Over the past twenty years, there has been a significant increase in the availability of hair products created by Black-owned businesses. Discrimination against Afro-textured hair has historically led Black individuals to develop their own products to meet their needs, especially when mainstream brands failed to do so.
With the emergence of the natural hair movement in the early 2000s, brands like SheaMoisture, Miss Jessie’s, and Carol’s Daughter began offering formulations specifically designed for a variety of curls and kinks. Nearly two decades later, shelves are now filled with products from other Black-owned brands, offering leave-ins, deep treatments, and oils to nourish naturally dry hair.
However, it’s important to note that not all brands marketed to Black consumers are Black-owned. Despite their origins, brands like SheaMoisture and Carol’s Daughter are no longer under Black ownership. While this isn’t necessarily a problem, it has sparked skepticism among some people, who feel that the industry still struggles to address the unique needs of Black hair.
Thankfully, there is a wide array of Black-owned hair brands available, offering not only natural hair products but also stylish accessories like satin-lined turbans and colorful headwraps to protect delicate coils. Additionally, there are numerous options for hair extensions, including wigs, bundles, and closures in curly and kinky textures to match natural hair.
While these brands cater to Black hair, many of them also serve customers with straight or wavy hair. Check out some of our favorite Black-owned brands below!
Black-Owned Hair Brand: Cécred
Beyoncé’s experiences growing up in her mother’s salon greatly influenced her vision for Cécred, a Black-owned hair care line inspired by her upbringing. Her goal is to address the specific needs of textured hair, focusing on moisture and strength.
Cécred combines traditional practices with modern science to create innovative hair care products. This approach aligns with the singer’s desire to keep her hair healthy despite frequent styling changes and performance demands.
She built Cécred from the ground up, integrating her life’s lessons to create products that respect the past while embracing the future. Cécred encourages individuals to prioritize self-care and honor their personal journeys.
Black-Owned Hair Brand: XOXO Virgin Hair
XOXO Virgin Hair is another Black-owned hair brand, a favorite among the hairstylists of stars like Mary J. Blige, MJ Rodriguez, and Taraji P. Henson, due to its high-quality products.
Established in 2014 by Stephanie Nolan, the brand offers human hair wigs, bundles, frontals, and closures in straight, wavy, or curly textures. All the hair is a natural black shade that can be bleached and dyed, with lengths ranging from 10 to 28 inches.
Black-Owned Hair Brand: CurlMix
Kim and Tim Lewis combined their love for natural hair and passion for educating others to create CurlMix.
When they needed funds to start their business, Kim came up with a creative idea to have Tim participate in *Who Wants To Be A Millionaire*. Tim’s successful performance won them $100,000, which they invested in their new venture.
CurlMix initially began as a subscription box service but later transitioned to a streamlined Black-owned hair care line by combining their best-selling boxes. This strategy proved successful, generating $1 million in sales within a year.
CurlMix currently employs around 10 staff members, predominantly people of color from the community.
Black-Owned Hair Brand: Uhai Hair
Uhai Hair distinguishes itself by using baobab oil as the primary ingredient in all its products.
Founded by Susan Edwards and her husband, Varsay Sirleaf, the brand originated in Liberia in 2017 and later expanded to the United States. Each product boasts a delightful floral scent upon opening. The Oil Blend is particularly beloved by people for its ability to moisturize dry scalps without leaving behind any greasy residue.
Black-Owned Hair Brand: Luster’s
Luster’s is known for its iconic Pink Lotion, a staple product for generations. Many recall using Pink Lotion in their childhood, and it remains popular today.
The original company was founded by Fred Luster, Sr., but it is now led by Jory Luster. The company prides itself on creating products that simplify detangling and conditioning without leaving residue or dryness.
Luster’s has modernized its formula to better cater to the needs of those with curly and coily hair.
Black-Owned Hair Brand: Taliah Waajid
Taliah Waajid’s journey in natural hair care began at the age of 14 when she started styling and braiding hair. As a cosmetologist, she seamlessly transitioned into manufacturing her own products.
Waajid was a pioneer in offering a complete line of chemical-free products, emphasizing enhancing curls rather than straightening them.
Black-Owned Hair Brand: Melanin Haircare
When discussing the natural-hair movement, one can’t overlook Whitney White, a hair blogger who has taught countless people how to care for and style their natural hair through her YouTube channel. In 2018, she introduced her own product line called Melanin Haircare.
This Black-owned hair brand features a concise yet effective range of products, including a cleanser, moisturizers, a scalp oil, and various hair accessories. The Multi-Use Softening Leave-In Conditioner stands out with its nourishing blend of ingredients like Aloe Vera, Argan oil, and baobab seed oil, offering transformative benefits in just one use.
Black-Owned Hair Brand: Oyin Handmade
The name “Oyin” comes from the Yoruba word for “honey.” In 2001, Jamyla Bennu, a lifelong natural, began creating her own organic hair products to address her tightly coiled hair’s needs.
After partnering with her husband, the company launched online in 2003. Oyin Handmade focuses on combating dryness and providing optimal styling for curly and textured hair types.
All the Oyin products contain organic and food-grade ingredients without harsh chemicals, and the Black-owned hair brand has earned several awards for its standout products like the Hair Dew and Honey Hemp Conditioner.
Black-Owned Hair Brand: TPH
Taraji Henson, known for her acting prowess, channels her passion for hair care into TPH, a scalp-oriented brand inspired by her personal experiences with wigs and weaves.
The products, color-coded in yellow, focus on scalp health. The Master Cleanse is particularly recommended for those seeking an exceptional product from the line.
