Around 1904, Breedlove became a sales agent for Annie Turnbo Malone, an African-American businesswoman who founded a company in 1900 manufacturing a "Wonderful Hair Grower."

[4] The first advertisements for Walker's haircare products appeared in 1906 in The Statesman and featured a front and back image of her shoulder-length hair, which boasted the growth from only two years' treatment.

[5] In July 1906, Walker and her new husband left Denver to begin traveling throughout Texas, Oklahoma, and several southern states to market their product line.

[4] As she gained popularity, it became clear that Walker would need a temporary headquarters for her business--Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was chosen for its convenient and accessible shipping arrangements.

[4] Amid Pittsburgh's 1908 economic crisis, Walker opened a hair parlor at 2518 Wylie Avenue among several other black businesses.

[4] Walker also began training her own sales agents and founded Lelia College, a school named after her daughter.

[4] In January 1910, Walker and her husband traveled to Louisville, Kentucky where she offered stock to Reverend Charles H. Parrish and Alice Kelly.

Seeking residence with Dr. Joseph Ward on Indiana Avenue, Indianapolis's African-American thoroughfare, Walker opened a salon in his home where she hosted sales agents and clients.

With her client base growing, Walker sought out two Indianapolis lawyers, Freeman Ransom and Robert Brokenburr.

[4] In November 1910, with funds from her mail-order business and Ward residence salon, Walker purchased a brick home at 640 North West Street.

[8] According to Brokenburr's incorporation papers, the North West Street building was to be named the Madam C. J. Walker Manufacturing Company of Indiana.

In 1987, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington opened an exhibit featuring Joyner's permanent wave machine and a replica of her original salon.