35 Black-Owned Hair-Care Brands That Should Be on Your Radar
(Allure.com)
Over the past two decades, the number of Black-owned hair products available on the market has boomed. Anti-Blackness and discrimination against Afro-textured hair have always pushed Black people to create what we needed to care for our naturally kinky textures, especially at the time when few mainstream brands were doing so.
When the natural-hair movement surfaced in the early 2000s, brands like SheaMoisture, Miss Jessie’s, and Carol’s Daughter provided product formulations that actually worked for the range of curls and kinks that exist. Fast-forward almost two decades and other Black-owned natural hair products are lining those shelves with the leave-ins, deep treatments, and oils needed to nourish our hair, which tends to be on the drier side.
But here’s the thing: Not all brands marked to Black shoppers are always Black-owned. Though originally Black-founded, SheaMoisture and Carol’s Daughter are no longer Black-owned. That isn’t necessarily a problem, but in an industry that largely still struggles to recognize the unique needs of Black hair, it has caused skepticism among some (though certainly not all) Black consumers.
Luckily, there is no shortage of Black-owned hair brands. Even outside of natural hair products, we are seeing a lot of cute and stylish accessory options like satin-lined turbans and colorful headwraps to keep our delicate coils protected. There are also a ton more options for hair extensions: these days, we’re seeing a wider range of wigs, bundles, and closures available in curly and kinky-textured options that can match our own.
While these brands are Black-owned, many cater to all hair types, so even if you have straight or wavy hair, you can shop with these businesses. Check out some of our favorites below.
All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. When you buy something through the retail links on this page, we will not earn an affiliate commission.
Courtesy of brand1/35Rebundle
Box braids, twists, and faux locs are popular protective styles, but often require the use of synthetic kanekalon hair that can irritate the scalp. Founder Ciara Imani May launched Rebundle at the beginning of 2021 in hopes of giving Black women better synthetic hair options. Unlike traditional kanekalon hair, which is made out of plastic, its Braid Better hair is made using banana fibers. So far, there are eight colors available: black, brown, blonde, blue, auburn, and three shades of pink.
Courtesy of brand2/35Bread Beauty Supply
Embrace your frizz — Bread Beauty Supply founder Maeva Heim launched her brand in 2020 with this ethos. In the interest of not flooding the Black hair-care market with a ton of products, she kept her initial offerings to the basics: shampoo, deep conditioner, and oil to moisturize the hair.
Courtesy of brand3/35Yummy Extensions
After years of working in the tech industry, Yummie O made a huge switch and launched her own beauty business. In 2012, her hair extension brand, Yummy Extensions, was born. Bundles, frontals, closures, wigs, and clip-ins can be purchased in five core textures: wavy, straight, curly, body wave, and blown out (which is similar to kinky-straight). The hair is available in bleach blonde, medium brown, or dark brown colors that can be dyed if you’re interested in a different hue. You can buy hair as short as 12 inches or as long as 24 inches. In addition to its online retail website, the brand also has two brick-and-mortar stores, one located in Dallas, Texas, and the other in Brooklyn, New York.
Courtesy of brand4/35You Go Natural
Headwraps are a staple accessory for people with Afro-textured hair, and brands like You Go Natural offer a selection of satin-lined options that look cute while protecting delicate curls and kinks. In 2016, Monique Little started her company to offer a quick styling option for those with little time to do their hair. The brand offers a range of turbans in several patterns (including Ankara prints) and solid colors, each available in three sizes, for all gender identities. There’s even a selection of colorful waterproof turbans in its Swim collection.
Courtesy of brand5/35Upgrade Boutique
Britney Winters got the idea to start her hair extension brand Upgrade Boutique while she was studying at Harvard Business School. But it wasn’t until 2019, three years after she graduated, that she officially launched. These units aren’t cheap and for good reason — each one is custom-made by a hairstylist the brand partners with. When you click on a wig’s page, it lists the person who cut, styled, or even colored the piece plus other relevant details, like length, texture, etc. The website also has a list of their hairstylists complete with short bios, links to their social platforms, and what their specialties are.
You can make alterations to some of these pre-styled wigs, but it will cost you extra. There’s also the option to start completely from scratch and customize your own unit. If you’re looking for bundles, frontals, or closures, they have those, too. There are five textures — body wave, kinky curly, deep wave, straight, and 613 body wave — to choose from in lengths that start at 12 inches and go up to 30 inches.