Black-Owned Hair Brand: You Go Natural
Headwraps are an essential accessory for those with Afro-textured hair, providing both style and protection. Black-owned Brands like You Go Natural offer a range of satin-lined options designed to keep delicate curls and kinks safe.
Founded by Monique Little in 2016, You Go Natural offers a variety of turbans in different patterns, including Ankara prints, and solid colors. Each turban comes in three sizes to accommodate all gender identities. Additionally, the brand offers colorful waterproof turbans in its Swim collection.
Black-Owned Hair Brand: Alaffia
In 2003, Olowo-n’djo Tchala launched Alaffia, a brand offering hair, skin, and body care products made with one core ingredient: shea butter. Sourced from cooperatives in Togo, the shea butter is key to the brand’s Beautiful Curls collection, which caters specifically to types 2 through 4 hair.
The collection includes 10 products, such as the Curl Define Deep Conditioning Mask, which contains Aloe Vera juice to hydrate and refresh the hair.
Black-Owned Hair Brand: Bread Beauty
Bread Beauty Supply founder Maeva Heim launched her brand in 2020 with a clear mission: to provide a streamlined selection of essential hair care products for Black hair. She initially offered just the basics: shampoo, deep conditioner, and moisturizing oil.
Today, her line has expanded to 13 quality hair care products that cater to various needs.
Black-Owned Hair Brand: Camille Rose Naturals
With over thirty product ranges and 6 collections, Camille Rose Naturals transcends Black-owned hair care brand to include skincare as well.
Like many natural hair care brands, Camille Rose was born out of personal necessity. Founder Janell Stephens began crafting homemade skin and hair products for her children before launching the brand. Committed to using only the finest gourmet ingredients, particularly as a vegan, Janell ensures that her products meet the highest standards.
One of the best-selling hair products from the brand include the Curl Maker.
Black-Owned Hair Brand: CURLS
Mahisha Dellinger founded CURLS to make high-quality hair care products accessible to people of all ages and textures.
CURLS Beauty Brands cater to various hair types, from infants to adults. One of their notable products is the Blueberry Bliss Reparative Hair Wash, which is known for nourishing and revitalizing hair.
Black-Owned Hair Brand: Glow by Daye
Glow by Daye offers an array of stylish and functional hair accessories, such as the G x D Adjustable Satin Bonnet.
Founder Ranay Daye enhanced the classic bonnet with an adjustable drawstring, allowing you to customize the fit for your braids, twists, or general comfort while sleeping. The brand also provides conditioning caps and hood dryer bonnets.
Black-Owned Hair Brand: Kosa Professionals
Founder Yummie O is the visionary behind both Yummy Extensions and Kosa Professionals, which she launched in 2012.
Kosa Professionals specializes in hot tools, primarily flat irons and blow-dryers, available in either jet black or light pink. The flat irons come in three sizes: 0.5, 1, and 1.75 inches, providing a range of options for all your hair styling needs.
Black-Owned Hair Brand: Eden Bodyworks
Founded by Jasmine Lawrence in 2004, Eden Bodyworks boasts several product lines tailored to address different hair concerns, such as the Lavender Aloe range for strengthening hair. Their scalp care products are particularly notable, as they soothe and hydrate dry or itchy scalps.
For example, the Eden Bodyworks Papaya Castor Scalp Massaging Serum, enriched with vitamins A, C, D, and E, offers a heavenly experience when massaged into the scalp.
Black-Owned Hair Brand: Design Essentials
Design Essentials was established in 1990 by Cornell McBride to provide high-quality salon products that cater to a wide variety of hair types.
The Black-owned hair care brand offers a comprehensive range of products, including specialized items for extensions and wigs, such as the Moroccan Oil Detangling Blow-Dry Conditioner. Their Avocado & Almond collection stands out for its use of nourishing avocado and almond oils to help repair and condition damaged hair.
Black-Owned Hair Brand: Curls Dynasty
Nickie Nougaisse founded Curls Dynasty in her kitchen in 2014, starting with her first creation: the Organic Oil Blend. Since then, the brand has grown to offer a full line of natural hair products designed to support every stage of your wash day routine.
A standout product is the Cocoa Mint Moisture Rich Shampoo, a sulfate-free formula that hydrates the hair and features a nozzle cap for easy application directly to the scalp.
Black-Owned Hair Brand: Mixed Chicks
Wendi Levy and Kim Etheredge, both multicultural women facing unique hair challenges, joined forces to create Mixed Chicks.
Frustrated with the lack of suitable products, they developed their own line to address their needs, which quickly evolved into a thriving business. Mixed Chicks leave-in conditioner is highly praised for its ability to define and moisturize curls, coils, and waves of various textures.
Black-Owned Hair Brand: Pattern Beauty
A decade ago, long before the trend of celebrities launching beauty brands became commonplace, Tracee Ellis Ross recognized an untapped opportunity. Throughout her career as an actor, Ross spent countless hours in hair and makeup chairs, and she noticed a lack of products and tools designed specifically for Black and textured hair.
Drawing upon her experience as an executive producer, the actress leveraged her business acumen to convince skeptical investors of the significant market opportunity they were overlooking.
She explained how the industry had underserved the curly, coily, and tight-textured hair community, leading individuals like herself to become their own haircare experts. Ross emphasized that “haircare is a gateway to our souls,” underscoring the personal connection people have with their hair.
By the time Ross partnered with Beach House Group, her operational collaborators, she had already developed an initial product and established a brand identity. In late 2019, they launched Pattern Beauty, offering a range of hair products such as conditioners, gels, and masks, as well as accessories like satin caps and combs.
The brand’s products are available directly to consumers and through retail partners like Sephora, Ulta Beauty, and Amazon.
Photo: Instagram/xoxovirginhair
