Search Results: Desiree Johnson
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has become an integral part of celebrating Black legacy and history for people all over the globe. One of the hallmarks of the film is the representation of Black beauty and hair in all it’s creative and artistic forms that is very inspiring to people everywhere. Young King Hair Care is helping bridge the gap between the film and honoring the beauty of Black hair with a limited-edition collection consisting of 5 new hair products for any age.
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Infused with African essential oils, including Baobab and Marula Oils, this Wakandan Collection is designed to leave hair strengthened and hydrated, while providing those royal vibes we all deserve. The Young King brand focuses on helping back and brown young men who strive to be authentically themselves embrace their textured hair and love the skin they’re in. They seek to instill confidence and self love in young kings by advocating and promoting them to embrace and love their natural hair. Young King hair care has been featured on Shark Tank, Good Morning America, and is available at major retailers like Target, Wal-Mart, and Amazon.
The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever collection includes a cleansing co-wash, styling balm, refreshing oil spray and curl custard and special collector’s edition box. The individual bottles cost $16 each and the full collection totals at $56. As a plant-based collection customers can look forward to ingredients that will help add moisture, enhance shine, fight frizz, and provide a flexible hold for easy styling. Shop this limited-edition collection today and allow your young king to thrive with products that will truly make him feel like royalty.
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Ouidad has been the reigning authority in curly hair care for the past 30 years for their signature approach to curl care and they have just opened a new flagship location in Flatiron, New York City. Curlies can get excited for a destination that will be modern, sleek, and designed to accommodate growing clientele with a range of educational offerings for professional stylists looking to hone their skills in curl education.
Photo: @ouidad
The new Ouidad salon features a personalized experience for every curl type whether you have loose curls, waves, spirals, coils, and curls you haven’t unlocked. The salon is located in a dynamic downtown neighborhood to be more visible to a diverse community of naturalistas looking to make the beauty salon their go-to stop for hair care. This location will include 13 stations, 6 hooded chairs for color processing, and an extensive menu of services that will include core curly treatments and men’s grooming.
“We are extremely proud to announce the opening of our new flagship in such an energetic spot of Manhattan. The Ouidad experience is often life-changing, and this beautiful new salon is an important reminder of the hair magic that comes to life when you combine our professional heritage and the curl expertise of our talented stylists with curly customers,” shares Beauty by Imagination CEO, Francesca Raminella.
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The brand is excited to feature a roster of stylists skilled in a variety of curl techniques and who have been with the brand for over 20 years. Customers can expect stylists to be versed in a wide range of color services and curly cuts in addition to being licensed curl experts and Ouidad certified. Those licensed stylists looking to pursue a styling education from Ouidad can visit OuidadEducation.com to view a list of classes that are offered both at the new salon location and virtually.
“Professional education is a core part of Ouidad’s curl philosophy and this new flagship studio will allow us to better service our talented stylists. Not only are our educators passionate and committed to technical excellence, but our new space allows them to work closely and effectively with the stylists to master specific curl needs, increasing their curl confidence.” – Beauty by Imagination Director Of Business Development, Nikki Krause.
If you’re not in NYC, have no fear, the brand also features two other Ouidad flagship salons located in Santa Monica and Fort Lauderdale. Ouidad will begin rolling out the Ouidad Salon Partner Program in 2023, focusing on partnering with top-tier salons to turn them into the go-to place for Ouidad Curl Care in different communities.
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The new flagship location is now open for those looking to get healthier, happier, more hydrated curls with a custom approach to fit their unique curly needs. They are currently seeking assistants to join the amazing staff and are taking appointments at the newly opened salon. Book your visit today and get the Ouidad experience from the experts in-house at NYC.
Maxine Pittman is the Founder and CEO of Tress Obsessed Beauty Vending, a new way to shop your favorite natural haircare products in just a few seconds. As a Los Angeles native, Maxine has amassed a range of skills in customer services, marketing, public relations, sales experience, and more across various industries. Tress Obsessed originally began as an online beauty supply store before pivoting to an innovative beauty vending machine company during the pandemic. She used her experience traveling overseas to determine what gap she could fill for women of color and identified that beauty items are often overlooked and underrepresented. Her products provide travel-sized hair products for women whether they are at hotels, resorts, at the gym, college dorms, and so much more. We chatted with her during this holiday season to learn more about how Tress Obsessed was created, how she sources her products, and more.
What was your experience traveling as a woman of color?
I have had various experiences traveling. There are places that I go to where I always feel at peace and welcome, like Mexico. There are places where people look at me and are stuck up and I can tell there is a bit of racism or sexism in the mix, like in France. But, no matter how the people treat me I always have a good time because I paid to be there and it’s a vacation! I do my due diligence to follow dozens of travel blogs and travel groups on Instagram and I always try to keep myself in the diverse circles of other people of color who are traveling as well. And I feel that if you travel with a group of people that look like you, you’ll always feel community no matter where you go.
How did the challenge of not having accessible beauty products as a POC impact your experience?
This has always been a hassle for women of color, especially Black women. I feel like over the last 10, maybe 15 years, Black women are really starting to cultivate different spaces in terms of travel and experiences that a lot of us have never had before. In my experience, it was always a hassle trying to take the little clear bottles and putting lotions and shampoos and body butters and body scrubs into these little clear bottles. If you didn’t label them correctly, then I’m accidentally using lotion in my hair as a shampoo or I’m applying shampoo to my legs thinking it’s lotion and then my legs are all soapy! Those experiences are not fun when you’re just trying to enjoy your vacation and look beautiful for your photos/selfies. This is why I knew that the idea for travel-size haircare in my vending machines would be popular because it solves a problem in my community.
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When did you decide to use your experiences and convert them into a business?
Well, back in 2019 I was actually planning on opening up a beauty supply originally. When the pandemic hit at the beginning of 2020, and I had a few conversations with some of my mentors I realized that I didn’t have much money to put towards this business and I wanted to make it stretch any way that I knew how. I had to become resourceful and think on my feet quickly. I started thinking about how I could offer something creative that black women have never seen before, something for us by us. I have always been fascinated by vending machines, but when I went online I realized there were not a lot of retail brands that only offered travel-size or sample-size hair care products for ethnic hair. And that is when the idea sparked in my brain! I could offer travel size, TSA-approved, convenient sizes of hair care brands that women are already familiar with, small enough for them to fit in their purses or pack with them in their carry-on for their next vacation.
What inspired you to sell beauty products in vending machines?
I knew I wanted to do vending machines and I knew I wanted to offer something that WOC didn’t have yet. I sketched it out on paper first because I had to take it from my brain to something tangible. I realized that if a 12 oz Coca-Cola can fit inside of coils in a vending machine, so can a 3 oz or a 4 oz shampoo or leave-in conditioner, and that’s how I got started. I had never seen beauty supply products inside of a vending machine before I saw them inside of mine, but I had seen a lot of other crazy ideas in vending machines so at the end of the day I figured I would wing it and worry about the rest later.
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How did you conceptualize the design for your custom vending machines?
I hired a graphic designer, and I had several phone calls with her and sketched out my ideas telling her what colors I wanted and what kind of look I was looking for with the brand, and she sent me a few mock ups we went back and forth via email for two or three months. Just figuring out the logo and making sure that even small things like the verbiage being used and the images of the women on graphics were reflective of our demographic and who we were speaking to in our audience. I also got a website designer to start figuring out how to transform my website from a beauty supply, which was the original idea, transitioning it to a beauty vending machine company that solely sells travel-size hair products. It was a long process and very detailed.
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What challenges did you encounter sourcing TSA-friendly sizes from Black-owned brands?
There were a lot of challenges, and there still are a lot of challenges. You have to remember we started this business during a pandemic so there were supply chain issues and honestly we still run into these issues today. Some of our vendors and suppliers only sell certain brands, because they don’t have contracts with other larger brands so then you have to go out and actively find vendors and suppliers that have brands that your customers are asking for. Then, do you want to carry products that are popular but then you find out that that brand has harmful chemicals or they are going through a lawsuit or things like that for example. So, when running the company, you have to make daily decisions to figure out what is best for your customers, but what will also be easiest to get access to with your suppliers. Also, some of our favorite brands are still new brands themselves so while they may be popular in the Black community some of them don’t even offer travel sizes, so that was yet another obstacle we faced.
The beauty industry is expanding for natural hair, what determines which products can be sold in a vending machine?
Yes! And that’s a great thing. There are a lot of things that determine which products can be sold in a vending machine such as price, popularity (what will sell or what won’t sell”>, and also location – what might be popular in some climates or cities may not be widespread in others.
What is on the horizon from Tress-Obsessed in 2023?
Tress Obsessed is still a small brand and we still have a lot of growing to do. For 2023, with a possible recession on the way, we are pivoting our focus to our online presence. We will be putting a pause on any vending machine launches for the next 6-8 months, we want to focus on building out a new travel affiliate program to give the opportunity to travel agents and travel groups who want to make money promoting the brand. We also just hired a new social media manager which is very exciting! We want to grow our TikTok & Twitter audience as well as put new offerings on our website like subscription boxes and new digital products for our entrepreneurial customers.
If there’s one thing we naturalistas can’t get enough of, it’s accessories to help adorn and decorate our fabulous curls and coils. Former Bachelorette Tayshia Adam has collaborated with scünci and Conair to create a collection that is timeless, fun, and full of accessories, hair brushes, and beauty tools. The Tayshia Adams 9-to-9 collection features an assortment of 33 accessories, 5 hair brushes/combs, 1 mirror, and 5 hot tools – full of classic day essentials that easily transform into an enchanting night out ensemble, helping you secure the best 9-to-9 look with all accessories costing under $13, and hot tools under $38. These were inspired by Tayshia’s busy always-on-the-go lifestyle and includes an assortment of headbands, scrunchies, barrettes, claw clips, hot tools, brushes, hair towels, and more. These are designed to be worn for functional transition between morning to night looks. We spoke with Tayshia and tried out a few of the products to see how they hold up with natural hair!
What inspired this collection? How do these accessories reflect your lifestyle?
My lifestyle inspired this collection! It’s made for a girl on the go who wants to do it all! Work out, work, have lunch work meetings, go out to dinner or have after-work drinks, or be ready for a night out! I love to go with the flow, but I have what I need to jump from day to night easily without going home in between. As hectic as that all may seem, my style is simple but chic. Which is why I use a lot of neutrals in my looks, play with textures and have soft pops of color that honestly go with everything!