Courtesy of brand6/35Kosa Professionals
Founder Yummie O has kept herself busy with not one but two beauty brands. In addition to Yummy Extensions, she launched Kosa Professionals in 2012. The company’s focus is hot tools, mainly flatirons and blow-dryers, which come in either jet black or light pink. The flatirons come in three sizes: 0.5, 1, and 1.75 inches.
Courtesy of brand7/35PuffCuff
Any natural will tell you hair accessories that work for kinks and curls are necessary, too. Ceata E. Lash wanted something that would keep her hair in place, but wouldn’t create tangles or too much tension on the scalp, so she created the PuffCuff in 2013. The hair clamp, which comes in five sizes, can be used to secure an Afro puff, a low ponytail, or braids, twists, and locs, too. The smallest is 0.75 inches in diameter and the biggest, which is the Original, is 5 inches. In 2020, the brand launched a selection of natural hair-styling products called Laaayed.
Courtesy of brand8/35XOXO Virgin Hair
There’s a reason why XOXO Virgin Hair is widely used by the hairstylists of Mary J. Blige, MJ Rodriguez, and Taraji P Henson. The hair is just that good. In 2014, founder Stephanie Nolan launched the brand. Human hair lace-frontal wigs, bundles, frontals, and closures are available in three textures: straight, wavy, or curly. All the hair comes in a natural black shade that can be bleached and dyed. Go short with 10-inch extensions or embrace length with the 28-inch options.
Courtesy of brand9/35Loza Tam
The idea for Loza Tam came to founder Tomara Watkins during a yoga class. She needed something to keep her coils out of her face and found many of the options on the market to be insufficient. With that in mind, she looked to create something different and launched the hair accessories brand in 2016. The head coverings are available in both solids and prints.
The brand gets the stamp of approval from Allure editor-in-chief Jessica Cruel, who loves using them when she doesn’t want to bother with styling her hair. “When I have no energy to do the wash day dance, I turn to Loza Tam,” Cruel shares. “I have about five of their satin-lined turbans in my collection that I can easily match to any outfit, whether the occasion is weekend brunch or an office meeting.”
Courtesy of brand10/35Canviiy
Canviiy was founded by Sherrel Sampson in 2014 who set out to make products to deal with irritated and itchy scalps. The brand sells treatments, cleansers, and hydrators to help soothe and nourish the scalp. Digital staff editor Jihan Forbes is a huge fan of the lightweight Scalp Bliss Organic Serum, which is formulated with aloe leaf juice, witch hazel, manuka honey, and peppermint oil. “The pointed nozzle makes application super easy. I squeeze, then gently rub the solution in. Not only does it smell divine, but it gives you a cooling sensation for hours,” she previously shared.
Courtesy of brand11/35Bask & Bloom Essentials
After struggling with dry, brittle hair due to postpartum shedding, Candera Thompson got the idea to start her own brand, Bask & Bloom Essentials. She launched in 2014 with only two products: More Moisture Cream and Herbal Infused Hair & Scalp Oil. Now, the brand offers an assortment of natural hair products for washing, conditioning, and styling.
Courtesy of brand12/35Kinky Tresses
Dryness is basically a given when it comes to curls and kinks, especially type 4 hair. Shawna Moses founded Kinky Tresses to address just that. The brand covers the basics with cleansers, oils, and moisturizers. The Coconut Mango Hair Butter is a fan-favorite styler, thanks to the combination of nourishing butters (mango and shea) and hydrating oils (broccoli seed, coconut, argan, and castor).
Courtesy of brand13/35Alaffia
In 2003, Olowo-n’djo Tchala founded Alaffia which offered hair-, skin-, and body-care products using one staple ingredient: shea butter. The brand sources this ingredient through cooperatives in the West African country of Togo. Its Beautiful Curls collection is specifically created for type 2 to type 4 hair and includes 10 products, like the Curl Reviving Tonic made with aloe vera juice to refresh and moisturize the hair.
Courtesy of brand14/35Qhemet Biologics
Qhemet Biologics uses hydrating and moisturizing ingredients to create products specifically for type 3C to 4C hair. Founded by Felis Butler in 2004, the brand has products to wash, style, and condition even the driest hair, like the best-selling Amla & Olive Heavy Cream. Its product guide provides recommendations based on your hair texture, porosity, and density to help you create a routine.
Courtesy of brand15/35Oyin Handmade
Oyin Handmade has been making products for Afro-textured hair since 2001 when it was founded by Jamyla Bennu. The word “oyin” means honey in the Yoruba language, and it’s a staple ingredient in many of the brand’s products, like the Honey Hemp Detangling & Moisturizing Conditioner that uses the humectant and hemp seed oil to condition hair. Oyin also has body-care options, including a natural deodorant.
