28 Black-owned beauty brands that make *the best* products
If you're looking to support Black-owned businesses, or to discover the latest genius from Black beauty product creators, your options are juicy. Despite challenges, Black-owned beauty brands are thriving across the categories, with successes that are doing Madam CJ Walker proud. Did you know the first self-made female millionaire in the world was a Black woman? With a beauty brand no less. But despite early success as the OG beauty boss, it's never been easy for Black-owned businesses, including in beauty.
A US report by McKinsey Institute noted that, Black cosmetic brands raise a median of $13 million in venture capital funding, substantially less than the $20 million that non-Black brands raise. Despite the median revenue of those Black brands being 89 times higher than what non-Black beauty brands return over the same period. Black beauty consumers and brands face deep challenges when it comes to equity, despite demand and success.
And from a simple consumer perspective, cosmetic companies are often extremely lacking in colour innovation, product offering, and even in efforts to cater to all. It's not just about supporting Black businesses, it's also about having customer needs met, and while there's been a lot of improvement, still it often falls to Black brands to properly cater to Black consumers. But if that means more money going into Black businesses we're all for it.
And turns out, the Black beauty brands that have broken through the barriers, are making some of the most exciting and cult products for everyone. So, we've rounded up our favourite Black-owned beauty brands that are delivering incredible products for the community and for all races. And we're touching on the creative and entrepreneurial minds behind them.
Some of them you will have most definitely heard before (I mean, how could we not include Pat McGrath Labs and Fenty Beauty?) but others, like Uoma, Ruka and Liha Beauty may be new to you. Not to mention the likes of Briogeo and Bouclème who have gained a cult following online, thanks to their dedication to every curly haired girl out there.
Ruka
Founded by a duo of British Africans, Ugo and Tendai, hair extension brand Ruka is made by Black women, for Black women, creating what's been missing from the market by consulting... Black women. It's no wonder the brand has bloody nailed it. Here's to hitting an unserved spot in the market, and hitting it with relentless quality.
They started with true-to-life textured human hair extensions for kinky, coily, curly and wavy hair, and now offer bundles, wigs, ponies, braiding hair and more, in a range of natural textures, as well as pressed or relaxed afro textures, and adding synthetic to their bow along the way.
You can see my review of their curly clip-ins here.
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