LAST PAGE: Kathe D’Alfonso
Inventor develops, patents skincare applicator — She is a cancer survivor, and the owner of Solo Beauty
By Stefan Yablonski
Q: How has Solo Beauty come about?
A: After a bout of melanoma, I realized I needed to up my selfcare regimen to include more sunscreen application on my skin. But applying it on my back was difficult. I wanted a tool that would make it easy to apply. That’s how I developed Solo Beauty. It’s a wand with a flexible, mitt-covered head that angles to access hard-to-reach areas of the body. The mitt options include lotion applicator, body exfoliator and face exfoliator.
Q: A cancer survivor?
A: Yes. When I was 25, I had a mole and it was excised. The doctor’s office said it was benign. But three weeks later they called and said they picked up the wrong report — I had Stage 3 malignant melanoma and needed to get into the hospital. I feel very fortunate that someone in heaven was looking out for me to have someone go back and reread my report that saved my life. Since then, I’ve started a business called Expozures. It’s still running full speed today.
Q: So, you’re an inventor?
A: I didn’t plan on being an inventor. But, yes.
Q: How long did it take to get it just right?
A: About three or four years ago I was working on this. I tried so many applicators. I came up with this idea, worked on it, designed it. When I was holding it, I was like this is great. I made eight prototypes. I spent a lot of time and money evolving prototypes because I wanted it so people could hold it in their hand and feel comfortable. I wanted something that I’d love to hold — I was actually building it for myself.
Q: And you applied for a patent?
A: Yes. When I received it, I was shocked. They don’t always give a patent. I was definitely lucky.
Q: Who does this benefit?
A: The elderly, people with shoulder injuries that are having PT, people who live alone, people with arthritis. A lot of people. Anyone with a decreased range of motion or who are wheelchair-bound.
Q: Where is it made?
A: It’s made right here in New York — Rochester. I hired designers to make my prototypes. I tested all the materials for the mitts. I cut the materials, then I have my tailor sew the mitts. Everything is made right here. The wands too. That’s the beauty of it. It’s all made right here in New York.
Q: Do you have to replace the mitts often?
A: I came up with the idea of having mitts that could be washed and dried. I really thought this out because I wanted something that would work quickly and last. The mitts can go into the washer and the drier and be put back on.
Q: How do you get the word out?
A: I’ve been advertising it all over; in a lot of states. People call me from different states. The other day a lady called me. An ad popped up on her Monopoly game and she saw me. I spent a good half hour talking to her and she was so excited. She said, ‘I’ve been looking for something just like this!’
Q: Do you have an actual store?
A: I began selling wands at the Webster Farm Market. Now I have a shop in Irondequoit, Solo Beauty. I also sell online.
Q: How many have you sold?
A: (Laughs) In the past three or four years? Oh my god — a lot! I don’t know exactly how many, but it is a lot.
Q: Do you have any goals?
A: My dream, my goal is to have somebody understand the benefits of this. If an insurance company could see my product and understand how it is helping these people and give them like an allowance toward my product that would be amazing.