What are your recommendations for styling these with natural hair?
All of my Scrunchies and Jaw Clips are inspired to work with any texture, and also withhold physical activity. I spent a lot of time on the elasticity of the scrunchies because I personally like to work out with silk scrunchies that don’t pull or dent my hair when it’s up. So I wanted to make sure that they would stay put while I’m weightlifting, boxing, doing yoga, pilates or even going for a run! Wrap around twice to ensure there’s no hair in your face, and wrap three times to make sure it definitely won’t slip out!
Also, our jaw clips come in a multitude of sizes with different strengths! My personal favorites are the classic, large rectangular, and the cut out claw hair clips. They are super cute to use day-to-night! I just did a half-up, half-down hairstyle using the mini classic cut-out clips to complete my look when I attended the Jack Harlow concert, and to go out after to dance the night away! And guess what? I didn’t have to fix my hair clip once. They’re amazing!
How do these Scunci accessories work on natural hair?
I tried four different accessories from this collection which were primarily from her “Prep Your Look” category which focuses on clips, claws, headbands, and scrunchies. I was very impressed with the variety of colors and hues that range from hues of neutral shades like blue, nude, purple, and turquoise. The collection is massive and also features hair care tools like a paddle brush, hot rollers set, and ceramic hair dryer. I rarely wear accessories in my daily life because I either don’t have the time to use them or run into the trouble of having too much volume. We’ve all been there, a clip and claw snaps before even before secured around your hair because they aren’t designed for thicker textures, so I was definitely interested to see how these would fit my hair.
1. Tayshia by Scunci Large Rectangular Cutout Hair Clips
I decided to rock this between wash days and was very very excited that the claw fit securely around my hair and did not pop off. I was able to create a quick updo for work and style the accessory at the base of my neck securely. I only adjusted it once throughout the day and was really happy it didn’t cause any tension on my scalp.
2. Tayshia by Scunci Open Center Statement, No-Slip, Double Bobby Pins
These were very interesting bobby pins in terms of length, hold, and design. I initially didn’t know how to wear these because they were long and thick so I didn’t want to just use them for flyaways. I settled on a fun style that highlighted my wash and go as well as the design of the bobby pins. The double layered design made it a bit challenging to slide in/out of my hair but they were secure once I could pry them open.
3. Tayshia by Scunci Octopus Claw Wide-Curved No-Slip Hair Clips
These were very fun to use and convenient for on-the-go styling. They weren’t big enough to hold my hair volume so I was able to create a fun half up/down hairstyle that showcased the clip while getting my hair out of my face. I loved that these came in different colors and didn’t easily snap on my head.
4. Tayshia by Scunci Mini Clips for Fine or Short Hair
These mini clips were definitely a bit challenging to use on my hair because they weren’t big enough to secure a large chunk of hair so I was on the fence about how to style them. I opted for a fun nostalgic 90s look that pulled up both sides of my hair out of my face and smoothed down my scalp with gel. These were probably the only accessory I wouldn’t use again because they just didn’t have alot of range with my texture because of their limited capabilities.
Overall this is a fun and exciting collection that I think definitely has some great options for multiple hair textures. If you have thicker or fuller hair like mine then the claws, clips, and pins are very secure and agile with our hair. I’m looking forward to using these as the season grows!
The NaturallyCurly Leaders in Curl interview series highlights the people and the brands that are redefining the beauty industry – one curl at a time.
When Dr. Omoye Phillips started noticing hair loss in her younger children, after a series of trial and error, she decided to create her own solution. She sought out the highest quality fabrics that would help protect delicate and finely textured hair that often develops with younger children and landed on mulberry silk. As the CEO and founder of Omo Silk, Omoye seeks to provide comfort, quality, and confidence to her customers with a hypoallergenic product that is gentle for all textures. Her products are especially formulated for newborns and features a wide array of options like crib sleeves, headbands, pillow cases, and wig caps. The brand prides itself as being built on positive affirmations and and helping protect and reduce hair loss. We’re so excited to talk with Omoye about her amazing brand and how she built it based around her children.
Have you ever experienced hair loss like your children had growing up?
Not really, I was fortunate as I never had eczema or any condition that would cause me to lose hair when I was a child.
Did you go through a lot of trial and error before deciding to create your own products?
Yes I did. Although hair loss is common in babies my kids experienced significant hair loss that was exacerbated by eczema and cradle cap. I was looking for non-medicinal options to help my kids’ hair and skin thrive. I dabbled with several fabrics, satin included, but since it is not hypoallergenic, it wasn’t a viable option for my kids who suffered from many different allergies as well. So after tons of research and trial and error with the different fabrics, mulberry silk provided the best results for my kids. Its hypoallergenic nature was perfect for my kids. It is also a breathable, natural fabric that retains moisture, no tugging of hair and prevents flyaways.
After I learned that silk worked, the next problem was that I searched everywhere and couldn’t find any silk products for babies and so I decided to find my own solution. Another important call out is the elastic bands used in our products. They are engineered for comfortability.I was able to create our first omosilk product which was a pure silk headband for my daughters. It boasted comfortability, provided a thriving hair and skin environment and felt luxurious. They enjoyed wearing their headbands and sometimes fell asleep without taking them off.
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Did you use silk products or accessories growing up and what was that experience like?
While growing up, I did not because I did not know much about healthy hair maintenance. I lost my mum at a very young age of 10 and my dad did not know much about hair. So I kept my hair short and washed and let it air dry on a weekly basis and that was it.
How does your culture influence your brand?
Our brand name, Omosilk, stems from the Edo/ Bini tribe in Nigeria where I am from originally with Omo” meaning child, the inspiration for this brand.
How do you choose the color swatches for your products?
I started with colors that my kids and I liked. My 4 year old son helped pick the colors for our first launch. I told him to go for colors that ignited excitement and happiness for him.
What are the benefits of using Mulberry Silk for your products?
Mulberry silk provides a healthy environment for hair and skin to thrive. It is 100% natural, hypoallergenic, reduces friction and prevents drying of hair and skin. It is also breathable and highly recommended by dermatologists for all hair and skin types. Omosilk uses the highest grade 6A of mulberry silk too. Silk fiber comes in varying lengths, ranging from short (1A Grade”> to long (6A Grade”>. Omosilk products boast of using 6A Grade silk which is made from the longest silk fibers available. This makes the material and quality more durable and luxurious than lower grade silks.
What are the best practices for encouraging children to wear hair accessories?
Some best practices to encourage kid to wear hair accessories are:
- Provide exciting colors that make it fun to wear and bring out their personality
- Fashionable so they look stylish and it compliments their outfits
- Let them know it will help their hair grow
- Make it comfortable that they don’t even know it’s on.
Omosilk products have great prints and colors that would excite kids and adults alike. Each product is built on positive affirmations which ignite emotions like love, power, curiosity, care and more. So when I tell my daughter to wear the “Adura” headband which ignites love and power or the “Zahra” scrunchie which ignites confidence and playfulness, she always opts to wear her omosilk accessories. Additionally, the elastic specifications on each headband is engineered with a smooth appearance and does not become narrower as it stretches to ensure long-lasting comfort when worn. The reviews from both kids and adults so far have been awesome!
What can we look forward to from Omosilk in 2023?
Since our launch in June 2022, we have gained some good traction with our Los Angeles community. We started with headbands and Scrunchies and recently launched our adjustable bonnets, pillowcases, scarves, crib sleeves and wig caps. All items are available for newborns, kids and adults. In 2023, we are looking to expand and have some B2B partnerships and to launch some more hair products. We do understand the need to raise capital for the business to continue to flourish and so we plan to do some fundraising as well. 2023 should be an exciting and eventful year with more variety of colors, prints and more products in general.
The NaturallyCurly Leaders in Curl interview series highlights the people and the brands that are redefining the beauty industry – one curl at a time.
Botanika Beauty is the Latinx haircare brand looking to infuse and instill self love for all hair texture within the Latinx community. Aisha Ceballos-Crump is the founder and CEO of Botanika Beauty who started developing beauty products and haircare formulas after graduating from Purdue University with a degree in chemical engineering. She’s been working for over a decade as an entrepreneur with her first haircare line, Honey Baby Naturals debuting in 2016. Botanika Beauty debuted in 2019 after Aisha realized there was a gap in the haircare market that lacked products for the Latinx customer. She wanted to create products that broke stereotypes, provided hair remedies for common problems, and could cultivate a community similar to the one’s Latinx people experience everyday. We sat down to speak with Aisha about the inception of her brand, her expanding entrepreneurial pursuits, and filling the gap for Latinx people.
What prompted you to pivot from chemical engineering to the beauty industry?
I’m a first generation college student so when I was deciding the type of degree I wanted to pursue I was looking at job stability. I landed on chemical engineering which I didn’t love, but I learned to appreciate that we can take a substance and make it better. We use our brain and critical thinking skills to innovate and create products. I knew I didn’t want to pursue engineering as a career which led me to working in sales and then becoming a mother. When I was ready to pivot to an industry more aligned with my beauty passions, I ended up selling chemicals for the beauty industry. I worked for a company called Croda which was the number 1 manufacturer of specialty chemicals where I would teach chemists in the Chicago area about formulating products. Engineering is critical thinking that I used to get my feet in the door within this industry and I use it even now to innovate better products.
Who were your entrepreneurial inspirations as you were building your career?
I was very lucky that I got a chance to work with Croda for 5 years where I watched the Luster and Gartner families create multi-million dollar empires in ethnic hair care. I worked with a variety of brands for so long and eventually switched to contract manufacturing. I had so many people like McBride from Design Essentials who were legacy brands that were cheering for me. When I decided to jump all in 2016 with Honey Baby Naturals, I had a village behind me to encourage me, uplift me, and support me.
Why do you feel the Latinx community has been overlooked in the haircare industry?
