If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I’m all about sharing the things I love—especially when they make life easier, more fun, and a little more beautiful. One of those things is Color Street! But my journey to becoming a Color Street Stylist wasn’t something I ever expected. In fact, I was pretty hesitant about MLMs in general.

Like many of you, I’ve had my fair share of experiences with direct sales companies—some good, some not so great. So, when I first heard about Color Street, I had my doubts. But after trying the products for myself and seeing the impact this business could have, I knew I had found something special. In this post, I want to share my journey with you—why I chose Color Street, why I love both the products and the business, and how you can be part of it, too!

My Experience with MLMs

Before ever trying Color Street products I had already FAILED at two MLMs and had great success with one. I have always been looking for untraditional ways to earn an income while still allowing me to be a wife, mom, and homemaker.  

But before I get too far, let’s talk about MLMs. If you don’t know what that abbreviation means, it stands for Multi Level Marketing. Some synonyms would be, direct sales, network marketing, referral marketing, direct marketing, or, gulp pyramid marketing, or even worse pyramid schemes! A lot of people working in the business hate these terms and people who aren’t familiar with the business model but think they know what it is loath these terms. I have had a love/hate relationship with MLMs since I was a kid.

Since you were a kid Kara? Get real! No seriously! I can remember attending my first Tupperware home party. I was four or five years old and I attended with my mom. My Aunt Sandy had a Tupperware party at her house in Florida when we were visiting. I can’t remember a single product, but I can remember for sure the games we played. And most vividly I can remember the fun and the laughter. 

Fast forward to me as a mom of a toddler, circa 2012. I had just gone back into the workforce full time and while I made really great money and had a steady job at a place I loved, I missed being home with my son and caring for him and our home full-time. I was determined to pick up something on the side that would help me earn a little money to handle some expenses so I could start to save up to become a stay-at-home mom again. Just for reference, this was way before #sidehustle culture made its way into the social media world. Actually, this was before social media was really big. I don’t remember how I got involved but I signed up to be a Tupperware consultant. 

I felt like this could be a great way to share products that I used around my home, have some social time, and make a little extra money. I did really well with Tupperware. My upline, the person I signed up under, was not from around my part of Vermont and there were not a lot of other Tupperware Ladies around my area. I did a few vendor fairs, and a bunch of home parties and started to make some good commissions. Again this was before social media so I was actually bringing all my products to people’s homes and demonstrating them. By that time Tupperware was starting to make more than just food storage containers. They were making kitchen tools like choppers, and salad spinners. They had spice packets to use in dips or seasonings. They were starting with items like green cleaning clothes and even cookware like stainless steel pots and pans. I was in at a really good time. I had to wait for the monthly emails to come out with videos linked to watch pieces of training and learn about products and I had my upline that I could call with questions. The only thing I didn’t have was a desire to build a team and my upline pushed that hard. It didn’t make sense to me. Why would I build a team that could potentially tap into my market and referrals and make the money I could be making? This is when I first realized I didn’t really like the “pyramid” or “multi-level” piece of this business model. A typical consultant would book their own parties or home shows and then start to build a team under her, guide them, teach them her ways, and make a commission of their sales too. I just didn’t want a part of that side of the business. 

The busier I got with work and life the less time I spent working my “biz.” Spoiler alert, this is a common theme in my MLM journey. I eventually fizzled out after a couple of years and got so sick of hearing from my upline about working harder. I got to a point where I stopped answering her calls and emails and threw in the towel.

But as time went on I missed the social part of MLMs. Quite a few years later, in 2015, I was invited to a Premier Designs jewelry party at a friend’s house. I fell in love with the products. The consultant was so sweet and was busy just like me. After a few orders, I reached out to her and candidly asked her the pros and cons of the business opportunity. She, of course, had nothing bad to say about her experience. But this wasn’t because she was trying to sell me, but because Premier Designs WAS an amazing company. They were founded on biblical principles. They shared their faith and love of Jesus with the whole company. They designed a lot of pieces with verses or Christian symbolism (mustard seeds, crosses, etc.), and their whole concept was to help women earn money while still being homemakers. I was hooked. Further research taught me that the jewelry was produced by women who were otherwise “unemployable.” They might be former convicts, drug addicts, or sex workers. Knowing that my selling pieces of jewelry would also help these women was enough to make me jump at the business opportunity. Plus they paid 50% commission! This is almost unheard of and probably why, Premier Designs is not in business any longer. 

