The beauty industry in the U.S. remains sharply divided along racial lines, with Black-Owned Beauty Brands not getting the credit they deserve. With the help of many BSPs and clients, we can change that. 

“Most beauty journalism still assumes readers are white,” wrote Funmi Fetto in an article for The Guardian titled “The beauty industry is still failing black women.” But beauty products and services are not only for white women–here at KLYP, they’re for everyone.  

In light of the nationwide Black Lives Matter movement, many BSPs and clients are looking for concrete ways to move across those lines. The tides of change are here! 

Book With Someone New: Many Black BSPs Cut White Hair and Many White BSPs Cut Black Hair 

It’s a common misconception that people have to go to the stylist who shares their ethnicity. This does not need to be the case! Many BSPs cut the hair of people who are not the same ethnicity as they are. It’s important for stylists to learn to work on a variety of hair types to thrive in the industry, anyway! This is especially important for mixed-race clients who have a blend of hair types. With KLYP, clients can easily see which hair types each KLYPIST works on by looking at their profiles. Each KLYPIST uploads photos of their work, so clients can get an idea of what styles they give.  

Order Products From Black-Owned Businesses 

Different backgrounds bring different ideas and perspectives. Branch out and order products from small, Black-owned businesses to support them. Ulta and Amazon don’t need your money, but small businesses do, and many deliver just like Amazon does! Allure compiled a list of 41 Black-owned beauty brands. Here’s a short list. 

• Pat McGrath Labs: high-end eyeshadow and highlighter palettes 
• Hyper Skin: skincare products, known for their vitamin C and turmeric brightening serum  
• TPH by Taraji: hair treatment and scalp cleansing, CEO is actor Taraji P. Henson 
• Epara Skincare: lightweight cleansing lotion to combat dryness, discoloration, and unevenness 

• B. Simone Beauty: lipsticks, lip-liners, glosses, and mattes from Youtuber B. Simone 

Follow Black Insta Influencers 

For a more diverse style, avoid having a whitewashed insta feed. Follow influencers of different ethnicities so you can get different perspectives and style ideas just from scrolling. Learn about their favorite products and try some out for yourself! Blogger Alicia Tensie compiled a list of influencers of color to follow. Here’s a short list:  

• @goodtomicha: Tomi Obebe blogs about fashion, lifestyle, and skincare from Charlotte, NC.  

• @monroesteele: Monroe Steele is the editor and chief of Steele Magazine. She is a fashion blogger and Youtuber from NYC. 
• @themattiejames: Mattie James is a stylish mom of three. She is an influencer who also teaches other influencers how to brand themselves. 
• @asiyami_gold: Asiyami Gold is the founder and creative director of A.Au, a clothing brand. Her Instagram is full of outfit, hair, and makeup inspo.  

Leave Reviews  

A great way for people to find Black stylists and Black-owned businesses is by leaving positive reviews. Let the stylist know you loved their work and are coming back for more! KLYP makes it easy to write and read reviews. You can also rate your KLYPIST on a five-star-scale so others can more easily see that you loved them.  

When Ordering from a Non-Black-Owned Business, Check Their Statements and Action Plans 

Not every business you order from is going to Black-owned. When buying from other brands, look at their statements and action plans regarding anti-racism and equity in the industry. According to Glossy, an online beauty website, Glossier is donating $1 million to a variety of organizations that support the BLM movement and SheaMoisture hosted an Instagram Live discussion on the topic. Companies like Glossier and SheaMoisture, which are acting rather than just talking, are great to support alongside Black-owned businesses. Here are some big brands committing to action, from lists compiled by Allure and Vogue: 

• Anastasia Beverly Hills: $1 million split between organizations 
• Cocokind: 100% of sales from the week of June 1 split between organizations 
• E.L.F.: $25,000 to Color of Change 
• Glossier: $1 million, split between organizations 
• Lesse skincare: 100% of sales from the first weekend of June, split between organizations 

And remember, even a small change is a good one. Buying one product from a Black-owned business or leaving one five-star review can go a long way. Making real change takes more than just one person — use your voice to diversify the beauty industry with us!