I’m a 100% Puerto Rican, puro Boricua who grew up in a primarily Black community which is even reflected in my name. I’ve spent the majority of my life trying to prove my Latinidad because of my hair texture, skin color, and the same thing happened in this industry. When I was initially pitching Botanika Beauty to buyers in 2020, there was no interest. I remember Target doing a series on minority entrepreneurs and all the founders were Black. They didn’t understand that Latinas aren’t a monolith, we’re multi-faceted with varying textures and stories. I was already in Target and Wal-Mart with my first brand, it was being pitched as a Black brand because my children were Black and I could never get featured for being a Latina entrepreneur. I was always categorized as multicultural. I was the first Latina to have a natural hair care brand and skincare brand in Target, but that wasn’t reflected in the branding.
I was inspired to create a whole new brand which is when I started pivoting to Botanika with the Latinx culture being at the forefront. It’s called Botanika because when we came to this country we didn’t have healthcare and you would go buy your herbs and remedies from the local botanica in your community. I added the “k” into the name because all of my children’s names start with a “k”. I wanted to put some sazon, adobo, and everything magical into this brand to make it Latina as possible. Unfortunately I launched right before the pandemic and that put a wrench in alot of my promotions with Wal-Mart. To this day we’re still fighting for placement, visibility, and support for the Latina consumer.
Read next: Bask & Bloom is the Caribbean-Inspired Curl Brand You Need to Know
What are misconceptions people have about Latinx hair?
People don’t understand the textures versus thinking it’s all about race. Your hair is not about being Puerto Rican or Mexican, it’s about understanding your texture. I have a lot of white, mixed, Jewish, and Black women who use my haircare. The shelves are still very segmented and that continues to push this ideal that you need to shop for products by your race. You need millions to win in this space and many small businesses learned during the pandemic how challenging it could be. Our manufacturers are not us and most minority brands are not self manufactured. I’m trying to change that and build a manufacturing facility to gain control over my supply chain. I’m not giving up, I’m determined to make this work.
What type of ingredients did you decide would be staples of your products?
Everything that you would find in a kitchen: avocado oil, sage, basil, garlic, mango butter. We wanted to mix science and nature, I wanted ingredients my Abuelos had growing up. I don’t just have herbs and water, I’m a scientist and I want a balance between that culture and chemistry in the products.
How do you support your local “Botanika”?
Unfortunately there are very few left in Chicago. In Humble Park there are some apothecaries we do pop-ups in, but botanicas are few and far between. I have a dream to eventually source and supply my ingredients with products from local neighborhoods in Chicago.
Which products are essentials for first time users?
The Mender protein treatment helps to reinforce strength, balance, and can be used on any damaged hair. I would follow that up with a Revitalizer deep conditioning mask that is buttery and thick to soften the hair. The names of the products reflect the power of Latinx people like “La Madre” “The Lifter” “The Enhancer”. You will always get innovation from Botanika Beauty and I’m excited to create more products in the future.
I’m not just putting a product on the shelf. My staff is minority women, I source from minority suppliers, I’m creating jobs. I’m trying to create something bigger than a brand that evokes legacy for myself and the people in my organization.
Looking for your next Holy Grail? Here are 12 Latinx-Owned Curly Hair Products to Add to Cart
The NaturallyCurly Leaders in Curl interview series highlights the people and the brands that are redefining the beauty industry – one curl at a time.
Lulu Cordero is the Afro-Latina behind the bodacious Bomba Curls which was created when she needed homemade remedies to cure her severe traction alopecia. As a native of the Dominican Republic she wanted to use her own blends and beauty secrets to create products that could meet the needs of curly and coily hair to nourish the scalp. She has always believed in instilling seeds of self-love that would empower customers to love their layered textures and has promoted this across the various products in her brand whether hair mask, oil, or scrunchies. Her enthusiasm and passion for her brand and business is seen in her product ingredients, customers, and bomba squad who are champions for her vision.
We’re so excited to chat with Lulu and talk about all things Bomba Curls.
What was your relationship to your hair like when you were growing up?
Growing up I was always told I had “pelo malo” which would come out when someone was doing my hair or complaining about being unable to style it. I don’t know how many combs I have damaged in my hair journey. There was a stigma attached to my natural hair and I was 9 years old when I got taken into the Dominican hair salon to get my first relaxer. After that experience I got comments like “your hair is so nice” and “that’s how a proper young lady should look” because I had a silky/straight Eurocentric look. From these experiences I learned that beauty standards were not reflective of people who looked like me. I had to straighten out my kinky hair in order to fit in and be seen as beautiful which I did until I was 17.
I went natural and then never looked back, went vegetarian, and overall embraced a full natural lifestyle. I wanted to go natural for me and thought I was doing something admirable by eliminating all these toxins from my life. I received a lot of backlash from my community, family, and friends who had a pretty intense reaction to my hair. It was a complicated relationship, but it taught me that I didn’t have something to be fixed, there was nothing wrong with me. My mom was the only person who tried to help me as I was growing out the perm with tips on protective styles and products that can help restore my hair health. My hair is a story that reflects my roots, ancestry, and has helped me to love and embrace my hair and create my business.
How did having Alopecia influence your approach to buying hair products?
When I was first transitioning there weren’t a lot of products or education that helped guide your journey so I often wore tight, slicked back ponytails. This eventually caused my edges to recede and push back my hairline. I tried every remedy under the sun and when I went home during the holidays, my Dad literally proclaimed I was going bald. My mom recommended coffee to help with my hair growth and then I researched and saw that caffeine could help with hair growth/hair loss. I wanted to use that and create a product that could help alleviate the problems I was experiencing and that’s how the Forbidden Oil was born. I learned how rosemary extract, castor oil, black cumin, and antihistamines were all used to treat alopecia and then incorporated those into my products. I applied it as a scalp oil and saw amazing results and ultimately had people wanting so many bottles for themselves I started creating my own products in my kitchen. I solved my own problems and used my pre-med background to enhance the chemistry, formulation process, and compounds.
Ever since 2019 I have worked hand in hand with my cosmetic chemist to create each product and have been invested ever since. Being Afro-Latina and primarily Dominican which is notoriously anti-Black with a European beauty standard, it was important for me to help other people embrace their girls. I want my community to heal from generational traumas and getting past the stigmas that have been passed on from generation to generation. I want to broaden that spectrum of beauty.
Read next: Bask & Bloom is the Caribbean-Inspired Curl Brand You Need to Know
When you were ideating recipes, what type of ingredients did you focus on?
I want to give my mom all the props because she is my go-to resource for the types of ingredients I wanted to add to my formulas. I love science but also live a natural lifestyle so I wanted the products to reflect that. She gave me spices like cinnamon to help balance the scalp and has antifungal properties and black ginger which will be featured in our upcoming leave-in conditioner. I wanted to incorporate tropical ingredients we use back home like coffee, banana, cocoa butter, papaya, and pistachio oil (which is extremely under-used in the US market”>. These are natural ingredients that have been used back home from generations of women.
Why was including Dominican style formulations important for your products?
It was important for me to honor my heritage and Dominican people truly do love haircare. The style of formulation back home is different than in the US because it focuses on deep hydration, and length retention. I wanted to share a piece of my island with the world and uplift and elevate mi gente.
What inspired the name Bomba Curls?
First when you say “Bomba” doesn’t it make you smile? It naturally elicits joy and happiness. Your curls are bomba, you are bomba, and I want to celebrate you. We are celebrating. “Bomba” is a nod to our African roots and heritage in Puerto Rico which is seen in music brought by our ancestors.
How does being an Afro-Latina entrepreneur impact your brand?
Being Afro-Latina, proudly Black women is the heartbeat of my brand. All of my experiences as a Black Latina inspired Bomba. I know the pain many of us had to deal with in terms of colorism, self-love, and existing in a world that doesn’t celebrate us or see us. I wanted my brand to change that and I’m very conscious of the imagery I cultivated within the brand. I wanted it to evoke luxury and that shows the possibilities of who we can be. I know being a Black woman for everyone across the diaspora can still be a struggle as we’re fighting to show up in spaces as ourselves and be accepted.
What are the Bomba essentials for first-time users to try?
The Forbidden hair mask which is a deep conditioning treatment, especially in the winter season. I recommend weekly treatments with that product and then follow it with the Forbidden oil which can be used as a pre-poo, scalp treatment, or to alleviate itchy or inflamed skin.
What does Latinx heritage month mean to you?
It means culture, history, music, art, community, and the rainbow of heritages. To be Black in Latin America is to be invisible, but Latinx heritage month lets us highlight the diversity of the community with different colors, backgrounds, languages, and more.
Read more: From Growing Up with “Pelo Malo” to Celebrating Her Hair & Latinx Heritage with Mariela Mejia
Candera Thompson is a CEO looking to help aid naturalistas achieve stronger and healthier curls with her Caribbean inspired brand, Bask and Bloom. After experiencing postpartum hair loss after having 3 kids, she was inspired to take the guesswork out of the everyday hair care routine with her line of nourishing products. As a one-stop solution to treat all hair types and textures, Bask and Bloom features nourishing ingredients that are ethically sourced and environmentally conscious. The brand features a range of products featuring cleansers, conditioners, moisturizers, stylers, and butters with botanical extracts and vitamin-rich oils to support hair growth and hydration. We spoke with Candera about her experience with postpartum hair loss, building her brand, and what products to shop for this upcoming season.
When you were growing up, who were your hair inspirations?
Janet Jackson. She switched up her look often, and there was this fearless aura about her with each style.
How did postpartum shedding inspire you to create a haircare brand?
I am a mom of three and I experienced severe postpartum shedding and hair loss in some areas. I was not able to find a solution that helped my hair thrive after childbirth. I visited a dermatologist who prescribed medication to help with the thinning areas. But I was never able to digest the pill, it came back up immediately. I decided to focus on natural remedies, inside and out, that would keep my hair healthy as it grows.
I also spoke with many women in a Facebook group who all felt left out, just like me. Their bodies had changed, including their hair. No one really talked about the journey it takes to get back to feeling like ourselves and we were not satisfied with the options on the market to help with postpartum shedding. We wanted a safe, non-toxic solution that was effective in reviving our hair.
With my background in business and marketing, I wanted to fill this gap of developing hair care solutions for hair breakage, damage and loss by creating Bask & Bloom. About 8 years ago, while I was pregnant with my 2nd daughter, I made the decision to become a full time entrepreneur and the brand has grown and developed since then.
Did you have a different haircare experience when you were pregnant versus afterwards?
