A licensed cosmetologist has started a growing movement calling for a boycott of non-Black-owned beauty brands catering to Black women. She argues that these brands often prioritize profit over the needs and concerns of their target market.
For years, many beauty brands have created products aimed at Black women, capitalizing on a lucrative market while failing to invest in the people they serve. Now, a cosmetologist and beauty professional has spoken out, demanding greater accountability, representation, and economic power in an industry that frequently ignores Black voices.
The beauty educator, who goes by the handle @laura_beautycoach on TikTok, pointed out the increasing number of brands profiting from Black women’s unique hair and skincare needs without being authentically connected to the culture or community.
In an 11-part series on TikTok, Laura_beauty coach shares that several previously owned black businesses are embroiled in class action lawsuits linked to the damaging effects of using the product.
She shared her frustration with how some Black-owned brands have sold out to larger corporations. “When these Black-owned businesses sell out, look at where they put your product. All these Black-owned businesses that sold out to larger companies—look where their stuff is now. It’s on the bottom shelves,” Laura_beauty coach passionately reveals while taking viewers on a tour of a Family Dollar store.
She urged viewers to support Black-owned hair brands created by Black beauty experts who understand Black women’s hair struggles and needs.
@Laura_beautycoach argued that Black-owned beauty brands offer superior products specifically designed for Black hair textures. She said that supporting these businesses empowers the Black community and creates economic opportunities.
“We get options, y’all,” she said. “We have options for better quality products made by us, for us, and then you could be feeding back into the community. We need to start supporting these black-owned hair brands. We really need to. We need to start pouring back into our community and putting things in our hair that’s actually going to work.”
It remains to be seen how non-Black-owned beauty brands will respond.