Have our Hair Journeys Caused Us to Stop Patronizing Black Haircare Lines?

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I’m an eighties baby and when I was coming up we never used products that were marketed for Caucasian women.

Our Small "Section" (we don't even get an entire aisle)

My mother and I primarily used Queen Helene’s, Cream of Nature, DAX grease – the red or blue kind to press my hair, Isoplus products and the infamous Luster’s Pink Oil Moisturizer.  As I got a little older, my mom began frequenting a JCPenney salon and they used Paul Mitchell products which were marketed for women of all ethnicities; we began using his Tea Tree shampoo (I had horrible dandruff) and The Detangler since I had completely virgin hair.  Even though PM had ads featuring women of all backgrounds, it was still primarily thought of as a “white” line so even that was a big step.

When I went to college, I was using primarily Motions – that is when it was the new “it” hair care line.  Then soon after (being that I am from New Jersey), I remember when Carol’s Daughter and Jane Carter first got hot in the streets.  I shelled out my hard-earned part-time cash on these products, feeling great because I was supporting black owned businesses and the products were touted as all natural.  This was my first experience with natural hair care lines and I had nothing but positive things to say about them.  But being the product junkie that I am, I continued to try other products, but I never once went down the “white” aisle in Wal-Mart or the drugstore in search of something new to buy and try.

Then in 2009 my hair journey began.  I was introduced to the world of co-washing, moisturizing and sealing, and learned to pay more attention to ingredients than marketing.  I saw women who successfully grew their hair to amazing lengths using Herbal Essences, Aussie, Vo5, Tresemmé, and other lines I would have never even dreamed of using.  I jumped right in and picked up a bunch of all of the above!  Lol!

Initially, I was excited to have a whole new world open to me.  How many of you remember the early days of Herbal Essences?  The commercials where the woman would use their products and the scent was so heavenly they were transported from their shower to an exotic paradise?  I would go into the white hair care aisle just so I could smell their products, and then regrettably put them back on the shelf because they were not for “our hair” and sulk off around the corner to the pitiful little ethnic section to shop.

However, once the initial excitement wore off, I got a little disgusted with myself.  Why was I spending my precious coins on products whose owners, developers, and marketers completely ignore me as a consumer?  Even though in the years following my college days, Carol’s Daughter and Jane Carter continued to flourish, why wasn’t I still spending my money with them?  We still had little more than an area at the end of an aisle for “our” products so why on earth wasn’t I doing my part so that we could get more?  I saw an advertisement on a popular hair site for Bee Mine, and ordered their curly butter and growth serum.  I was soimpressed with the product that I called their 800 number to find out more about the company and let them know how much I loved my new items.  I ended up in a very long conversation with the owner, Tracy Q. and learned that not only is she African American but also Christian.  If you have ever had any experience with Bee Mine, you know their customer service is superb and she sincerely wishes nothing but the best for her customers – not only their hair, but their entire well being.  I remember her telling me she would pray for my academic success.  I was blown

Their (Caucasion) Aisle

away.  I had a chance to speak with the owner of a hair care company and she was going to PRAY for me?  Unheard of!  From that point on, I vowed I would be a loyal customer of Bee Mine.  And I have been.  That is something you cannot get from a corporate giant and I have never received from a Caucasian owned line.

This brings me to my point: although there are literally millions of hair care lines on the market, for me it is very important that I support Black owned businesses.  I may use other products in conjunction with my black-owned hair products, but best believe I will always continue to patronize our community.  You may not love Bee Mine as much as I do, but there are many black owned hair lines for you to choose from:  Miss Jessie’s, Kimberly Kimble, Hydratherma Naturals, Andre Walker, Taliah Waajid, Dudley, and many more.  Do a little research, try a few products and discover what is best for you.  I can almost guarantee you will find products from one of the plethora of Black owned hair care lines that works for you.

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Posted by EbonyCPrincess on December 11, 2011. Filed under General Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.