Yes. During my first pregnancy I wasn’t paying much attention to safer hair care options, or even ingredients for that matter. I knew postpartum shedding was a thing but I didn’t realize how severe it could be, or that complete hair loss in some areas could come from it. After my pregnancy, it made me more aware of what I was using, ingredients claims and how it would help the overall wellness of my hair. I established a more holistic approach to include deep treatments every wash day, scalp massages, hot oil treatments and made sure none of the styles pulled at my roots. Three kids in, this routine coupled with efficacious products has helped me reach my hair goals much quicker.
What aspects of your Carribean heritage are integrated into your brand?
My Bahamian heritage influences the Bask & Bloom brand in many ways. Our logo has the 3 colors of the Bahamian flag (black, gold and aquamarine blue”> to pay homage to my home country.
I grew up on the island of Abaco, which was small and there wasn’t access to major hospitals unless you travel to a bigger island. Herbal medicine became the go-to for the majority of ailments along with seeing a nurse at a small clinic. These herbs were steeped and made into tea, tea rinse or body salve and were my original source of inspiration in creating Bask & Bloom’s formulas.
The company’s mantra is “Relax. Shine. Flourish.” because I want to give customers a little taste of my home every time they use Bask & Bloom products. I drew inspiration from the beautiful turquoise waters and orange/golden sunsets of Abaco for the packaging and each product has a refreshing tropical scent. Customers can escape to their own personal Caribbean oasis when they use Bask & Bloom products no matter where they are.
In the bigger picture, my experience as an immigrant has greatly influenced my entrepreneurial resilience. I moved to the U.S. from the Bahamas alone at age 16, after being awarded a college track scholarship. I went on to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and an MBA, and worked in the fields of marketing and sales for 9 years before becoming a full-time entrepreneur.
When you were developing your brand, what were your non-negotiables?
- Ethically-sourced ingredients including Fair Trade raw materials.
- Raw materials not on any banned (toxic”> list in our targeted countries
- Multipurpose formulas to avoid having to layer with 3+ products
- Performance focused on moisture, scalp and hair follicles
What is one misconception people have when experiencing hair loss or shedding?
One misconception is that there is a quick fix. The scalp is home to tens of thousands of hair follicles so hair loss, thinning and shedding can be quite complicated. Especially shedding, which is a normal process our hair goes through so it’s hard to tell when the shedding is excessive. There’s also medical, hormonal and environmental factors that can play a role in why the hair is changing. We always recommend seeing a medical professional first to rule out anything serious, then establish a consistent healthy hair regimen to allow the hair to thrive again. Thankfully, there are now more innovative raw materials on the market that have been clinically tested and FDA approved to use in formulas for hair growth and fullness.
What type of nourishing ingredients can naturalistas find in your products?
Bask & Bloom products are highly-concentrated with nourishing butters and oils, herbal extracts, and mild proteins to promote strong, healthy hair and scalp. In the majority of our core products you can find:
- Mango Butter
- Cupuacu Butter
- Avocado Oil, Jojoba oil , Flaxseed Oil , Sacha Inchi and Pumpkin Seed Oil
- Herbal Extracts (Aloe Vera, Brahmi, Gotu Kola, Horsetail, Nettle, Marshmallow Root
We’re super excited about the luxurious ingredients in our newest launch. It’s the first preview from our upcoming Super Bloom Collection: the 2-in-1 Pre-Poo/Deep Conditioner. This dual purpose product is made with murumuru butter, hemp seed oil, amla oil and sacha inchi oil, which soften and moisturize strands, soothe the scalp, and promote the overall health and thickness of hair. There is also a unique blend of botanical extracts (marshmallow root, ashwagandha, yucca, gooseberry and turmeric”> that work together to reduce hair loss, and calm and soothe the scalp, while promoting growth.
Which B&B products are essential for the fall season and why?
We recommend the Brahmi Root Hair Masque (deep treatment and best seller”>, More Moisture Cream, Ease Leave-In Conditioner and Herbal Infused Hair and Scalp Oil. These products were specifically formulated to provide and lock in moisture, and protect against breakage that can come from harsh weather elements.
We also recommend our limited edition Nourishing Amazon Hair & Body Butter, only available during the fall and winter. It’s packed with nutrients to hydrate and protect hair and skin in the colder months, including murumuru, cupuacu, mango, and shea butter and it comes in four yummy scents, as well as unscented.
Small businesses are the gift that keeps on giving. As of 2020 over 31 million people account for 99% of all U.S. businesses with the beauty industry accounting for 9%. We’re seeing more eco-friendly, inclusive, vegan, and women-owned brands popping up on our social feeds, favorite influencers, and showcased in online ads. Small businesses in the natural hair care sector have always had the strength to build their customer base from the root, engage customers with unique stories, and let their CEO’s or founders be at the forefront of their marketing. These are just a few reasons why we love small businesses and we’re excited to share a few you want to keep your eye on as they are growing and flourishing.
1. Glow by Daye
Ranay Daye is the founder behind Glow by Daye, the brand looking to make you fall back in love with your deep conditioning routine with an array of products designed to help each aspect of wash day. Customers can shop satin bonnets, deep conditioning hats, silk pillowcases, and hooded dryers that can help protect, condition, and style any texture of hair. Ranay brings vibrancy and art to the products with fun collections like “crystal constellation” and “sweet spirit” to elevate the everyday routine.
2. Miche Beauty
Miche Beauty (pronounced “mee-sh””> was founded in 2016 by a married couple named Michelle and Jonathan Ballard who were passionate about creating products for all textures. Their philosophy lies in creating a simple handcrafted collection that uses nutrient rich and natural ingredients like rosemary, lemongrass, and ginger to tackle the most common natural hair issues.
3. Ecoslay
Ecoslay was formed in the kitchen in 2015 and has been designed with natural ingredients like okra, marshmallow root, and plant-based ingredients to infuse the hair with nutrients and vitamins. This vegan-friendly brand is created with recyclable pouches that can be used to treat hair concerns like dryness, frizz, breakage, and growth. Their brand features fun scents like rice pudding, jello shot, matcha boost, orange marmalade, and more!
Curly Product Review: The Ecoslay Orange Marmalade Gel that Provides Hold & Definition
4. Naturalicious Beauty
Naturalicious Beauty is here to help empower and invigorate the modern customer by providing products to help elevate their wellness routine. Customers can choose from a range of hair care, accessories, tools, and supplements to redefine, add gel, grow, and moisturize hair whether you have tight or loose curls. Their online quiz helps to identify the best foolproof hair care regimen from their products ranging from their dramatic definition gel to the Moroccan rhassoul 5-in 1 clay treatment.
5. Pink Root Product
Mariel Mejia is the founder and CEO of Pink Root Products, a cruelty free and organic Latinx brand carving its way in the natural hair market. As the champions of #GetRooted, Mariel has worked to create a dynamic and inclusive brand that seeks to aid one of the most common curly faux paus in the curly world, damaged hair.
6. Curls Dynasty
Nickie Nougaisse founded Curls Dynasty in 2014 after developing a passion for finding the cleanest products possible during her hair transition. Her ingredients feature organic aloe juice, shea and mango butter, biotin, and manuka honey which are infused in two separate collections. Her products help aid in common issues with dryness and moisture retention and feature unique flavors like her pumpkin mint deep treatment masque.
7. Gabby Goodwin
Gabby entered the natural hair industry with her anti-slip barrettes designed to help prevent hair slippage with textured hair. Her newest hair care line features wash day products that are plant based with healthy pomades, revitalizing sprays, style creams, and more.
Read about 15-year old entrepreneur Gabby Goodwin here.
8. Sky Organics
Sky Organics’ amazing array of hydrating oils, butters and balms are must-have staples for face, body and hair to get you through the fall and winter months. Their co-founder Dean Neiger is proud to have created a brand with non-toxic ingredients like castor oil, mango butters, sweet almond oil, and rosewater.
9. Alaffia
Alaffia was founded by Togolese native Olowo-N’Djo Tchala and peace corps volunteer Prairie Rose Hyde who wanted to create clean and fair trade beauty care to help advance gender equality in West Africa. The women’s cooperative in West Africa handcrafts each indigenous ingredient like shea butter and coconut oil to create the finished product. They recently launched a beautiful curls collection which features plant-based formulas and help to define, sculpt, and strengthen different curl textures.
Learn more about Alaffia: What Social Impact in the Hair Care Industry Can Look Like
10. Juices and Botanics
Juices & Botanics offers a variety of products intended to nourish, cleanse, hydrate, and protect natural hair. Founded by celebrity natural hair growth and care expert, Whitney Eaddy (The Growth Guru”>. Whitney is known as the “Afro-Whisperer“ for her ability to grow natural hair to amazing lengths.
Check out: Juice and Botanics Product Review: Is The Juice Worth The Squeeze?
11. Rucker Roots
Rucker Roots is a family-owned brand spearheaded by sisters Ellen and Ione who wanted to share and advocate for healthy natural hair. Since 2015, Rucker Roots has been devoted to creating products with transformative ingredients that will stimulate growth and cleanse your hair without stripping away natural oils. They recently launched their second collection which focuses on nourishing and restoring hair with rich ingredients like papaya seed oil and mango butter.
12. The Puff Cuff
Ceata E. Lash decided to revolutionize the modern hair accessory by endeavoring to create a product that didn’t exist on the market, the Puff Cuff. This unique tool is all about helping customers with thick and textured hair to have a better styling experience in a variety of styles, colors, and sizes. Create seamless updo and textured buns with a versatile styling tool that works with your texture and not against it.
Check out: Tried the “Puff Cuff” on My Type 3 Hair, Here’s What I Thought
13. Chocolate Kinks and Curls
Juanita Henderson is the founder of Chocolate Kinks and Kurls which was created after she sought out healthier products during her “big chop”. The magic behind the brand is the superfood grade ayurvedic ingredients used to enhance wash day and your scalp health. The products feature a range of clay wash cleansers in a variety of scents like green mint, aloha rose, maqui berry, and more.
