We’re looking forward to introducing you to Darchele Mullins Erskine. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Darchele, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: Would YOU hire you? Why or why not?
Without hesitation, yes, I would hire me. I am the kind of professional who leads with excellence, integrity, and purpose in everything I do. I bring over three decades of experience across cosmetology, esthetics, and beauty business leadership, and I have built a reputation for consistency, innovation, and genuine care for both people and results.
I would hire me because I am not driven by trends, but by transformation. I understand every layer of this industry – from formulation and education to client experience and brand development. I have invested deeply in my craft, not just financially but emotionally and intellectually. I have spent tens of thousands of dollars mastering my skills, earning multiple licenses, studying advanced treatments, and creating my own clean, plant-powered product line designed to serve women with excellence and intention.
I operate with high standards, I am coachable yet confident, and I never stop learning. I would hire me because I don’t just show up to work—I show up to make an impact. Whether it’s mentoring students, transforming a client’s confidence, or elevating the standards of the industry, I bring a level of professionalism and passion that turns vision into reality.
In short, I would hire me because I am not just in the business of beauty – I am in the business of legacy, leadership, and love for the craft.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Darchele Mullins Erskine, affectionately known as OOPY, and I am the Founder and CEO of Get OOPY®, LLC, a clean, conscious, and plant-powered beauty company created to redefine what modern hair care looks and feels like – especially for women of color. I am a licensed Cosmetologist, Esthetician, Certified Makeup Artist, former Beauty Industry Executive, and Educator with more than three decades of experience in the beauty industry.
My mission is to make clean, non-toxic, and effective hair care accessible for all, but especially for women of color who, despite spending nine times more on hair care than any other group, have historically benefited the least. Too many products marketed to us have been filled with harsh chemicals that damage both hair and health. OOPY exists to change that narrative through plant-powered innovation that delivers luxurious, results-driven performance without compromise.
I developed the OOPY 5-Step Healthy Hair Rejuvenation System™, a professional-grade, plant-based system that restores strength, moisture, and balance while promoting long-term scalp health. But OOPY is more than a product line – it is a movement rooted in wellness, education, and transformation. Through OOPY’s Foundation, I am preparing to launch Beauty That Loves You Back™, a national education initiative focused on textured-hair mastery and wellness-based training. Using the OOPY 5-Step System™, I am training stylists across the country to join the clean hair care movement and to elevate beauty education so future professionals learn to care for all hair types safely, consciously, and with integrity.
At my core, I represent legacy, purpose, and transformation. As a third-generation beauty entrepreneur, I am proud to carry forward my family’s legacy of excellence and advocacy. My brand ethos, “Beauty That Loves You Back™,” reflects exactly what I believe beauty should be – safe, sustainable, and soulful.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
My parents taught me the most about work. I grew up in the hair industry from the age of six, surrounded by creativity, excellence, and entrepreneurship. My mother was a master cosmetologist and salon owner who carried herself with grace, discipline, and pride in everything she did. Watching her as a child, I learned that work was never just about making a living – it was about making a difference. She taught me that excellence is a standard, not a suggestion, and that how you make people feel through your work is just as important as what you do.
My father, on the other hand, owned an advertising agency that represented a multi-million-dollar hair care brand serving women of color for over a decade. From him, I learned the power of branding, storytelling, and representation. His influence inspired me to become an advertising executive for multi-million and billion-dollar beauty brands before founding OOPY®.
Together, my parents shaped my vision of what purposeful work truly is – a blend of creativity, integrity, and impact. They gave me the blueprint for excellence that continues to guide everything I build today.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes – every day. {chuckles} Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. It takes passion, determination, and a willingness to show up even when you don’t feel like it. It means taking leaps of faith when you have no idea how things are going to come together, trusting that your higher power will make a way because you’ve come too far to be forsaken.
There were definitely moments when I felt overwhelmed, when the obstacles seemed bigger than my capacity. But every time I got close to giving up, I reminded myself that too many people were waiting to see me fail – and that became my fuel. Failure would have been the easy route, but giving up was never an option.
In my darkest hours, it was the people who needed me most – my clients, my students, my community—that kept me going. I realized that my purpose was bigger than my pain, and that the work I do is not just about me. It is about those who need to see what resilience looks like.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Authenticity – always. Authenticity always wins. A woman without her word is nothing, and I live by that. Integrity and truth are the foundation of everything I build, whether in business or in life. Who you are when no one is watching determines the real measure of success.
I also believe deeply in the power of growth. I often say, “When you’re green, you grow; when you’re ripe, you rot.” The moment you stop learning and evolving, you stop leading. Growth keeps you humble, teachable, and aligned with purpose.
And finally, when you know what you know—let no one take it away from you. Your wisdom, your experience, and your truth are earned. Protect them fiercely, because that is where your confidence and your power live
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I was passionate about the work I did, that I led with purpose, and that I poured heart into everything I touched. I want to be remembered as a woman who was empathetic, empowering, and unafraid to create change where it was needed most.
I was a leader in my own right – and a leader of change. I stood for integrity, excellence, and the belief that true beauty begins with authenticity. I hope my story reminds others that leadership is not about titles or applause, but about impact, compassion, and courage.
If people remember that I helped others see their own light, believe in their worth, and pursue their purpose without apology, then I fulfilled mine.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.oopybeauty.com
- Instagram: https://www.oopybeauty.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darcheleerskine/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oopybeauty
