Inc. Names Shaina Rainford to Its 2026 Female Founders 500 List

Bask and Lather Co. founder recognized for building a thriving haircare brand through organic growth and authentic customer connections.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Shaina Rainford, Founder and CEO of Bask and Lather Co., has been named to Inc.'s 2026 Female Founders 500 list, an annual honor recognizing the most dynamic women business leaders in the United States. The list celebrates entrepreneurs whose bold ideas, resilience, and execution are shaping the future of their industries. Rainford launched Bask and Lather in 2020 after helping her sister restore her hair following severe loss, transforming a family remedy into a multi-million-dollar haircare brand built entirely through a bootstrapped model.

Why it matters

The 2026 Female Founders honorees collectively generated approximately $12.3 billion in 2025 revenue and $12.2 billion in funding to date, underscoring the economic impact of women-led businesses across sectors. Rainford's recognition on the list highlights the growing success of Black-owned, mission-driven brands that prioritize community, authenticity, and delivering real results for customers.

The details

Bask and Lather Co. has quickly become a standout success story in the hair growth category, achieving six-figure monthly revenue within three months of launch through organic social media and authentic customer testimonials—without paid advertising. Today, Bask and Lather is the #1 Black-owned hair growth oil on Amazon and holds top rankings across TikTok Shop for hair growth oil, edge control, and scalp and hair balm. In 2025, the brand was named to the prestigious Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies, ranking No. 1008 overall and No. 20 among retail and CPG companies, with more than 500% three-year revenue growth.

  • Bask and Lather Co. was founded in December 2020.
  • Bask and Lather Co. was named to the Inc. 5000 list in 2025.

The players

Shaina Rainford

Founder and CEO of Bask and Lather Co., a board-certified nurse practitioner who launched the brand after helping her sister restore her hair following severe loss from a misdiagnosed scalp infection.

Bask and Lather Co.

A Black-owned beauty brand redefining the hair growth space with clean, natural formulas and 100% ingredient integrity. The company has become the #1 Black-owned brand for hair growth oil on Amazon and holds the #1 spot for hair growth oil, edge control, and scalp & hair balm on TikTok Shop.

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What they’re saying

“Being named to Inc.'s Female Founders 500 is an incredible honor. Building Bask and Lather from a family remedy into a growing haircare brand has been an amazing journey, and this recognition reflects the power of community, authenticity, and products that truly deliver results.”

— Shaina Rainford, Founder and CEO of Bask and Lather Co. (Inc.)

“Each year, we are increasingly amazed by the extraordinary leaders on our Inc. Female Founders 500 list. The honorees on this year's list include innovators in AI, beauty and wellness trendsetters winning devoted fans, and nonprofit leaders making a real impact in their communities. Together, they're showing all of us what trailblazing female leadership looks like.”

— Bonny Ghosh, Editorial Director at Inc. (Inc.)

The takeaway

Shaina Rainford's recognition on the Inc. Female Founders 500 list highlights the growing success of mission-driven, Black-owned brands that prioritize community, authenticity, and delivering real results for customers. Her journey from transforming a family remedy into a thriving multi-million-dollar haircare business demonstrates the power of entrepreneurial resilience and innovation to shape the future of the beauty industry.