Social Media was just gaining traction at this time so I was learning how to have “virtual parties” through Facebook and still having parties in my home and other people’s. Everyone I shared with loved the products. I also had a close-knit network of teammates right in my area! We would even meet once a month and have trainings together. Premier also had great recognition programs. In addition to making great commissions, I could also earn free products and exclusive stylist-only pieces for reaching milestones in my business. This was a great financial support for my family. I was working this as a side job in addition to my full-time job as a teaching assistant AND working on getting my Bachelor’s Degree. I was so busy and determined, but I still didn’t want to build a team. I wasn’t sold on this concept and it didn’t make sense to me. Plus I had the added excuse of not having the time to mentor a team. 

After about three years of working this like a real deal business, working my regular job, and going to school, I once again fizzled out. Then a year later the company went out of business.

This brings us to 2018. #sidehustle culture is the way of life at this point. Social media platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and of course, good old FaceBook were booming. Social selling was so hot and such a great way to make money. But it had started to change from its home parties/shows plan and more into the social selling that we know today. This era of MLMs was BIG on the #tribe, #girlgang, #bossbabe feels. Team building was where it was at. I have a friend who was very successful in the BeachBody, now BODi, world. She was killing it and making a living as a single mom that I could only dream of having. I had done many workout programs with her as a customer. I loved how she ran her business, her social media, and her lifestyle. She was drinking the Kool-aid and I wanted a pitcherful for myself pronto!

I decided to take the plunge and sign up as a “coach.” By now everything was virtual, so I had access to all the trainings I could imagine. Corporate held trainings, your BIG DEAL coaches held trainings, your coach held training and there was regional training. The vibe was all about team building and making money leading “virtual gyms” and sharing your healthy lifestyles on social media. You get healthy and you sign people up to follow the steps you did, then turn them from customers into a coach to build a team of your own, live your life, sit back, and make your money. And this business model was on fire for people like my friend. Unfortunately, I wasn’t cut out for this type of business even though I had had success with the programs and loved the products. I had some things going on in my personal life that I was hiding, I was working at two jobs that were both challenging me, I was still trying to finish my degree now in an accelerated program, and my mother in law who means the world to me was terminally ill. I was falling apart at the seams.

On top of that, I have a ridiculous fear of asking people for anything. The business model expected us to sell a certain amount of product each month AND sign a certain number of people up to be coaches each month in order to be successful. I just couldn’t keep up. But man did I try. I sent the cringy “hey girl” messages. I reached out to people who I didn’t really know and treated them like best friends so they would sign up with me. I set up accounts through my name, my husbands, my sisters, and anyone I could convince so I could “make rank.” Worst of all, I spent a TON of money on products to consume myself to hit my goals. I ran my business in a way that made me feel yucky and that drastically hurt the way I did things and how authentic I was. I ended up quitting because I just couldn’t fake it til I made it any longer. Because let’s be honest, I wasn’t making it! I sat back and watched the other girls on my team and my coach just continue to crush it and I was so jealous. I needed something else. A different product that I could get behind and push the way these girls were pushing protein shakes and workout videos but without having people sign up to join.

In 2020 my opportunity came. A mom friend of mine sent me an invite to a “nail bar” she was having on FaceBook. We were in a full-on pandemic by then and our whole lives were basically online. My friend was sharing these amazing dry nail polish strips that made you look like you had salon-quality manicures with no dry time. Hello…TAKE MY MONEY!

I loved having pretty nails but I was so, so bad at painting them myself. It’s honestly an ongoing joke between Charles and me about just how bad a job I do painting my nails. I “went” to her party and bought a few sets. Then I bought a few more. And a little bit later I bought just a few more! Once again I was, you guessed it, hooked! I talked to her about my signing up as a Stylist, but she wasn’t interested in building a team. By then I had become FaceBook friends with my friend’s upline and reached out to her. She was more than eager to sign me up. So, on 7/31/2020 I became an Independent Stylist with Color Street!

Why I Chose Color Street

When I first started with Color Street I honestly had no intention of working it as a business. In all reality, I just wanted the starter kit full of nail strips and the commission on the products I already used.  Some companies require a minimum amount of monthly sales to stay active with the company and Color Street is no different. But the limit was only $150 every three months and I was pretty sure my shopping habits would hit that.

I didn’t know anything about the business except that I really loved the product. The nail strips were a game-changer for me. I finally had nails that looked like I was getting them done in the salon without having to pay the money or time that goes along with having salon-quality nails. 

My upline was super low key and she didn’t push us to enroll or hit any sales goals. She was also in it for a love of the product and I really am happy that I met her through this experience. The company was fairly new by the time I joined up. They launched in 2017 and there were not a lot of Stylists in my area. 

I also learned very quickly that Color Street was just as good a company as Premier Designs. They are not a Christ-based company but they are very mission-driven and also all about empowering women. One thing that made a big impression on me was the Color Street Foundation which is their charity that they use to donate money to lots of other charities and non-profits. Since 2018, Color Street has donated 6.8 million dollars through 44 awareness campaigns to 80 charity partners! Want to learn more about this? Check out this video! 