Read next: Best of the Best Awards: YOUR Favorite Curly Products of the Year
Love, family, and representation are the heart of JZD which has emerged as a leading Queer Latina owned lifestyle brand. With humble beginnings in 2016, they initially drew attention from consumers for their trendy and empowering pink “Latina Power” that represents community, culture, and the deep connection Latinx people have to their roots. Jen and Vero are the founders, partners, and proud Mexican women who engage and champion their community with a wide range of products. Sweaters, hats, journals, tote bags, jumpsuits, and t-shirts are just a few items in their growing collection that are vivacious, quirky, and full of powerful Latinx phrases that will have customer hearts soaring. We’re so honored to chat with these fantastic founders (who recently launched in Target”> about all things JZD!
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Discover more inspiring beauty industry founders with our Leaders in Curl series. For Hispanic Heritage Month we’re focusing on Latinx founders.
What was the inspiration behind JZD?
The inspiration behind JZD was wanting to create a lifestyle brand that builds community and celebrates culture every day, while also having a brand that reminded us of our power. That combined inspiration is what led us to create our now iconic Pink Latina Power Tee. When that t-shirt went viral, we realized that so many in our community felt the same way. At that moment we decided to focus on creating products that made our community feel represented and connected to their roots.
What were common Latinx messages or themes you wanted to avoid when creating your products?
The messages we avoid are any topics that perpetuate stereotypes. We focus our products on empowering and celebrating our community so we always run all ideas by our team to ensure we are uplifting our community.
Who were your Latinx inspirations growing up and why?
JEN: My parents were and continue to be my biggest inspiration. They are such a beautiful definition of strength and perseverance. The values they taught me and the special moments they created for me have shaped me into the person I am today.
VERO: One of my biggest inspirations was mi Tio David. He taught me so much about life and seeing his work ethic taught me to aspire to greatness.
How do you define your “Latina Power”?
Latina Power is the power within us. The one strengthened and celebrated by our ancestors. It’s that little magic that we get from cafecito at 8pm. It’s the boost of confidence we feel when we put on our gold hoops. It’s the power that makes us who we are.
Your headwear focuses on the “dad hat”, what made you choose this as the first accessory for customers?
Vero is a dad hat fanatic and she feels most confident when wearing a dad hat. We took that confidence and blended it in with a little Latina power to create items that would inspire our community and that would make them feel like their best self. We want every item that we create to make our customers feel confident and incredible.
How do you celebrate cultura in your everyday life?
Everything we do is centered around celebrating our Latinx culture and community every day. We are Mexicanas through and through, from the meals we create together to the rituals and traditions we celebrate, our world revolves around our Latinidad. It’s really such a joy to be able to bring a brand to life via all of our products, which is about including all of who we are as Latinas and share in that celebration with our family, friends and our customers. Whether it’s our Latina Power t-shirt or our new Corazon Latino t-shirts with Target to our Viva La Mujer Que Lucha crewneck, everything we do is to allow us and our community to feel represented and celebrated.
How do you balance your roles as partners in the business?
Being in business together is both fun and challenging, but we always try to focus on the fun part of working together, because it truly is incredible. Through the years Vero and I have gotten to know our strengths and weaknesses in business, and we have gotten really good about each handling the areas we are h4 at and delegating our weaknesses, which has led us to have very defined roles in the business.
What is one piece of advice you would give new entrepreneurs looking to break into the market?
The most important thing is to remain authentic within every aspect of your business. Figure out why you want to start in this field, write it down on a little paper and remind yourself of it daily. Then start today. Quit waiting for the perfect moment and instead create it. Once you’ve started, surround yourself with a community of like-minded people who will celebrate the wins with you and encourage you to keep going when things get hard.
Read next: Rizos Curls Founder Julissa Prado Talks Curls, Cultura, and Community
Beauty maven and entrepreneur Kay Cola is the multi-faceted CEO behind The Organi Brands hair care line. After experiencing severe breakage due to chemical treatments and straightening, she took matters into her own hands by creating homemade products. This eventually grew into a beauty brand that now encompasses hair, skin, and wellness items that customers can use to enrich their lives. As a vegan and non-toxic hair care collection, Kay is proud to create products with natural ingredients that help to restore hair health and enrich a customer’s understanding of how to properly care for their curls. Her line includes a range of vitamins, conditioners, styling products, and scalp treatments that can assist with a variety of common natural hair problems. We’re excited to feature her amazing brand and share more of her entrepreneurial story.
Discover more inspiring beauty industry founders with our Leaders in Curl series. For Hispanic Heritage Month we’re focusing on Latinx founders.
What was the biggest lesson you learned from dyeing your hair blonde?
The biggest lesson was to be myself and be grateful with how I was made. My hair is naturally very dark brown and dying it blonde destroyed my ends and curl pattern. The color didn’t even look good on my skin tone or even compliment my features the way my dark hair does. Stripping my hair of its melanin didn’t sit right with me and i’ll never do that again
Had you ever tried and failed at going natural before that experience?
I had been natural most of my childhood. I didn’t appreciate my hair and always asked my mom to straighten it. During that time there weren’t a lot of products on the market for girls with hair like mine so it was a lot harder to manage. There was also a lack of awareness and education in the space. I feel like back then it wasn’t cool to have curly hair and now it is.
How does being a mom influence the types of products you create?
Being a mom has influenced my entire line. I don’t want to use products that are going to poison myself and my children.
Why did you decide to create an organic and vegan hair care line?
My line was inspired by my daughter who was five years old at the time and was begging me to straighten her hair because girls at school had straight hair. I was baffled that she wanted to change her hair at such a young age as this was something that I experienced during high school. I wanted to inspire her to love and wear her natural hair but I was not wearing my own. I needed to heal my hair so I created something that did just that.
How does your Latinx heritage impact your brand?
It is important for me to create a space in which we can be seen & heard. It is important that our hair is given consideration and a spotlight and it is important that we embrace our various textures, colors, shades and looks. So often we try to conform to European features and beauty standards and it’s important that we recognize our own as beautiful. We influence and inspire the entire world and yet we are constantly picking apart our looks. My brand and company are inclusive of all.
What was the inspiration behind “The Organi Grow” name?
The name was inspired by my desire to grow my hair naturally and organically using non-toxic ingredients.
Why is porosity education important for you to teach your customers?
Knowing your porosity is important because it will literally determine the outcome of the way your hair cooperates, grows and thrives. Not all oils butters and ingredients work on every porosity the same and some can actually have an adverse effect on your hair knowing your porosity will help you be more successful on your hair growth journey.
We’re going into the fall season, which products should we keep on our shelf?
Cold weather is a time for heavier oils butters and deep conditioning to seal in the moisture our hair needs to thrive. I suggest our Conditioners, Prepoos, for all textures Vegan Grogurt for 3A-4C textures which is a thick leave in and our Texture Butter for 3C-4C textures
What’s one piece of advice you would give to up and coming entrepreneurs?
I want entrepreneurs to walk with purpose in alignment. Don’t just do this for money. When you live a purpose filled life you will always be abundant and have great joy.
Read next: Rizos Curls Founder Julissa Prado Talks Curls, Cultura, and Community
Rizos Curls has been making waves for Latinas as founder and CEO Julissa Prado continues to light up the natural hair market with innovative products, fresh ingredients, and eye-popping branding. Rizos was the culmination of Julissa spending years trying to love and embrace her textured curls and finding products to help remedy the most basic hair needs. She wanted to create products that would not only help treat common natural hair challenges like frizz and dryness, but also empower customers to truly love and embrace their curls, coils, kinks, and waves. Rizos Curls now spans several hair products, tools, accessories, with clean and natural ingredients that help nourish, hydrate, and moisturize hair. Customers can be delighted with the brand’s education approach that not only promotes their products but teaches them how to use them functionally in their everyday hair styling. We spoke with Julissa to discuss the brand’s impactful messaging on culture, products, and the newest trends for the year.
Which Latinx beauty pioneers inspired you growing up?
Selena and Jennifer Lopez were my two biggest Latina beauty idols growing up.
One of your biggest rollouts featured a collaboration with Thalia, why was having a Latinx celebrity important for your brand?
Working with a Latina celebrity was important to me because I always want to shine a light and uplift Latinx voices. However, what was more important to me with the Thalia collaboration was to tell the story of her curl love journey. First, never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I’d get a phone call from Thalia to help bring her curls back to life. Thalia, like many people, had been looking to revive her natural curls and waves and enhance the health of her hair from past heat damage. So, Thalia and I worked closely to be able to share a regimen with people to give them the steps to revive and nourish their beautiful curls and maintain a healthy scalp and hair.
You remain so dedicated to community and culture with your online customer base, why is it important for you as founder to provide that visibility?
The very heart and DNA of Rizos Curls is Curls, Community and Culture. Everything we do – from the products we develop, to our marketing campaigns, to how we/I show up on social – revolves around those three Cs. We exist to empower our online customer base and beyond to uplift and celebrate Curls, Community and Culture. It’s important for me to uphold those three C’s because that’s where the representation we seek lies in.
Read more about Rizos Curls’ origin story.
Rizos Curls social media is integral to the marketing of the brand by giving clever, witty, and relatable content that reflects the Latinx experience, what goes into the ideation of your social content?
As a brand, we’re storytellers first. Whether it’s to educate, inspire, or whatever the message is, we have to be able to tell a story with the product and/or content. The ideation process for us is simple – it’s whatever our community wants. We show up on social media where they are, not where we think we want them to be. The ideas come from our comments, DMs, and emails. We really put ourselves in our community’s shoes and think about how they would want to learn about our products or be entertained by us.
We’re seeing an evolution of more Latinx brands enter the beauty sphere, how is this breaking Latinx beauty tropes?
The rise of Latinx brands is happening thanks to our community now having more access, education and more representation. We’re sharing resources and knowledge. It’s also in part to the combination of the consumer demand and the need to a focus on our unique cultural rituals.
What inspired your newest product the “Volumizing Hair Spray”?
The inspiration for our Volumizing Hair Spray is due to our own customer requests combined with my own need to develop a hair spray that gave hold, volume, and shine without compromising the health of the hair with an alcohol-free formula all while being good for the planet with the non-aerosol mist pump.
For first time users scarred from the hair spray of yesteryears, what are your best hair spray styling tips?
First, you can load up on our Volumizing Hair Spray without any guilt of damage thanks to the formula of clean and natural ingredients including Red Algae, Argan Oil and Rosemary.
