Through her leadership, she carries forward our family legacy in the hair care business as a third-generation entrepreneur. So proud of her.

I am also extremely proud of the accomplishments of young women today. They are no longer standing on the sidelines watching events unfold; instead, they are actively making positive changes and driving progress. Their impact is being felt not only in the hair care industry, but across a wide range of businesses and sectors.

My message to women today is you can do anything you aspire to do. Don’t let society, politics, or anyone else hold you back. All it takes is a dream and the dedication to get it done.

Remember: Initiative, perseverance, and passion will allow you to achieve your greatest ambition.