Meet India Gay | Entrepreneur, Content Creator and Marketing Professional
Article pulled from Voyage ATL’s local stories
We had the good fortune of connecting with India Gay and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi India, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I started Synai Symone at just 14 years old. Growing up, I dealt with mild eczema breakouts and often turned to natural DIY solutions for my hair and skin. I became obsessed with creating homemade body butters, soaps, and hair masks—Shea butter, aloe vera, and avocado oil were practically my best friends. Selling these creations wasn’t on my mind until a teammate tried my body butter and encouraged me to start selling.
That moment sparked the idea for Synai Symone. While it could have easily been a skincare brand, I decided to focus on haircare—it was my dream to become a natural hair influencer. By 16, I had officially registered Synai Symone LLC and dove into an extensive and challenging formulating process. After 75+ trials, I developed my first five products: three shampoos, a conditioner, and a deep conditioner, which I proudly launched on my 18th birthday.
Two years later, in August 2023, I expanded the brand with the Refresh & Retain Line, which introduced six new products: two oils, a hair butter, an aloe vera hair mist, an aloe vera curl refresher, and an ACV mist.
Synai Symone is rooted in ingredient transparency, born from my need for hair, skin, and body products that were safe for my sensitive skin. Today, I take pride in maintaining that transparency—whether it’s through the detailed ingredients tab on my website or the educational posts I share on social media.
Our mission is to celebrate the beauty and diversity of Black hair, which is often overlooked in the haircare industry. Whether it’s a fro, relaxed hair, wigs, protective styles, bald heads, fades, waves, or pixie cuts, Synai Symone is here to honor it all. I’m committed to expanding my product line to support this diversity while continuing to educate my community on proper hair care and offering affordable, natural solutions.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve often been told I wear quite a few hats for a 21-year-old, and I couldn’t agree more. I am the owner and creator of Synai Symone LLC, IANYS Creative LLC, and ENOMYS Wellness—three brands rooted in my greatest passions. My ultimate goal has always been to create platforms in the areas I love most: beauty, career and creative consulting, and wellness. Storytelling through content creation has been the common thread in everything I do, and it’s what inspires me every day.
Synai Symone is where my journey began. It’s my heart and soul—a platform where I create solutions and share content within the hair, skin, and body care space. IANYS Creative, my second brand, is a self-guided innovation hub and creative consulting business. It was born from my own experience of feeling lost and alone at 14 as I navigated the early stages of entrepreneurship. Through IANYS, I aim to bridge that gap by offering consulting services in marketing, entrepreneurship, and content creation while sharing educational resources like guides, video series, and content calendars for emerging creatives.
ENOMYS Wellness, my newest baby, is dedicated to my wellness journey. Whether it’s fitness, nutrition, or mental health, I share my personal experiences and testimonies to inspire and challenge my community to prioritize their well-being.
Professionally, I thrive in the marketing space, helping brands connect with their consumers through strategic and creative storytelling. My role spans creating content, developing briefs, recommending influencers, ideating campaigns, crafting go-to-market strategies, and managing day-to-day operations for various brands. I’m proud to have worked with industry leaders like Jergens, Bioré, Curel, Hello Sunday, and Wakati Haircare, while still building my own brands.
Getting here has been a journey, to say the least. I’ve always been the kind of person who needs to have her hands in something—constantly creating, building, and working on something new. Starting Synai Symone at a young age was a defining moment. It not only fueled my love for hair, skin, and body care but also introduced me to the storytelling aspect of business, which quickly became my favorite part.
From there, I pursued public relations and a career in creative marketing. IANYS grew from a desire to help others access the resources, tools, and knowledge they need to succeed in such a competitive industry. Along the way, I’ve built a name for myself as a content creator and entrepreneur. It hasn’t been easy—there have been sleepless nights, long days, moments of doubt, and plenty of tears. But through it all, my passion for my work keeps me going.
What drives me? The dream of building an unconventional career, the positive feedback from my clients and customers, the support of my community, and my unwavering love for the products and services I’ve created.
If there’s one thing I want the world to know, it’s that age is just a number. I’m 21 years old, and I have a story to tell—and I won’t stop until the world hears it.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If you know me, you know I practically live in the Ponce City Market and Little 5 Points area—it’s my go-to every time. From the restaurants and shops inside Ponce to the gems along the BeltLine, I just can’t get enough!
For my fellow music lovers, Little 5 Points is a must-visit. My absolute favorite record store is Wax N Facts, but I also find myself at Criminal Records pretty often. The area is full of quirky vintage shops and unique boutiques that make it the perfect spot for a leisurely afternoon.
As for Ponce City Market, it’s the ultimate destination for just about everything. From rooftop events and an incredible selection of restaurants and shops to easy access to the BeltLine for scenic day or nighttime walks—it’s a vibe you can’t go wrong with.
Speaking of favorites, I recently discovered Barcelona Wine Bar at The Interlock in West Midtown, and it’s quickly become a new city go-to. Whether you’re into great food, wine, or just an intimate atmosphere, it’s worth checking out.
I also love visiting the High Museum of Art for fun exhibits or their First Fridays, which are always a vibe. Atlantic Station’s First Fridays have the same energy and are perfect for a chill yet exciting night out.
Atlanta has so much to offer, and one of the things I love most is that no matter your interests, there’s a community here waiting for you.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate this shoutout to my close friends and family—the true reason Synai Symone is still thriving today.
To my Auntie T., thank you for being an incredible role model. I like to think of myself as a younger version of you. I deeply admire your hustle, strength, and passion. You’ve believed in my dream from the start, using my products in your salon, giving me my first shelf space, and being my number one customer. I love you so much and am endlessly grateful for you.
To my mom, dad, and sister, thank you for your unwavering support. From helping me create content to sacrificing half the kitchen to store my supplies, attending my first pop-up events, donating to the cause, and always being a listening ear—you’ve been my rock through this journey. I couldn’t have made it this far without you.
To my friends and the FAMU community, thank you for being my first customers and strongest support system. There have been so many moments when I felt like giving up, but your love and encouragement kept me going. Because of you, Synai Symone has survived years 1–3.
It truly takes a village, and I am endlessly grateful for mine.
Website: https://synaisymone.com
Instagram: @indiasynai @synaisymone @ianyscreative @enomyswellness
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/india-gay-3900911b4/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@indiasynai
Other: IANYS Creative: https://www.ianyscreative.com