The Barb Shop × Elise Burnett Boyd
Real-World Product Evaluation and Performance-Led Brand Development

 

Overview

The Barb Shop is a styling product line built specifically for short hair, a category historically underserved by mainstream haircare brands. Designed for everyday users who style frequently, the products are expected to deliver professional-level performance while remaining easy to use across a range of hair types, textures, and styling preferences.

As the brand developed, the team needed to ensure that product performance, communication, and visual representation were aligned. My work focused on real-world product evaluation, performance optimization, and clear product communication, helping translate stylist-level intent into reliable consumer experience.

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Scope of Work

I partnered with The Barb Shop across multiple stages of brand development, supporting product refinement, education, and visual alignment as the portfolio and brand presence expanded.

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Performance Assessment and Refinement

I tested early-stage prototypes, including what became the Go-To Styling Cream and the Texturizing Sea Salt Spray, through iterative development cycles.

The work focused on evaluating texture, hold, application, and real-world performance across diverse hair types and styling techniques. Products were assessed against competitive alternatives to identify strengths, gaps, and refinement opportunities, ensuring formulations delivered consistent, usable performance for both professionals and everyday users.

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Consumer Education and Product Communication

To support adoption and reduce friction, I developed packaging copy and educational materials that clearly communicated how the products work and how to use them effectively.

This included product-forward written and video content designed to demonstrate real-world application and set accurate expectations. The goal was not persuasion, but clarity—helping users understand what each product is designed to do and how to achieve the intended result.

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Visual Alignment

I served as hairstylist and creative consultant for campaign photography, directing product styling to ensure visual representation accurately reflected product performance and user experience.

This alignment helped ensure that brand imagery reinforced, rather than overstated, how the products actually behave in use.

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Strategic Value

This work supported several key outcomes for the brand:

• Performance-led refinement through real-world evaluation and iterative feedback

• Clear product communication that reduced confusion and increased purchase confidence

• Stronger adoption and loyalty by aligning expectations with experience

• Visual consistency that reinforced credibility across campaigns and platforms

Two cornerstone products, the Go-To Styling Cream and Texturizing Sea Salt Spray, now anchor the brand’s styling portfolio alongside the flagship Soft Clay Pomade.

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Outcome

The Barb Shop’s products, packaging, education, and visuals now operate as a cohesive system grounded in performance and usability. The collaboration demonstrates the value of stylist involvement at every stage of brand building, from early prototypes to scaled campaigns.

Founder Sheena Lister has described the partnership as “critical to brand growth and innovation.”