CHICAGO (WLS) — A Chicago business owner who was featured on the show “Shark Tank” is asking for the public’s help.

The owner of the hair care brand “CurlMix” says this could be her last year in business, citing high costs because of tariffs, inflation and other challenges.

She’s calling on Chicagoans to help save her company.

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CurlMix has been around for 10 years. It started in Chicago and became a national hit after the founders appeared on “Shark Tank.”

It was a moment that even the sharks couldn’t believe. CurlMix founders and South Side natives Kim and Tim Lewis rejected an offer from Robert Herjavec and betted on their brand.

“Being on ‘Shark Tank’ definitely put us on the national stage,” Kime Lewis said. “It was our biggest year in business.”

Their textured hair care products, known for their flaxseed recipe, were flying off the shelves nationwide. But today, the owner is asking the public to help save CurlMix.

“I am a proud, hardworking, entrepreneur, and I hate asking for help,” Lewis said. “My bank account was negative $18,000, and I was like, ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do,’ and I was like, ‘I can’t just close silently.'”

Lewis says 2025 has been the hardest year for her business by far.

“When tariffs go up, our cost of raw materials goes up,” Lewis said. “The second thing I would say is… there’s less investment in DEI… we also have, people have less money, just in general. Everyone needs to think about their purchase a bit longer.”

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Her massive warehouse on the South Side that once had 40 employees is now down to 14.

“We have to do everything that we can to survive,” she said.

So, Lewis launched a social media campaign called Protect CurlMix.

“If our community wants it, our community will show up for it. I believe that,” Lewis said. “There’s a lot of shame with telling people, ‘Hey I’m struggling.'”

Lewis says if there’s anyone who will have their backs during difficult times, it’s Chicagoans.

“If a bank’s not going to give it, if an investor’s not going to give it, we can earn it, and our community can be our heroes, and that’s what they’re doing,” Lewis said.

Lewis says people can support CurlMix by donating to their campaign, purchasing some of her products or simply sharing her post.

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