From Ericka Thompson Collection to Rooted & Gentle

I officially retired Ericka Thompson Collection, which feels kind of crazy to even say out loud.

When I first started years ago, I couldn’t figure out a name that felt right, so I just used my own. I was pouring everything into it, learning as I went, and yeah — it did well. But if I’m being honest, it never fully felt aligned. I knew there was more God had shown me, and I also knew I was getting distracted and letting certain things slow me down.

Rooted & Gentle feels different. Like… really different. It actually reflects who I am now — my growth, my faith, and everything I’ve lived through to get here.

The Foundation
I’ve been a hair care and extensions specialist for 14 years. I’ve worked with every texture, every concern, every scalp type you can imagine. I’ve seen what works, what doesn’t, and what actually damages hair in the long run — even when products claim to help.
Seven or eight years ago, I decided to create my own line. I had the knowledge, the experience, but I didn’t have clarity on what it should represent. So I just used my own name. I was teaching myself formulation, studying ingredients, trial and error, all of it. Back then I didn’t even know who I was becoming, so building under my own name made sense. But deep down, I always felt like I was still searching for something more.

Then 2023 happened.
That’s when I got baptized and gave my life to Christ, and I can’t even explain it properly — but things just started aligning. My mindset changed. My discipline changed. My patience changed. The blessings started flowing, but so did the pruning.

The Transformation
Between 2024 and 2025, I had to let a lot go. Old habits. Old ways of thinking. Things I thought I needed but really didn’t. And normally, when life gets heavy for me, I stop. I walk away. I quit what I started.

This time though… my faith wouldn’t let me.

It taught me how to keep going even when it’s uncomfortable. Even when growth takes longer than you want it to. Even when you’re tired.

The Moment It Clicked
And then I became a mom.
I started creating what would become the first Rooted & Gentle product while preparing for my baby’s arrival — formulating something I knew would be safe, gentle, and effective enough to trust on the most delicate scalp I’d ever care for. After 14 years of working on other people’s hair, this felt different. More intentional. More personal.
But when my son was a few months old, something shifted.

I realized the name itself — Rooted & Gentle — was bigger than just a product.
It was me. It was my journey. It was everything I’d been becoming.
Having my baby boy unlocked a gentler version of me that I didn’t even know was there. A softer strength. More patience. More intention. More care. And in that moment, I understood this wasn’t just about hair care anymore.

What It Means
Because hair care, to me, is bigger than products. It’s a practice. Your hair has to be rooted in health, intention, and consistency — and it has to be treated with gentleness. Just like life. Just like motherhood. Just like us.
This brand represents my faith, my growth, my resilience, and the care I’ve learned along the way — both behind the chair and as a mom. Being rooted in Christ while learning how to be gentle with myself, my body, my hair, and my purpose.

Every product is handcrafted with intention. Non-toxic. Effective. Safe for your whole family.

Why This Matters
So yeah… this isn’t just hair care for me.
It’s legacy. It’s faith in motion. And it’s me choosing not to give up.
Not on my family. Not on my purpose. Not on you.

— Ericka Thompson

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