Courtesy of brand16/35Curls Dynasty
Nickie Nougaisse started Curls Dynasty in her kitchen in 2014 and created its first product: a mixture of oils called the Organic Oil Blend. Since then, she’s expanded the brand’s offerings to a full range of natural hair products that will take you through all the steps in your wash day routine. My personal favorite? The sulfate-free, hydrating Cocoa Mint Moisture Rich Shampoo has a nozzle cap for targeted application to the scalp.
Courtesy of brand17/35Naturalicious
Gwen Jimmere launched Naturalicious in 2013 with the goal of cutting down on the number of products she used on her hair. She created two three-step systems for your wash day, formulated for either loose or tight textures. Each comes with a clay-based cleanser, styling creme, and a frizz-reducing serum. You can purchase the three products as a kit or buy them separately. The brand also has a defining gel, scalp oil, and curl refresher.
Courtesy of brand18/35Ecoslay
Like many others who transition from relaxed to natural hair, Adria Marshall wanted the products she used to be made with all-natural ingredients. In 2015, she created Ecoslay in her kitchen and to this day, she still mixes the products at home. Each one is named after different food items, like the oil-based Hot Sauce pre-poo treatment and the moisturizing Orange Marmalade gel.
Courtesy of brand19/35NaturAll Club
Founder Muhga Eltigani started NaturAll Club in 2015 with a smattering of conditioners formulated with ingredients like avocado, mango, and shea butter. The brand expanded to include three collections that each focus on a hero ingredient — avocado, Jamaican black castor oil, or flaxseed gel — that will target your hair needs, whether it’s adding moisture or styling your edges. Eltigani recently launched a sister hair-care brand NaturAll Kitchen, which uses CBD in all its products, and will be donating a portion of the sales from the new brand to the non-profit bail relief organization The Bail Project.
Courtesy of brand20/35The Wrap Life
After feeling discontented with her job as a waitress, Nnenna Stella decided to take a month for herself to recuperate with journaling and meditation. Shortly after her month-long rest, she got the idea to launch a hair accessories label, and in 2014, The Wrap Life became a reality. The brand’s most recent collections feature subdued prints, like the black-and-white spotted Black Pop headwrap, and solid-color options.
Courtesy of brand21/35CurlMix
CurlMix was initially founded by Kim and Tim Lewis as a monthly subscription box service that included natural ingredients and recipes which let their customers create their own hair products. But in 2018, the Lewises launched their own collection. The brand has five different four-step kits with everything you need to get the wash-and-go of your dreams. Each contains a shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer, and gel, which you can also buy separately if you want. Outside of the kits, you can scoop up one (or a few of) the oil-based serums they offer.
Courtesy of brand22/35Grace Eleyae
Grace Eleyae started her namesake brand in 2014 because she wanted a hat to protect her fragile hair, but many of the ones she used were made of materials that did the exact opposite. It all started with the original satin-lined Slap, which is a hat similar to a beanie that can be worn to bed or outside, and expanded to baseball caps, turbans, and even pillowcases.
Courtesy of brand23/35Adwoa Beauty
There’s something striking about Adwoa Beauty’s minimalist packaging. Founder Julian Addo wanted hair products that worked on kinkier textures and looked chic enough for a shelfie. The range includes two collections with the essentials to wash and style your coils. Its Baomint collection gets its name from the ingredients used — baobab oil and a cocktail of spearmint, peppermint, and wintergreen essential oils — that help soothe and nourish the scalp. The Blue Tansy collection uses ingredients like blue tansy flower oil, glycerin, and vitamin E, to strengthen damaged hair.
Courtesy of brand24/35Design Essentials
Design Essentials has been around since 1990, when it was founded by Cornell McBride to provide salon-quality products that work for all hair types. It has nearly everything you could need — even products specialized for extension and wig care like its Moroccan Oil Detangling Blow-Dry Conditioner. There is also the Avocado & Almond collection that uses both avocado and almond oils to repair and condition damaged hair.
Courtesy of brand25/35Alikay Naturals
You can thank Rochelle Graham-Campbell for creating Alikay Naturals. The brand sources ingredients, such as aloe vera, milk, and marshmallow root, for its products that cleanse, condition, and strengthen curls. The brand’s fan-favorite deep treatment, called the Honey and Sage Conditioner, softens and restores dry hair by combining hydrating powers of honey with babassu, sage, and extra virgin olive oils.
