Rising Stars: Meet Steven Owens of Morrison

Today we’d like to introduce you to Steven Owens.

Hi Steven, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Like many of you, I’ve been a fitness enthusiast my entire life. That passion kicked into high gear after high school when team sports faded away, and I needed something to fuel my competitive side. I threw myself into everything—bodybuilding, marathons, obstacle course races, every group fitness class imaginable—and then I found CrossFit. That’s where the story takes off.

From my first class I was hooked, but it came with a price… Why am I always so sore and my hands are killing me?? I asked everyone what I should do about my cracked and bleeding hands and they all had the same answer, you need to buy these grips, or tape your hands before a WOD, and my personal favorite, once you tear just pack it full of chalk and keep working out.

The grips were annoying and I had to keep adjusting them through the workouts, the tape would fall off almost immediately once I started sweating, and packing tears full of chalk was well lets just say fu*k that! I was losing precious minutes from my workouts because I had to keep re-wrapping or chalking my hands and it was killing my times.

Meanwhile, I’ve spent the last 20 years working in construction—tough, hands-on work that only made the problem worse. Between turning wrenches all day and dealing with harsh materials like grout, my hands were taking a beating daily. Then it hit me: Why isn’t there a company focused on real hand care for people like me—lifters, workers, anyone who pushes their hands to the limit? That’s when Heavy Handed was born.

For most of us, fitness is the highlight of our day. We wake up early, train hard, then head to our 9-5s—whether that’s a desk job or a construction site. But we shouldn’t have to deal with torn, rough hands dragging us down afterward. Heavy Handed products hydrate dry skin to cut down on cracks and tears, smooth out calluses (without getting rid of them), and fight the damage from the stuff we love: sun, chalk, and barbells.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have definitely been struggles along the way. I am a traveling driller, so I’m on the road about 300 days a year and have been bootstrapping the business myself from the beginning. When you’re starting out, there’s no how-to guide. You just have to dive in. Things won’t always go the way you want, but every time you learn something, you learn five more things you need to know.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Well, I’ve been in construction for 20 years, which is where the idea for Heavy Handed started. I work in the drilling industry with a lot of harsh chemicals i.e. grout, and bentonite. On top of that working out six days a week had my hands destroyed. I spent 18 months working on our product formulas and used my crews as guinea pigs to see how well it worked.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Nothing is guaranteed and there is definitely no easy button. No matter what you are facing tackle it one step at a time and keep moving forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://heavyhanded.com
• Instagram: @heavy.handed
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heavyhandedskincare/