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Why Do We Support Non-Black Beauty Businesses?
If you are a Black woman that was raised in an urban city in America then more than likely, your neighborhood staples resembled something like this: fast food restaurant, liquor store, church, hair salon and beauty supply store. I grew up on Chicago’s West Side and that description summarizes the crux of the locations that embodied urban life for me.
Much like many of you reading this, I have spent at least 3/4 of my life either sitting in someone’s salon chair, or preparing to sit in someone’s salon chair by visiting my local beauty supply shop in order to purchase whatever concoctions and assortment of supplies that were necessary to either aide my stylist in her styling my hair or for my own everyday styling.
The one thing that always left me curious is why are so many Black hair product carrying stores owned and operated by people other than African Americans? By “people other than African Americans” I am mostly referring to people of Asian descent. In fact, to this day I cannot think of where I’ve ever seen one owned and operated by Blacks.
Something in that never sat right with me for a number of reasons. One was I always felt as though I was under surveillance as I shopped. Whatever the reason, it isn’t a nice feeling walking through the store with a pair of eyes on you in every aisle. It encompasses a feeling of being attacked with a double edged sword: They need my patronage but not me. Thus the pondering of why we continue to support non-Black beauty businesses.
If not the incessant stalking, then it’s the attempt to earn their “Black Card” (which is an awkward enough zone for the both of us) by speaking to me as though I can only understand African American colloquiums and slang. This, as you can imagine is equally undesirable but what is even more uncomfortable for me is that when the day is over, these shop owners do not lock their shop and walk down the street to their home. Instead they get in their car and drive to their pretty house in the suburbs or on the other side of town. Far, far away from the Black neighborhood and the Black customers that pour money into their pockets and subsequently supports their family.
Well, why do you still go there? You may be asking this now. To be honest, for years, they were my only resource and probably yours too. It is only as of recent that the black hair industry has exploded where anyone can order their hair supplies online directly from their supplier and not have to face any feelings of impending racism.
Still, even today there are many products that we unfortunately don’t have the resources to order online and have to purchase from a brick and mortar beauty supply. This has always led me to ponder why more African Americans from within these urban neighborhoods aren’t operating beauty supplies in the neighborhoods that they live in. The Black Wall Street happened before and it can happen (even more successfully) again now. We all know the story, so why hasn’t it happened yet all across America?
One of the main reasons is that a lot of African Americans are complacent and don’t have the desire to do what is necessary to own a beauty supply shop. Sure, we may like styling hair, going to the hair shows and seeing the newest styles. We may even successfully create hair products intended especially for us but we have become comfortable with the idea of the Asians having the beauty supply store game on lock.
Now, I am in no way, encouraging you to abandon your local beauty supply. After all, some of you may have been patronizing them for years and may have even bonded with the owners now. They may know you by first name and smile every time they see you. I’m sure they smile even harder when you are opening your wallet. However, I want there to be a concise understanding that you have options. No one is forcing you to support anyone that does not fully support you, appreciate your dollars, and or makes you feel like you pose a threat every time you enter their premises.
If you are like me, and are exhausted with the feelings of forced friendliness, then perhaps it is time to do a Google search for your favorite Black hair products online. Or, you might disagree. In either case, this is an issue we need an open dialog on so speak on it.
http://blackhairmedia.com/bhm-featured-writer-lajuanda-knight/why-d...
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by DB on -
I grew up only going to one black owned salon and beauty supply and then one day I walked in and noticed the black owners sold their business to an Asian family... Personally, I don't shop at beauty supplies anymore anyway, target pretty much carries my organic lines and necessary hair tools these days...
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Permalink Reply by C*u*t*e* on -
I support businesses that are in my convenience with prices that are fair and products I believe in. But what I won't do is enter that oppressed mentality that African Americans don't have equal opportunities and become cynical.
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Permalink Reply by Eleven8 on -
I'm with C*u*t*e, if they do good business, are in my convenience with prices, product and location, I will gladly patronize. I don't believe in supporting ANYONE based on the color of their skin. Whether they're black or not. I prefer to support business with ideals that I believe in, that I truly believe are run by good and genuine people. I will quickly support an "other" business over a black owned business if i feel the black owned business man/woman is all about the mighty dollar and not quality.
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Permalink Reply by DdoubleD on -
I will support a Black business any day, because if we do not support each other who will. Often times, people of other races will not support a business if they know it has a Black owner. In order for us to begin to compete in business we must do better and encourage each other. As Black owners we must remember to keep prices competitive and be sure that we offer A1 customer service. I have notices many Black business tend to cut corners in those areas. I am sure other business owners do as well, but when we do it, it looks unprofessional as if we do not know how to properly run a business.
As for a hair store I have always gone to Asians, the areas that I lived in did not have Black owned hair stores. For awhile I was going to a white hair salon because I hate the service I received at a black hair salon.
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Permalink Reply by OLD $PICE PINE NEEDLE on -
Convenience. I go out of my way to seek them out blk owned business first. I needed some supplies recently and went to all the blk stores I know. They didn't have what I wanted and I was directed by one on the blk owners to try 'the store around the corner'. I bounced there excitedly because she suggested it thinking it was blk owned. I was shocked she sent me to a store owned by one of 'the others'.
SN: I'll say this again, we're raising our generations to be consumers and not suppliers. We're always enriching others and they don't care. We just want to 'look good' for the next ninja lol
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Permalink Reply by CCD is Workin on a baller 4 she on -
The highlighted all day. I've had some of the worst service by people whose skin is the same color as my own. That doesn't mean I still don't give my own people a chance but you get one and then I move on to your competitor and I won't be back. And yes I complain and if you don't make it right then I'll be taking my dollars elsewhere. I don't pay for bad service repeatedly from anyone!