Courtesy of brand26/35Eden Bodyworks
Eden Bodyworks, started by Jasmine Lawrence in 2004, has several collections formulated to address different hair issues and needs, like the Lavender Aloe range made to strengthen the hair. The brand’s scalp care products, in particular, are absolutely worth a try — they soothe and hydrate any dryness or itchiness you experience. The Papaya Castor Scalp Massaging Serum, formulated with vitamins A, C, D, and E, feels like heaven when massaged into the scalp.
Courtesy of brand27/35Glow by Daye
Glow by Daye offers some of the cutest designs for bonnets, like its Lavender Thai Satin Bonnet. Founder Ranay Daye gave the traditional bonnet an upgrade with an adjustable drawstring. You can loosen it when you need a little bit more room for your braids or twists and tighten it for extra security while you sleep. The brand also sells conditioning caps and hood dryer bonnets.
Courtesy of brand28/35Ooli
Locs don’t always get the love they deserve within the natural hair-care community, especially when it comes to product formulation. The thick creams can leave a white buildup on locs. To change that, Jessica Pritchett launched Ooli in 2018 with products that are clear and lightweight instead — and you can use them even if you don’t have locs. The Loc’d In Leave-In Conditioner moisturizes hair with the help of black cumin oil, aloe vera, and shea and mango butters.
Courtesy of brand29/35Rucker Roots
Sisters Ellen and Ione Rucker formulated Rucker Roots products with ingredients like ginger, turmeric, and carrot root oils, which work together to moisturize and strengthen dry or brittle hair. Its GTC Texture Styling Mousse is a two-time Best of Beauty-winning product that defines and hydrates curls and coils.
Courtesy of brand30/35Uncle Funky’s Daughter
You can’t miss the colorful retro designs on the chocolate-brown packaging from Uncle Funky’s Daughter. The brand has been around since 2009, originally launched by Tonya Goff. But in 2014, Renee Rhoten Morris took over and brought back some discontinued products as well as the original formulation for the Curly Magic Curl Stimulator gel. It continues to be praised by fans for its ability to make curls pop without sacrificing moisture.
Courtesy of brand31/35Girl + Hair Under Hair Care
Created by dermatologist Camille Verovic, Girl + Hair Under Hair Care offers targeted scalp treatments. The brand makes it super easy to care for and cleanse hair while it’s in a protective style — each product comes in a bottle with pointed nozzles for easy application to the scalp. The Under Hair Care system has six products that help cleanse, refresh, and condition the scalp, as well as travel-size options to take with you on the road.
Courtesy of brand32/35Chocolate Kinks & Kurls
Four years into her own natural hair journey, Juanita Henderson took the knowledge and experience she gained to launch Chocolate Kinks & Kurls in 2016. The brand’s range of products cleanses, styles, and conditions curls. Its Aloe Colada Deep Conditioning Treatment uses both hydrating aloe butter and aloe vera juice with jojoba and carrot seed oils to give hair a much-needed reset on wash day.
Courtesy of brand33/35Tropic Isle Living
Tropic Isle Living’s Jamaican Black Castor Oil is a holy grail product for its deeply moisturizing properties. Michael Anthony Hines and Lois Reid-Hines came together to start the brand back in 1992. Since then, the hair-care brand has expanded from solely selling glass bottles of the oil to offering a range of products, including stylers, cleansers, and treatments, that contain the ingredient.
Courtesy of brand34/35Melanin Haircare
You can’t talk about the natural-hair movement without mentioning Whitney White. Through her YouTube videos, the hair blogger helped many people learn how to style and care for their natural hair. It wasn’t until 2018 that she officially launched her own line called Melanin Haircare. The range of products is small with a cleanser, moisturizers, a scalp oil, and a few hair accessories. After just one use, you’ll be a fan of the extremely nourishing Multi-Use Softening Leave-In Conditioner that is formulated with moisturizing ingredients like aloe vera, argan oil, and baobab seed oil.
Courtesy of brand35/35Uhai Hair
- Uhai Hair uses baobab oil as the base for all of its products. Susan Edwards and her husband, Varsay Sirleaf, initially launched the brand in 2017 in Liberia and, two years later, brought it to the United States. Each product has a floral scent that smells absolutely amazing the moment you open it. The Oil Blend is a favorite of two Allure staff members who love how the oils add moisture to their dry scalp without any additional product buildup or grease.
taken from: https://www.allure.com/gallery/black-owned-hair-care-brands