I also loved that they are an American-made company. The main production facility is right in New Jersey! It feels good knowing that the company cares enough to donate to charities and to keep their money in the United States.

What is Color Street?

So by now maybe you are wondering just what Color Street is? When I first joined Color Street they only had one product, nail strips. They have revolutionized the nail polish game. No more botching nails, no more time and money spent in nail salons. They have taken everything I love about a good manicure; quality, price, the comfort of my own home, creativity and still having nails that look flawless and merged it into an amazing product! Color Street nail polish is an actual wet nail polish that is dried to 95% dry, formed into strips, sealed, and delivered right to your door. Seriously they are like nail polish magic. Especially for someone like me who is HORRIBLE at DIY manicures and too cheap and germaphobic to go to a nail salon. Oh, and they have a base and top coat built in!

Since I joined they have added more products to their line and I love ALL of them! In addition to dry nail polish, we have nail care items like nail polish remover, nail strengtheners, hand lotion, and cuticle creams, you get the picture. We also have an amazing cleansing face balm to replace your chemical-filled facial cleansers. They have a makeup line as well. We carry eyebrow pencils, award-winning gel eyeliners, amazing tri-flex mascara, eye shadow pallets, blushes, bronzers, and highlighters in both cream and powder formulas. We have lip products like; lip balms, lip liners, lipsticks, and lip treatments. To top it all off we have eyeshadow and cheek brushes to get you applying makeup like a professional. The cherry on top? All the beauty products are clean, vegan, and cruelty-free!

Why I Love Using Color Street Products

Hands down, Color Street products have simplified my beauty routine. I am a Gemini and have so many different sides to me! Some days I love a glam look, some days I like to step out with a bold lip, and other days I just like to have a little bit of color on my cheeks so I look like I have actual blood running through my body! Every single day I love to have a manicure that looks like I’m pulled together and allows me to express my creativity. Color Street helps me achieve all these different looks!

If you were to ask me to pick just one Color Street product I couldn’t. But I can try…I can’t live without the nail strips. If I could only keep one product it would be nail strips. They are both a game-changer and a lifesaver for me. Can I be a bit more dramatic and say they have been a marriage saver for me too? My husband hates the smell of nail polish, loves that I don’t spend a bunch of time or money in the nail salon, and likes that I can have my nails looking nice and not like a three-year-old painted them. 

If I could choose a second product it would be Lip Primer which I use as a traditional “chapstick.” This is what Color Street says when describing the lip primer, “Prep your lips with a silky, lightweight lip primer that helps to fill in fine lines and wrinkles, and nourishes with safflower and jojoba oils. Apply before lipstick for smooth, optimal application and extended wear, or wear alone for soft, comfortably hydrated lips.” I have one of these in my car, my purse, my kitchen, and by my bedside. I apply it often throughout the day. Whenever my lips feel dry, I slap this on and I’m good to go!

I could keep going on about the products because I seriously love them all, but we don’t have time for that. If you want to learn more, you can check out my website or join my VIP group where I share all the things I love about Color Street, even the things they don’t want you to know about!

Why I Love Being A Color Street Stylist

The number one best thing about being a Color Street Independent Stylist is that I get the opportunity to earn money sharing a product that I use and truly love. Here is the part where I need to make compliance happy and encourage you to read the income statement.

Income described is unique to me and is not typical. Achievements such as these require skill & consistent work, perseverance, and effort. There are no guarantees that any Stylist will achieve any level of income or rank success. For more information, including the average earnings of a Color Street Stylist, see www.colorstreet.com/incomedisclosure.

Like many other MLMs, Color Street just made a huge shift in their business model and it has made me love this biz more than ever. On March 1st, they restructured their business model and compensation plan. They pivoted from a multi-level marketing company to an omni-level marketing company. In lay people’s terms that means they got rid of the team building (or pyramid) aspect of their business model. Gone are the days of a few leaders in the company making all the money by having hundreds or thousands of people under them and earning a commission from those people’s sales. Gone are the restrictions of only being allowed to promote Color Street and not any other products. Gone are the incentives to sign people up and then get them to sign people up. 

So if they took that all away what did they leave? Well, I’m glad you asked. Color Street has made this business more attainable for people like me who take a more “influencer” approach to running their businesses. People who don’t want to build teams but want to share the product and still make some compensation for influencing people to buy said product. Now their model looks like this…you share the products and you earn commission. The more you sell, the more you earn. If you reach different levels of sales, you earn a higher commission.