I grew up having my hair cared for by black hair stylists and they always had the products for my hair on hand so I never had to shop for hair care products outside of the salon.
DdoubleD said:I will support a Black business any day, because if we do not support each other who will. Often times, people of other races will not support a business if they know it has a Black owner. In order for us to begin to compete in business we must do better and encourage each other. As Black owners we must remember to keep prices competitive and be sure that we offer A1 customer service. I have notices many Black business tend to cut corners in those areas. I am sure other business owners do as well, but when we do it, it looks unprofessional as if we do not know how to properly run a business.
As for a hair store I have always gone to Asians, the areas that I lived in did not have Black owned hair stores. For awhile I was going to a white hair salon because I hate the service I received at a black hair salon.
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Permalink Reply by Siren on -
The issue with finding a black owned beauty supply is the Asians tend to be the suppliers. Why black owned beauty supply stores are not always competitive because of the prices they are charged by the suppliers and some of the Asians make it either extremely difficult or virtually impossible to compete with them. We lost our edge when we stopped supporting each other. Now that I have gone natural I tend to support only black owned businesses. My favorites right now are Karen's Body Beautiful, Hair Rules, Taliah Waajid, and I subscribe to Curbox which sends me new products every month. We also need to educate ourselves about some of the ingredients that are in these products we buy that contribute to hair damage and loss.
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Permalink Reply by CCD is Workin on a baller 4 she on
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+1
Siren said:The issue with finding a black owned beauty supply is the Asians tend to be the suppliers. Why black owned beauty supply stores are not always competitive because of the prices they are charged by the suppliers and some of the Asians make it either extremely difficult or virtually impossible to compete with them. We lost our edge when we stopped supporting each other. Now that I have gone natural I tend to support only black owned businesses. My favorites right now are Karen's Body Beautiful, Hair Rules, Taliah Waajid, and I subscribe to Curbox which sends me new products every month. We also need to educate ourselves about some of the ingredients that are in these products we buy that contribute to hair damage and loss.
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Permalink Reply by maxwells_musze on -
Well said.
Siren said:The issue with finding a black owned beauty supply is the Asians tend to be the suppliers. Why black owned beauty supply stores are not always competitive because of the prices they are charged by the suppliers and some of the Asians make it either extremely difficult or virtually impossible to compete with them. We lost our edge when we stopped supporting each other. Now that I have gone natural I tend to support only black owned businesses. My favorites right now are Karen's Body Beautiful, Hair Rules, Taliah Waajid, and I subscribe to Curbox which sends me new products every month. We also need to educate ourselves about some of the ingredients that are in these products we buy that contribute to hair damage and loss.
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Permalink Reply by Siren on
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I had a friend that was trying to open a beaty supply years ago and the suppliers had ridiculous minimum demands and the prices were too high for her to be competetive. Then before the indians, brazilians got on the hair game the asians had a monopoly on it and did not want to do business.
maxwells_musze said:Well said.
Siren said:The issue with finding a black owned beauty supply is the Asians tend to be the suppliers. Why black owned beauty supply stores are not always competitive because of the prices they are charged by the suppliers and some of the Asians make it either extremely difficult or virtually impossible to compete with them. We lost our edge when we stopped supporting each other. Now that I have gone natural I tend to support only black owned businesses. My favorites right now are Karen's Body Beautiful, Hair Rules, Taliah Waajid, and I subscribe to Curbox which sends me new products every month. We also need to educate ourselves about some of the ingredients that are in these products we buy that contribute to hair damage and loss.
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Permalink Reply by maxwells_musze on
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wow! that's cuthroat.
i guess i consider my self transitioning to natural. i admit that i was/am a bit uneducated on the ingredients in the products we use. i've been reading about the possible effects of the relaxers on us - being fibroids! fibroids are already more prevalent in black women anyway.
Siren said:I had a friend that was trying to open a beaty supply years ago and the suppliers had ridiculous minimum demands and the prices were too high for her to be competetive. Then before the indians, brazilians got on the hair game the asians had a monopoly on it and did not want to do business.
maxwells_musze said:Well said.
Siren said:The issue with finding a black owned beauty supply is the Asians tend to be the suppliers. Why black owned beauty supply stores are not always competitive because of the prices they are charged by the suppliers and some of the Asians make it either extremely difficult or virtually impossible to compete with them. We lost our edge when we stopped supporting each other. Now that I have gone natural I tend to support only black owned businesses. My favorites right now are Karen's Body Beautiful, Hair Rules, Taliah Waajid, and I subscribe to Curbox which sends me new products every month. We also need to educate ourselves about some of the ingredients that are in these products we buy that contribute to hair damage and loss.
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Permalink Reply by Siren on
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@MAX yes relaxers are linked to fibroids. The Sulfates in many shampoos is linked to hair loss. I used to work at a chemical company and we distributed to most of the major beauty companies. The same cleanser in your bathroom cleaner, the s*** you scrub your floors with and wash your dishes is the same s*** in your shampoo just in different strengths. I use sulfrate free shampoo occasionally but I have been washing my hair with baking soda mixed with conditioner for the past 2 months and I love it! Also avoid parabens should be avoided they have been linked to causing breast cancer. They are found in many products and can mimic estrogen which has been found in tumors. I am trying to get my sister and my mother to follow suit even if they won't do creamy crack rehab I would love for them to stop using the other products. i am trying to get them to understand you do not have to be natural to use natural products.
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