For mega volume, spray the Rizos Curls Volumizing Hairspray all over the roots of your hair. An important step is to toss your hair forward so it hangs upside down and continue misting the hair spray on all roots. Then toss is back. Next, you’re going to grab your favorite hair pick, and begin fluffing your hair from just the roots in an upward motion. Add more hair spray to the root of your hair, if desired. Keep picking until you’ve achieved your desired volume.
Another tip is that you can apply our Volumizing Hair Spray on wet hair for even stronger hold than when it’s dry for even updos, buns, etc.
What hair trends are inspiring you at the moment?
At the moment, now that my hair is the longest and healthiest it’s ever been, I’m loving styles that keep my hair down but away from my face. So, I’m really enjoying half up and half down styles with playful braids or really cute headbands, incorporating clips, scarfs, and/or any different accessory for that cross between style and functional.
Find your next Holy Grail: 12 Latinx-Owned Curly Hair Products to Add to Cart
We have been so excited and anxiously waiting for all the amazing styles to debut from New York Fashion Week and they did not disappoint. As the runway continues to grow and change with new and emerging designers we have been casually spotting and looking for more representation to feature in our Texture On the Runway series. During a period where all eyes are on the latest trends, designs, clothes, and accessories that will usher in the latest in covetable looks, we want to see ourselves. And by us, I mean people of color with their natural hair on display for all of the world to see. NYFW has been working its way towards creating more representation for Black designers and championing for body and gender diversity on the runway. Natural hairstyles that are styled correctly and showcase a range in texture, color, and variations has been slowly catching up to the fashion world as we began to see designers embracing the versatility of natural hair.
Long gone are the days of making models sport long straight hair because they don’t have the tools, technique, or stylists to help them achieve the desired look. We’re now seeing fashionistas embrace Black-owned hair care and partner with brands to create custom looks for the runway like Marrisa Wilson did with Oribe. The world of fashion is understanding how natural hair can be embraced and used to not only enhance the visuals of their design, but the aesthetic of the show with custom braids, locs, afros, and finger waves in an array of colors, shapes, and sizes. We’re seeing less curly styles and more ornate designs that blend fashion and natural hair with accessories, extensions, wigs, and jewelry for a truly stunning visual. Check out these 15 styles that left us in awe for their originality, complexity, and ability to complete the vision of the designer.
1. Kenneth Nicholson
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Read next: The Black-Owned Brands to Watch at Fashion Week
2. Marrisa Wilson
Photo by @skinnywashere for NaturallyCurly
To see more looks from the Marrisa Wilson show, check out The Braided Hairstyles You’ll Want to Try from Fashion Week.
3. Tia Adeola
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Don’t miss: The Ultimate Y2K Trends from Fashion Week
4. Fe Noel
Photo by @yawasiedu_
Check out: Our Favorite Hair Moments from Fe Noel at New York Fashion Week
5. anOnlyChild
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6. Victor Glemaud
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7. Kim Shui
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8. markarian
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9. Bronx and Banco
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10. Area
Photo @area
11. Dur Doux
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12. Sergio Hudson
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13. Frederick Anderson
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14. WHO DECIDES WAR
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15. advisry
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Read next: Lacy Redway on Styling ALL Hair Types at Fashion Week
Mariel Mejia is the founder and CEO of Pink Root Products, a cruelty free and organic Latinx brand carving its way in the natural hair market. As the champions of #GetRooted, Mariel has worked to create a dynamic and inclusive brand that seeks to aid one of the most common curly faux paus in the curly world, damaged hair. Naturalistas flock to her products for their rich ingredients that are hydrating, moisturizing, and promote healthy hair growth after heat and color damage. The products are an extension of Mariel’s hair journey which she sought to conquer after years of failed attempts to revive her own curls. We’re very excited to share more about Mariel’s journey to loving her hair, celebrating her Latinx heritage, and the fall essentials we should keep handy for our curls this season.
Who were your hair inspirations growing up?
Growing up, my hair inspirations changed a lot as I went through different phases of what I thought was beautiful but I would say that Tracee Ellis Ross was always on my mood board. When I first started watching American shows and media outlets, because Latinx ones rarely ever portrayed people who looked like me, it was Joan, Tracee’s character from the show ‘Girlfriends’, who stood out to me the most. Her hair was absolutely fabulous and I remember thinking “I wish I could rock my natural hair like that.”
How did growing up in Washington Heights influence how you viewed natural hair?
I was born and raised in the Bronx but I did a lot of growing up in Washington Heights as well since it was right across the river. In my early years, growing up in this community, I viewed my natural hair very negatively and it was here that I formed a toxic relationship with my hair. I started relaxing my hair at a very young age because I was taught that I had “pelo malo” which translates to “bad hair” in English. So although the Dominican community is very big on hair care in general and weekly salon visits were non-negotiable in my household, natural hair was looked down upon so I had to search elsewhere for information when I first went on my natural hair journey.
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How do you find support from your community as a Latinx business owner?
At the beginning of my journey as a business owner, I actually struggled a bit with incorporating my heritage into the brand because I wanted to make sure that everyone felt included and comfortable when picking up our products, But as I continued my entrepreneurship journey, I realized that I was really doing myself a disservice by shying away from this because so many people could truly relate to my story of having a broken relationship with my hair. When I started to lean toward being more vocal about who I am and my upbringing, I was able to connect on a deeper level with our community and that connection has brought much prosperity to the business through different opportunities of being able to tell our story.
Do It For La Cultura: How We Can Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
What does Latinx Heritage month represent to you?
To me, Latinx heritage month represents a celebration of who I am. Although the community still has a long way to go as far as representation for Afro and Indigenous Latinos, this month still brings me a lot of joy. I love where I am from – the food, the music, the culture – it’s all made me who I am today and for that I am grateful.
Read: 20 Years After Selena, Where Does Latinx Representation Stand?
Which hair product will be a must-have item for the fall season and why?
The must-have hair product for the fall season is our leave-in conditioner! It’s so important to keep your hair hydrated and this starts the minute you step out of the shower. If you want to avoid breakage due to dryness caused by harsh cold air, then definitely be sure to apply some leave-in conditioner before beginning the styling process to fortify your hair strands. Formulated with sweet almond oil and keratin protein, our leave-in conditioner really helps to withstand and protect against any damage caused by low temperatures and high winds.
What are 3 tips for using your Curl Styling Paste?
The tips for our curl styling paste that I would suggest are:
1. Apply it in sections for optimal results.
2. A little goes a long way so be sure to not use too much as you don’t need to!
3. Use a brush for application for maximum definition. My favorite way to apply our curl styling paste is with a Denman brush to really define my curls and elongate them. It works like a charm each time.
How have Latinx communities adapted to changing beauty standards?
I think the Latinx community has been setting trends within the beauty space for a very long time and now it’s more about reclaiming our contributions. We were often viewed as “ghetto” or “hood” when it came to fashion and beauty but a lot of trends that we grew up on are now being repackaged to a different audience as “trendy.” We see this play out a lot on social media and so I think more than ever our community should be empowered to be vocal about our ability to be at the forefront of trends and not necessarily always following them. We don’t really need to adapt to the trends that we helped build.
What business advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs?
My piece of advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to be authentic in your approach. Consumers have changed and they’re a lot more conscious when it comes to purchasing decisions so if you’re in it to just make a quick buck or to capitalize on a trending industry, customers will notice that so make sure that what you’re creating truly speaks to you because people will notice.
Check out these 12 Latinx-Owned Curly Hair Products to Add to Cart
Ceremonia invites you to join the family with a clean haircare brand that celebrates, champions, and uplifts the Latinx community. Hair and beauty have always been essential components of Ceremonia founder Babba Rivera’s upbringing whose father was a hairdresser. When she moved from Sweden to the United States she was able to embrace, love, and reconnect with her Latin heritage that empowered her to create Ceremonia. Ceremonia is a sustainable brand that features rich ingredients from the heart of Latin American countries like babassu oil, patua oil, maracuja oil, and cupuacu oil which are vegan and cruelty free. Babba wanted to be intentional in sourcing and extracting ingredients that were not harmful, toxic, and had tangible benefits for customers. Ceremonia’s products seek to help promote healthy scalp care, frizz control, dry and damaged hair. We are pleased to share more about Babba’s journey to creating Ceremonia and how she champions Latinx culture and community as an entrepreneur.
You originally grew up in Sweden, where did you go to find representation from your culture?
Growing up as a Latin American immigrant in a homogenous country like Sweden, I never found myself represented in mainstream media and the products I consumed, especially in beauty. I grew up very closely connected to my culture thanks to my parents who to this day only speak Spanish, and who have a large community of Chilenos around them in Sweden. That being said, despite having a rich community of Latinos as part of my upbringing, I never saw people like us represented in any success stories. Once I moved to NYC, I was able to for the first time connect with people who, just like me, grew up in between cultures, and who had set out to create something big for themselves. The Latinx community here inspired me to reconnect with my heritage and honor it, in a pursuit to change the status quo around what it means to be Latinx.
How did growing up in Sweden shape how you viewed your hair?
I was not proud of my hair growing up. As everyone was blonde and had thin and tamed hair, I remember hating my thick hair that was so wild in comparison to my Swedish friends’ hair. I remember how I envied them stepping straight out of the shower after gym class and letting their hair air dry straight and frizz-free, whereas mine seemed to grow an aura of frizz by the minute. I was so excited to have discovered the hair straightener which allowed me to mask my natural waves, and it became like an addiction for me, I would bring it everywhere. Between straightening my hair on a daily basis and bleaching it to be less dark – my hair was completely malnourished. I could never just let my hair air dry or leave the house without first spending about an hour blow drying and straightening it under heavy styling. As a result, it kept getting more and more dry and damaged. Today, I am so happy to be in a place where I can embrace my natural hair instead of trying to make it something it’s not. Ceremonia was born out of the desire to reclaim my natural hair with products that will support my hair instead of masking and damaging it.
How did you transition from the tech industry to the beauty world?
I truly built my career in the tech industry – the fast-paced environment and startup culture suited my personality type very well, and I think that’s when I realized I did not want a traditional fashion career. My passion for beauty is in many ways the result of all the multifaceted life I’ve built up. I don’t fall into one single category, and Ceremonia is in many ways my life’s work as so much of me and my passions fit into this journey. The creative aspect of building a brand, the marketing and sales aspect of growing a brand, and not to mention the startup hustle and business mentality that it takes to make it successful.
