Angela Walker, creator of N.E.W. Hairnet.com and contributor to The Coil Review, chimed in on the issue in a piece titled “Celebrating an Industry”.
“We have taken something that is our birth rite - naturally kinky hair - and turned it into an industry of sheer celebration. From the blogs to the salons to professional stylists, this is an industry that celebrates the beauty of blackness; the beauty of blackness with the veils removed. This celebration is pure and true, but will it remain that way?
20 years from now will this now predominately black-owned industry still be run by blacks? Will our natural hair salons have a black face in the window, but a non-black corporate ownership on paper? Will the owners of our major natural hair care products sell their line to Clairol or Johnson & Johnson to make a quick buck? she asked her readers.
Creator of Entwine Couture Beauty products, Dr. Adrienne Carthon stated that if larger corporate companies do buy-out smaller ones, the quality of the product will go down because not much of an investment will go towards quality. “The creation of the products will no longer be a labor of love, it will be all about the money,” she added.
Dr. Carthon feels that larger chains such as Target stocking their shelves with natural products is also great as long as the ingredients/quality of the products are not compromised.
Kindra Perry of Natural Urbanista also weighed in. “As an MBA graduate, I see the value in capitalizing on its growing popularity. It’s a guaranteed cash cow because you will always find naturals looking for the next, best product with ABC and that does XYZ.
But, will they take the place of smaller businesses? I don’t think so, because they have something these larger cosmetics companies will never have—established brand loyalty and personalized customer service. Many of the smaller companies reach out to their customers. When you have concerns or questions, they respond to you directly.
While larger companies may be able to offer their products at a lower price-point, due to their advantage of being able to mass produce their goods, there are just some things that ‘some’ natural-haired consumers value a bit more and are unwilling to trade.”
At the end of her article, concerning the stability of home-based/internet natural hair business, Angela Walker challenged her readers, “I am asking you to continue supporting an industry that supports our people, one whose foundation is based on the celebration of being Black.” I agree with her sentiments. What do you think?
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After becoming natural, one may become extremely verbal about their natural hair pride. They may even become a natural hair nazi, putting others down for not doing what they do. How quickly they forget they too were rocking relaxers. The truth is, the majority of pro-natural hair wearers are NOT anti-relaxer for you, but for themselves.
I had a relaxer, which was fine until my hair broke off because the culprit who talked me into it at 9 ceased to take care of it. I continued to get those until my Aunt the Beautician decide that a Jheri Curl (*cringe*) would make my hair grow. Little did she know I was never gonna take care of it, and my hair ended up looking more like a dry natural versus a greasy unnatural curl.
According to the March 31, 2010 press release, “Target has expanded its hair care assortment to include African American salon products never before offered at mass… This expansion further delivers on the retailer’s Expect More. Pay Less™ brand promise while providing guests with convenient access to the brands they know and trust.” No longer do we, natural hair wearers, have to order online at different sites for these products - we can get them all at one place - our neighborhood Target.
Transitioning - Big Chop, and fear of
The group shared favorite brands…
- Crying from her futile attempts at combing through my hair.
My mother and my hairdresser came up with this “solution” to my hair breakage problems…
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When I attended a predominately White school, I remember Chris, one of my classmates asking me if I could do my hair like Lauryn Hill. Not having cable, I didn’t know what he was talking about. But when I saw he was referring to L Boggie’s hair in the Killing Me Softly Video I was sold I needed to copy the style. You know, when she’s rocking a ‘fro with long braids in the front. Everyone wanted to be like the Fugees, especially Lauryn. Besides the fact that I had a chemical S-curl, my duplication of the natural hair style feel short of my Lauryn Hill expectations.