You can still sign people up under you and make a commission off of their sales, but only one level deep. That means I make a commission off of my personal sales that is tied to how much I am selling. I then sign Suzy up and she makes a commission off of her sales and I make a smaller commission off of her sales. BUT it stops there. If Suzy signs someone up, Suzy and her Stylist only make a commission on their sales. The higher-ups no longer make money on all the people below them. It stops at one level.

They also opened the door further into the influencer marketing space by allowing Sytlists to promote other products alongside Color Street’s products as long as they are not competing products such as nail polish. But they can be other beauty-related products! They just don’t want you to talk about Color Street as a business opportunity along with talking about another company as a business opportunity. But you can share all your GRWM products in one video now, which is exciting if you have multiple income streams like me!

The sad part of this shift is that a lot of Stylists just left the company over this change. My direct upline has now shifted over to a new company along with people further up from her. But it’s ok, they are doing what is best for their lives and I’m doing what works best for mine! 

The Difference Color Street Has Made in My Life

One of the big differences Color Street has made in my life is the connections I’ve made. I’ve rekindled old friendships, strengthened current ones, and met lots of new people in person and virtually. Sharing my love of Color Street has helped me gain confidence as well. I’ve learned marketing strategies that help me in my daytime job and on this blog. My Color Street experience has truly been life-changing in many areas of my life. 

Even though I haven’t become a millionaire selling my nail strips it does give me a bit of pocket money and a discount on products which is a bonus. With this business model, you get out what you put in. If you work it like a business you will get paid consistently, if you work it intermittently, you will earn money intermittently. Trust me, I’ve run my business both ways throughout my almost five years with Color Street. I like that during busier seasons of my personal life, I can set my business down for a bit and pick it back up when I have more free time. 

I’m really excited to see where this new page of Color Street takes me and I’m more on fire for the company than I ever have been. I’m excited to work on my business more consistently and strategically.

How You Can Become a Client

Has reading this made you curious to give Color Street a try? That’s awesome! Here’s what you can do next. You can shop my website anytime at colorstreet.com/karabrad. Please make sure that my picture pops up in the top left corner of the site to ensure I’m the Stylist you are working with. 

Color Street does not let us run our own sales and specials unless we have them in a private group. So, if you want the REAL Color Street scoop you need to join my VIP group here: Full Throttle Beauty. In this group, I share discounts, and sales on items from my huge stash of products and teach you all my tips and tricks. 

I also have a link to shop my personal stash of Color Street products here. But heads up, this doesn’t let you purchase products directly, it allows you to see the inventory that I have on hand and allows you to notify me of items you’d like to purchase. I complete the transaction with you and set up shipping. But it’s a great way to find those unicorn nail polish strips that you’re having total FOMO from not ordering when they were current!

How You Can Become a Stylist

Think this is the opportunity for you but maybe you have some more questions you’re too shy to ask me, that’s ok! You can find all the info you need here. Or of course, you can comment below or email me and I’ll share information with you. 

Wondering who would make a good Stylist? Anyone who loves the product and wants to share it! If you like posting on social media, running FaceBook groups, and even hosting virtual and in-person events being a Stylist would probably be a good fit for you! There are so many ways to run this business I can’t cover them all!

Right now you can start your business for $49.99. This gives you the starter kit which consists of;

• 1 Tokyo Lights Nail Strip
• 1 Beijing Beauty Nail Strip
• 1 25-Pack Tokyo Lights Testers
• 1 Buffer
• 1 Large File with Case
• 1 Hand Lotion
• 1 Bare Hy-Gloss Lip Oil
• 1 Triflex Mini Mascara
• Digital Core Catalog
• Digital Meet Color Street Brochure & Stylist Launch Guide

You will earn personal volume on this purchase which is the number your commission is calculated on. In addition to this, you would also pay an E-Suite Access fee of $9.95 each month. This gives you the option to have a Color Street corporate website that your future customers can order from and your virtual office which is the computer system all Stylists use to track sales, learn about products, hear about launches, and access trainings. 

If you don’t have any more questions and you’re ready to pull the trigger this is where you can become a Stylist right now!

Final Thoughts

Color Street has truly been a game-changer for me. Not only do I get to enjoy salon-quality nails at home, but I’ve also found a supportive community, a flexible business that fits my lifestyle, and a way to help others feel confident and beautiful. Whether you’re looking for an easy way to elevate your nail game or searching for a fun, flexible way to earn extra income, Color Street has something for you.

If you’re interested in trying Color Street for yourself, I’d love to help you find the perfect shades and styles! You can shop here or join my VIP group for exclusive deals and updates. And if you’ve ever thought about becoming a stylist, let’s chat! I’d love to help you get started on your own Color Street journey.