When did you first notice the need for Latinx representation in the hair industry?
Despite the modern Latinx community, and the fact that Hispanics account for 20% of the U.S. population, I still witnessed an enormous void of Latinx representation in almost every aspect of my life after my arrival to the States. I noticed this professionally, in the media, the brands I consumed and not to mention role models in entrepreneurship. As such, I began to feel a strong sense of responsibility to propel change. Ceremonia was born out of the desire to celebrate the richness of the Latin culture, inspired by the rituals I grew up with. Ceremonia provides a wellness approach to hair through inclusivity and cultural relevance.
Read: 20 Years After Selena, Where Does Latinx Representation Stand?
What does the word “Ceremonia” mean to you?
The brand name translates to “ceremony” in Spanish. I learned from an early age that beauty is a form of self-care. My mother practiced beauty rituals as a form of self-love, and taught me it is something you do for yourself, not something you do to impress others. I wanted Ceremonia to be an extension of this belief and I wanted to reframe the routine of taking care of your hair as a ritual to reconnect with yourself and the joy of being proud to be You.
Why was sustainability a crucial part of your brand?
I am a firm believer in the power that nature holds, and as such, we need to protect it at all cost. Although sustainability should be an uncompromisable essential for brands today, we recognize that the industry still has lengths to go. For Ceremonia, every decision we make is guided by our commitment to creating a brand of the future that cares about people and the earth, so that you can enjoy products that are good for you and kind to the planet at the same time.
What are three stereotypes you could debunk about Latinx hair?
In general, I hope to challenge any and all stereotypes and outdated expectations for what Latinx hair should or shouldn’t look like. There is no one size fits all approach, especially with hair, and especially within the varied cultural richness of the Latinx culture. Most importantly, there is no such thing as pelo malo!! For the longest time, Latinx women have been made to believe that beautiful hair equals straight, shiny and frizz-free hair that is perfectly tamed. At Ceremonia, we celebrate the full spectrum of hair types, including the big category of ‘in-between’ hair. You know the hair that is not straight, yet not fully curly? The hair that lives its own life and has its own personality, some days it’s in one mood and other in a different mood. Embracing who your hair wants to be without judgment.
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How does Ceremonia stay connected with culture and community?
Community is the fabric and DNA of who we are. We are quite literally manifested from a devotion to our community and are constantly seeking ways to illuminate the next generation. Our products are co-created with our community and we constantly lean on them through feedback sessions and forums as well as sampling. More importantly, we love to celebrate with our community, because when we win, we win together. Most recently, we brought our Latinx community for a Chivas bus ride to see our billboard in Times Square celebrating Latinx heritage month with Sephora. A true pinch-me moment, and I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate this monumental milestone than with our community of Ceremonia Familia.
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Do It For La Cultura: How We Can Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
What are key ingredients first-time customers can look forward to in your products?
Ceremonia products are packed with tons of powerful natural ingredients from Latin America – it’s hard to only highlight a few! Two of my favorite ingredients are Babassu Oil found in our Hair Mask and the Aceite de Moska, which is an amazing ingredient for hair nutrition and shine. Yucca Extract is our groundbreaking natural alternative to sulfates that give our shampoos a really rich lather without stripping hair. We’re also obsessed with Pequi and Guava – they’re both superfruits with powerful antioxidant properties that make our styling products multitask as treatments.
The Latinx community is still growing within the hairspace, what does being a Latinx brand mean to you during Hispanic Heritage Month?
For the longest time I had this limiting belief that in order to stand a change in this world I had to change parts of who I am. I’ve come to realize just how incredibly important representation is and how detrimental the lack of it can be. This is why Latinx heritage month is so important to me. It’s a moment to come together as a community to celebrate – and to be celebrated- while highlighting the richness of our cultura. But more importantly, it’s an opportunity to claim space. We account for the largest minority in the US, are one of the biggest spenders in beauty, and are also the fastest growing demographic in this country — growing 7x faster than any other demographic. It’s time these numbers are reflected in our society, whether it’s on the beauty shelves or on a Times Square billboard dedicated to highlighting Latinx voices! Through this journey, I hope that I am inspiring and paving the way for more Latinx founders and businesses.
Check out these 12 Latinx-Owned Curly Hair Products to Add to Cart
Gabby Goodwin is here to blaze her own trail. She is a young, growing, and budding entrepreneur who has been building her brand GaBBy Bows since the age of seven and hasn’t let off the gas since. Co-founded and mentored with the help of her mother Rozalynn Goodwin, Gabby entered the natural hair industry with her anti-slip barrettes designed to help prevent hair slippage with textured hair. Now at the age of 15, she’s grown her empire to include wash day products, lifestyle products, mentoring services, and her own salon. Building and owning her own physical storefront has been a milestone for her entrepreneurial journey to not only enhance her brand, but fill a gap in the beauty market for young girls needing natural hairstyles from Black stylists. She is a passionate, growing, and thriving entrepreneur looking to pour into her community and provide a path for future entrepreneurs to be successful. We’re so excited to chat with Gabby about the evolution of her brand as she’s growing into a young woman and what she looks to conquer next.
What inspired you to create GaBBy Bows?
I wanted to inspire others and be a role model for girls who looked like me. When I was younger I saw Misty Copeland, Zendaya, Oprah being successful in their careers and I aspired to be like that. I’ve been a dancer since I was 2 and I wanted to be the next “Misty Copeland” and be a great ballet dancer for other people to look up to, but I ended up carving out my own path instead in entrepreneurship.
I got into barrettes because my mom would spend 15-20 minutes doing my hair in the morning and investing her money into these barrettes I was constantly losing. I would get in trouble and my bows would slip out of my hair because they weren’t designed for my hair texture. I wanted to solve that problem by a.”> Not getting in trouble for losing my barrettes and b.”> Becoming the type of person who could inspire other girls to pursue their dreams.
What was it like co-creating this brand with your mom?
It’s been a very cool journey to grow up in entrepreneurship with my family surrounding me. It’s a family oriented business with me and my sitting as co-founders, my grandmother fulfills the orders, my dad is an advisory member and business keeps us connected. Having friends and family come together to support me in my dream has been such a fulfilling experience because I’m not alone in anything I do. My mom helping me become a good CEO and leader has been vital because I don’t do everything on my own because if I did I’d be really stressed out.
How did you decide what look, colors, and design you wanted for your brand?
Our designs are named after what parents would define as “little girls’. We have “little lady” which is a ladybug, “sweet pea” which is named after the flower, and then “daddy’s girl” is a bow tie. My dad has been coined as the “bow tie” comedian for always rocking this accessory during his stand-up so that honors him. We polled our community to gain an idea of what the color scheme would be and this was very important to me because I wanted authentic customer feedback. The whole brand itself has vibrant girly colors that showcases who we are and that is also reflected in the packaging and products.
Name a few of your favorite hair styles to create using GaBBy bows
I’m in high school, so I don’t wear barrettes any more, but when I was younger I loved to rock twists. When I see our customers all over the world I see them worn with braids, natural hair, extensions, cornrows, and any style with added hair.
Who do you look up to?
One of the most inspirational peers I know is Mikaila Ulmer who created Me and the Bees was an entrepreneur I really aspired to eventually be in my own business. Now that I can call her a friend and see her journey whether it’s traveling around the world or watching her product collection expand, gives me such motivation. There are other amazing women entrepreneurs like Pinky Cole or Lisa Price who are diversifying their portfolios and become serial entrepreneurs with different types of businesses.
What’s been an accomplishment you’ve been proud of?
Being able to buy our own headquarters and salon was a hallmark moment for me and my family. This helped provide fulfillment space because we used to complete orders from our dining room with boxes stacked up to the walls. We can also sell our products in person, have a dedicated space for inventory instead of paying for storage units, and have a salon dedicated to girls’ hair. I’ll never forget the ribbon cutting and watching our community be enthused to see the doors open. It’s an honor to say we own our business and a building where we can provide a space for Black stylists to create amazing styles for little girls.
What is one tip you could give mom’s when they are during their daughter’s hair on wash day?
Be patient and have fun. It can be stressful on both sides and developing a routine can help to make the process easier. Go into it with a good attitude and look at it as a time to bond instead of a stressful task. We’ve been able to provide helpful tips to set up a wash day and successfully style hair through our Facebook group and immerse yourself in the community.
The Marrisa Wilson Spring/Summer 2023 Collection was heavily inspired and designed as an ode to her Guyanese-American heritage. “It is that feeling of the past and the present coming together to inform the future that I wanted to evoke,” she said of the collection. If you got to check out her amazing New York Fashion Show, you were treated to an array of expressive prints, watercolor strokes and brightly colored feathers complemented by a hair look that brings the theme “Of Many Waters” to life.
Kien Hoang is the mastermind behind the innovative hairstyles that brought Marrisa’s vision to life. As the Oribe Principal Artist of Content and Styling he created a variation of braided styles, all adorned with clear beads in a range of sizes to mimic rain drops. This was the second season working with the Oribe team and Marrisa wanted to be intentional in casting models with natural hair who could be supported by a team of expert stylists. Marrisa was enthused to continue growing the relationship with the Oribe team and partnering with them to “translate multicultural and protective styles in a direction that is inspirational and is really exciting.”
Get the Look from Oribe:
- Prep and detangle hair with Run-Through Detangling Primer.
- Apply Curl Gelèe for Shine & Definition throughout hair to add shine and enhance curls.
- Braid hair, creating either cornrows, plait braids, beaded braids or individual braids.
- Finish braids with Rough Luxury Molding Wax at the ends for hold.
- Add clear “rain drop” beads to braided hair.
How did your Guyanese-American heritage influence your approach to creating the hair styles?
I normally illustrate each of the looks from head to toe in order to get a full vision of how the girls will look on the runway. It’s not just the clothes that I end up painting and illustrating but the hair as well to accomplish the overall aesthetic. I always aim to elevate and innovate textured and natural hair with any of my collections. This is why the hair statement is intentional and we implement it in a thoughtful way. Guyana is located on the northern tip of South America and has many streams, creeks, passage ways, and the largest single drop waterfall in the world. I wanted to pay tribute to that with the water droplet look I had illustrated for the hair.
