Globalization of Black Hair Care/ Companies

Ausjanae Sanders

March 7, 2017

”Detangling the Kinks: The “Free-Enterprise” of Black Natural Hair

– Throughout this article the writer discusses how the views of black hair and black hair care have changed over the years. From changing the texture and style of their hair to fit the needs of the majority, to finding themselves and growing out their natural hair

– The growth of the black natural hair requires a ton of maintenance depending on where the naturalist starts. Most start from the big chop and grow their hair out from there using black owned hair companies, or homemade hair products from African and Eastern culture.

Article Continued

– This boost of natural hair care cause black owned businesses to make up 3 percent of the multi-billion dollar industry. The boost also caused other naturalist to come together and share their remedies once they’ve reached the point of satisfaction. Growing ones natural hair gives them a sense of self- identify and confidence.

History (Perm)

– The first perm was created in the late 1800s- early 1900s by white people who wanted curls

– Perm was created by white people using cow urine and other chemicals. They used curls to gain curls

– Blacks started using perms but it made their hair straight. “The use of perms leaves mass destruction on the scalp of people from African descent”

– “FDA said it’s the same ingredients used to melt the hair on drainage pipes

– “Causes hair breakage, thinning and irreversible balding”

Stray Away from Perms

– In the mid 1900s blacks ditched the perms for afros

– ”A growing ecological awareness emerged in the mid 1900s, as well as a materializing Civil Rights era. Stimulated the growth of the black pride movement and the unprocessed and heat free-hair of the unmodified African head became a site of beauty and pride.”

Afros In the Eyes of Europeans– Toward the end of the 1900s the United States Government banned the

teaching of afros in cosmetology school and barber shops. Instead they focused on straighteners and the press-and-curl

– Natural hair made blacks targets for discrimination including police profiling, unwarranted arrests, unemployment, interrogation, police brutality, and political assassinations

– The afro hairdo was rejected by whites which caused blacks to go back to straightening their hair

Reclaiming Natural Hair

– “Within the arena of global capitalism the conscious needs of the new natural hair movement evoked not only superficiality, but also social individualism.”

– The natural hair journey is a sign of resoration of African hair and treating it with elements of the African environment

Reclaiming Natural Hair Cont’d – Blacks started to switch from main stream hair product companies like Pantene

and L'Oréal, to black owned companies like Shea Moisture and Carol’s Daughter

– With blacks switching the black owned corporations, blacks owned 3 percent of the multi-billion dollar hair care business

Growth of Natural Black Hair Care– Blacks have gained a plethora of knowledge on hair care products by doing

extreme research. The studied areas like textural patterns moisture retention, and natural PH balance

– Because of the growing black hair care market women and men have spent countless hours and dollars researching and ordering products to come up with the perfect regimen for them

Growth of Natural Hair Care

– When women and men want to grow out their natural hair a “big chop” , cutting off all heat damage as far as the root, and starting fresh

– “As a raw material, new natural black hair symbolizes the natural resource richness of continental Africa”

Growth Continued Pt. 2

– When a person has met the ultimate hair goals, no heat damage, nice curl pattern, understanding how to do hair styles such as perm rod twist outs, flat twist twist outs.

– Once someone has achieved this state they gain a sense of self-reclamation and reconnection to cultural and physical identities

Growth Continued Pt. 3

– From the spread of natural hair black hair specialist were able to determine the various hair types, 3a, 3b, 3c, 4a, 4b, 4c.

– “The number of blacks embarking on the natural hair journey has grown exponentially , with the consumer sales of chemical relaxers declining 30% between 2010 and 2012”

The Spread of Natural Hair Care Online – The internet has provided women and men of African decent with a way to

communicate and share their knowledge on what works for natural hair

– Through these internet communications the naturalist support each other through all the discrimination from having natural black hair, to the danger that come with having natural black hair such as over hydration or any other damages that come with natural black hair

Consumer Market

– “the natural hair movement has provided an avenue for black women, the purchasing power of a multi- billion dollar black hair care industry to reestablish themselves In the market”

– Going natural and getting in touch with African roots and the environment means using ingredients that grow.

– Some homemade hair care remedies include egg, olive oil, avocado, plain yogurt, honey and coconut oil

Consumer Market (Globally)

– When coming up with remedies and DIY hair products, some ingredients might include ones from African and Eastern traditions or customs such as Coconut oil, Moroccan oil, Argon oil, Jojoba oil, and shea butter

New Life

– “when embarking on one’s natural hair care journey, a temporary period of solidarity between new and experienced natural black people energy”

Conclusion

– Black hair care has always been something that was globally know and is making its way into the U.S. The spread of natural hair care growing and helping the economy of continents like Africa and the Eastern area because of their use of their products. One day every black person around the world will join the hair care journey and black people will have a higher percentage in the multi-billion dollar hair industry.

Work Cited

– “Blackcollective.” Blackcollective. http://www.blackcollective.net/single-post/2016/07/14/black-economics-white-supremacy accessed 07 March 2017