They’re are several different beads to use with natural hair, how did choosing clear beads to replicate rain drops coincide with the theme “Of Many Waters”?
The hair concepts started with these big white chunky beads and I’d shown these trim I’d sourced from the garment district that was on a herring brown strip with clear beads added. The clear beads were going to represent water because Guyana in an Amerindian language means “land of many waters” so we wanted to create an idea that the models had water dripping from their har. When I connected with the Oribe team’s key stylist Kien, he loved the idea of the beads, but the beads that were available online you would use for twist were smallers, colored, wooden, and weren’t clear. Kienwas determined to find the beads and after a few weeks he found the hundreds of these clear bubble beads that he had to cut apart because they were for ponytails. Sourcing them gave us a nostalgic look back into my heritage and also gave me the memory of getting my &utm_source=Google+Shopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google-shopping-v2&gclid=CjwKCAjwyaWZBhBGEiwACslQo5AKRJNAOS9u8k_6u0RFGgfNE4OuZcacOYrVtBdeVSTfELwE2WDfFxoC3OwQAvD_BwE” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>hair adorned with these when I was a kid. Taking that nostalgic accessory and then crafting it into an elevated and innovative direction was incredible.
Photo: @bestcommajeb
Photo: @bestcommajeb
The hairstyles were very complimentary to the designs of your show, why did you choose braided looks versus other types of natural styles?
I wanted the girls to have a cool girl hanging out on the beach look that was inspired by Rihanna in Guava Island where she had these chunky braids that weren’t slicked down andt were moisturized and slightly frizzy. The original direction was to have the majority of girls in braids, but during casting many of them had their hair in cornrows or braids or natural curls that we didn’t want to manipulate. We really wanted to combine their natural hair with our concept and not have to force a style into their hair. With my own natural hair I’ve stopped using heat and embraced my natural hair so I’m sensitive to being a part of NYFW and seeing these girls get their hair deconstructed.
How did the Oribe team help achieve the styles?
We talked about the types of looks we wanted to create and being intentional with every design and I trusted Kien to execute the vision. I made a point to say I’m cool with frizz because we can often associate super laid and pristine looks with protective styles and I wanted a relaxed approach for these looks. When you’re on the beach you are embracing the sun, staying moisturized, getting the Vitamin D, and enjoying yourself.The day of the show it rained which helped to add that tropical aesthetic to their hair because of the humidity.
Prepping the hair is essential for any braided look, what tips or techniques were most effective when creating these styles?
I wanted to highlight my Caribbean heritage and I connected with many of the models who came from the same background. I wanted to showcase what Carribean textures look like and whether that’s loose waves or kinky curls, I wanted to have a hair moment that fit the collection.
Photo: @skinnywashere for NaturallyCurly
Photo: @skinnywashere for NaturallyCurly
Photo: @skinnywashere for NaturallyCurly
Photo: @skinnywashere for NaturallyCurly
Photo: @skinnywashere for NaturallyCurly
Photo: @skinnywashere for NaturallyCurly
Photo: @skinnywashere for NaturallyCurly
Photo: @skinnywashere for NaturallyCurly
Photo: @skinnywashere for NaturallyCurly
Photo: @skinnywashere for NaturallyCurly
Photo: @skinnywashere for NaturallyCurly
Photo: @skinnywashere for NaturallyCurly
Photo: @skinnywashere for NaturallyCurly
Photo: @skinnywashere for NaturallyCurly
Photo: @skinnywashere for NaturallyCurly
Photo: @skinnywashere for NaturallyCurly
New York Fashion Week is in full swing and if you’re like us, you have been eagerly scrolling your social media to see the latest and greatest fashion drops for the season. And we’ve rounded up a few of the Black-owned brands we’re keeping an eye on! Who is walking down the runway, what am I adding to my Pinterest, when will this new item be available to shop? It’s a busy and bustling time for fashionistas far and wide looking for new brands to start investing in.
Getty Images
As the world of fashion continues to diversify itself with emerging designers and household names, we’re seeing more Black-owned brands get their chance to be seen on the biggest runway in the world. It’s been reported that New York’s fashion lineup is 25-30% more diverse than in previous years with more initiatives and partnerships to provide space and opportunity for Black designers. These efforts mark a step towards progress and change and we’re looking forward to seeing Black designers continue to blaze their own trail in this very competitive market.
Tia Adeola
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Tia was born in Nigeria and raised in London and eventually went to school in NYC where she started working on her fashion brand in her dorm in 2017. As an aficionado of the Renaissance period she has used this for inspiration to help rewriter fashion for people of color. She considers herself a couture designer and dedicated her spring/summer ‘23 collection to the late Thierry Mugler and his love of film noir. This season she debuted design elements like ruffles, feathers, and romantic themes reminiscent of the Victorian age. Her show was closed out by celebrity influencer Jayda Cheaves and Dess Dior.
Fe Noel
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Felisha Noel is a womenswear designer from Brooklyn who is a passionate advocate for femininity and the complexity of womanhood. Her familial influences from her Carribean heritage has played a large role in how she approaches her fashion and her designs are targeted for multifaceted women who love travel and style. The most recent connection pays tribute to her Grenadian roots with maxi slipdresses, bra tops, satin robes, and updated conventions on “power dressing.” Her standout piece from the collection was “the Dre$$” which is a corseted strapless gown valued at $1.6 million that highlights the 30% wage gap between genders.
We went backstage at Fe Noel to interview Celebrity Hair Artist Lacy Redway on the hair, the show, and the way the industry has changed.
an Only Child
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Maxwell Osborne is the disruptor of the fashion halls with his brand “an Only Child” that pays homage to the experience of being alone. His clothing is reminisce of his West Indian heritage and often features jewel-toned satins, draping, ruching and then balances with modern designs like oversized bombers and streetwear. What makes his collections so unique is that they are often constructed of dead stocks found from New York sample rooms, distributors, or donations from fellow designers to prevent waste of excess garments. As his first public runway debut since COVID, Osborne has been a favorite of the New York scene for his experiential shows that include objects and trinkets reminiscent of how only children entertained themselves growing up.
Victor Glemaud
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Victor is a Haitian-American designer who was raised in Queens, New York and studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology where he worked as a publicist and design assistant. He started blazing his own design path when he became the first womenswear design advisor at Paco Rabanne and then the style director at Tommy Hilfiger. His designs are gender neutral and focus on statement knitwear that blends comfort and styles for any race, size, and personality. This season he put his fashion on roller skates with vibrant statement knits, capes, cutouts, and eyewear. He chose to include a number of TikTok celebrities for his show including Brittany Xavier and wanted to focus on a youthful, vibrant, and playful color palette reminiscent of the roller boogie era he infused on the runway.
Black Boy Knits
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Black Boy Knits highlights the contributions of queer, black, and immigrant narratives and works as a made-to-order design studio with hand-operated knitting machines. This Brooklyn-based fashion brand is helmed by Parsons graduate Jacques Agbobly who is making their debut at New York fashion week this year. Jacques was born in Togo, West Africa who prides themselves on having an “international perspective” and approach when creating their designs. As a knitwear designer he loves the comfy and relaxed look of his custom designs and always seeks to celebrate his Togolese heritage with modern takes on vests, school uniforms, and tanks. He had his first NYFW debut on September 12th and will release his full collection in November.
DurDoux
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We love a mother-daughter duo and DurDoux is back to NYFW better than ever with a spring/summer 23 collection that you will be drooling for. Founded by Cynthia and Najla Burt, this is an accessible luxury brand that toggles between opulence and sensibility. Their Carnivale inspired capsule collection features shimmering sequin gowns, formal wear, deep slits, and fitted gowns that are tasteful and bold. Their fashion draws creativity from travel, film and providing timeless pieces that find a happy middle ground between softness and elegance that can be seen in staple pieces like tulle skirts, hues of green, tropical prints, and relaxed luxury. For their NYFW designs they also included fun accessories like palm tree earrings, wide brimmed hats, chunky bangles, and ornate scarves.
Sergio Hudson
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Sergio Hudson is all about bringing Rock and Roll back to the fashion landscape. As a child of 80’s, his inspirations were Gianni Versace and Grace Jones whose iconic looks can be seen in his sultry and sexy collections that balancy androgynous looks and sexy silhouettes. His big break came during Bravo TV’s “Styled to Rock” which provided him the opportunity to work with celebrities like Miley Cyrus and Pharrel Williams, and Rihanna. His NYFW collection represents a hue of shapes, bold colors, and designs inspired by Africa tribal masks. Attendees were treated to color blocking pieces of royal purples, cobalt blues, shawl coat, and keyhole blouses. As an aficionado of pairing bold colors with prints, he also blended signature animal prints like leopard and polka-dots with textures of velvet, suede, and leather.
Kevan Hall
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Keval Hall has been after the fashion world since he decided to become a designer at the early age of 7. He became the Design and Creative Director for Halston in 1998 before launching his own brand in 2002. His designs reflect his fashion philosophy of expert tailoring, draped silhouettes, and purity of style. He’s dressed celebrities like Tina Fey, Debra Messing, Sandra Oh and more. His recent collection at NYFW takes people back to the era of global trade with origins of folklore, textiles, jacquard prints, and twill sheaths.
Studio One Eighty Nine
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Co-founders Rosario Dawson and Abrima Erwiah are bringing the heat to NYFW with their artisan produced fashion lifestyle brand and social enterprise. The brand is made in Africa and focuses on curating African-inspired content and clothing who works with artisanal communities that specialize in various traditional craftsmanship techniques including natural plant based dye indigo, hand-batik, kente weaving and more. They live streamed their runway show on Instagram where bold prints, textured skits, button up blouses, that reflect the beauty and culture of their artisans.
Who Decides War
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The duo behind Who Decides War launched their spring/summer 2023 collection at NYFW and it did not disappoint! Ev Bravado and Tela D’Amore also known as “Everard Best” and sought to create a lighter approach that paid homage to their Caribbean roots. Their collection showcases all the vibrant and light-hearted elements of island life like beaches, palm trees, and tropical elements to bring the varying island societies to the runway. This collection featured denim pieces in a hues of blue and gray washes with distressed detailing and embroidered patches. They expanded their collection with matching sets of tropical pants, jackets, and sweaters in textures of leather, lace, wool, and cotton.
