Regardless of your position on black owned beauty companies being acquired, it is safe to say high quality natural hair products are here to stay. As a little girl, I was always obsessed with hair and had my hands in it every chance I could get. This passion later became the driving force that led to me completing my cosmetology hours while in high school to become a licensed hair stylist. With 20 years and counting in the industry, I have worked with every texture you could think of in high end salons across New York City. The salons I worked in always carried legacy brands with everything ranging from Kerastase to Orbie. Although these products are amazing, they do have their limits when it comes to natural hair texture, so I've put together a list of my top 9 black-owned and operated hair (and beard) care products and a little about the CEOs of each company.

Table of Contents

1. Aaron Wallace - Aaron Wallace - Best Beard Shampoo and Conditioner

2. Camille Rose - Janell Stephens - Best All Natural Hair and Nail Vitamins For Growth

3. Ecoslay - Adria Marshall - Best Protein Treatment For Soft Hair

4. Curls - Mahisha Dellinger - Best Curl Hair Rinse for Moisture & Shine

5. Velvet Noir - Roderick Foster - Best Natural Beard Oil

6. Soultanicals - Ayo Ogun - Best Natural Hair Detangler and Leave In Conditioner

7. Curls Dynasty - Nickie Nougaisse - Best Twisting Cream

8. Uncle Funky’s Daughter - Renee Morris - Best Product Build Up Remover

9. Uncle Jimmy’s Beard - Taliah Waajid - Best Beard Conditioning Balm for Growth

1. Aaron Wallace - Aaron Wallace Beard Care

Best Beard Shampoo and Conditioner Aaron Wallace: 3-Step Haircare System

Aaron Wallace is the CEO and founder of Aaron Wallace Beard Care, first launched his company while working as a barber in South London. Drawing inspiration from his Jamaican roots, Aaron spent 2 years working with formulation experts and manufacturers to create a product line with Black Seed Oil and Mango Butter as key ingredients. His high-quality beard care products are designed to combat dryness, reduce breakage, protect against environmentally caused damage and encourage healthier hair growth specifically for black men.

2. Camille Rose - Janell Stephens

Best All Natural Hair and Nail Vitamins For Growth Camille Rose Super Foods Vitamins

Camille Rose - Janell Stephens is the CEO of Camille Rose, a natural hair and skincare brand that has become a staple in the beauty industry. With a mission to provide high-quality, natural, and effective products, Camille Rose has been able to win the hearts of many. Stephens, a mother of two, started the company in her kitchen back in 2010. She was inspired to start the company after struggling to find natural hair and skin care products that worked for her family. With her background in chemistry and her passion for beauty, she decided to take matters into her own hands and create her own line of products.

3. Ecoslay - Adria Marshall

Best Protein Treatment For Soft Hair Ecoslay Matcha Boost Protein Treatment

Ecoslay - Adria Marshall’s journey to becoming the CEO of Ecoslay began with a desire to make a difference in the world through her commitment to sustainability. She was always passionate about the environment and wanted to use her skills and knowledge to create a brand that was not only sustainable, but also effective. After years of research and development, Adria finally launched Ecoslay, which quickly became a hit with consumers who were looking for hair care products that were both effective and environmentally friendly. All of the brand's products are made with natural ingredients that are sourced from sustainable farms and are free from harmful chemicals. Additionally, the brand's packaging is made from recycled materials, and the company is committed to reducing its carbon footprint.

4. Curls - Mahisha Dellinger

Best Curl Hair Rinse for Moisture & Shine The Green Collection Sea Kelp Green Tea Hair Rinse

Curls - Mahisha Dellinger's journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur was not an easy one. She grew up in a low-income household and struggled to find hair care products that worked for her own curly hair. Despite facing financial and personal challenges, Dellinger was determined to succeed and began researching the hair care industry.After years of research and experimentation, Dellinger finally launched Curls in 2002. The brand quickly gained popularity among those with naturally curly hair, who had long been overlooked by mainstream hair care brands. Curls' products are specially formulated to hydrate and define curls, reduce frizz, and provide long-lasting hold.

5. Velvet Noir - Roderick Foster

Best Natural Beard Oil Velvet Noir Bourbon Beard Oil

Velvet Noir - Roderick Foster's journey as an entrepreneur began when he struggled to find grooming products that were specifically designed for men with beards. After discovering that many of the grooming products available on the market were filled with harsh chemicals and synthetic ingredients that can be harmful to the skin and beard, Roderick launched Velvet Noir in 2014. He decided to take a different approach and create products that were made with natural ingredients, such as coconut oil, argan oil, and beeswax. These ingredients are known for their nourishing properties and are gentle on the skin, making them perfect for men with beards.

6. Soultanicals - Ayo Ogun

Best Natural Hair Detangler and Leave In Conditioner Soultanicals Knot Sauce Coil Detangler

Soultanicals - As a 1st generation Nigerian-American born to Nigerian parents in Brooklyn, Ayo Ogun embarked on her entrepreneurial journey against all cultural norms. As a mother of 6 and one to many dreaded detaining hair wash days, Ogun created the “yummy smelling” Soultanicals in 2012 out of an urgent need for the best moisturizing hair products for natural hair. Soultanicals addresses the specific challenges of multi-textured hair care, with a unique blend of organic, plant-based, herbal, and African botanical ingredients.

7. Curls Dynasty - Nickie Nougaisse

Best Twisting Cream Curls Dynasty Vanilla Cream Custard

Curls Dynasty - Nickie Nougaisse was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and immigrated to the United States at the age of nine. She grew up in Miami, Florida, where she developed a deep appreciation for her natural hair but it was not one without challenges. Nougaisse's personal natural hair journey of feeling frustrated and disappointed after a cabinet full of hair products proved to be unsuccessful. She began experimenting with high quality ingredients in her kitchen and later launched Curls Dynasty in 2014 providing natural hair care products that are safe, effective, and affordable.

8. Uncle Funky’s Daughter - Renee Morris

Best Product Build Up Remover Uncle Funky's Daughter Bye-Bye Buildup Cleansing Conditioner

Uncle Funky’s Daughter - Renee Rhoten Morris acquired the Uncle Funky’s Daughter brand in 2014 after a chance encounter with the owner of the brand. Renee was with 3 children under the age of 3 at the time, was looking to have a greater impact ont he community after a success career consulting large firms. With proceeds of Uncle Funky’s Daughter focused on supporting women and children in leading financially independent lives, Renee has grown the Uncle Funky’s Daughter brand expanding not only its product line, but its national presence. This powerhouse product line is fueled by Renee's passion for creating products specifically designed for black women and helping them to fall in love with their hair one curl at a time. 

9. Uncle Jimmy’s Beard - Taliah Waajid

Best Beard Conditioning Balm for Growth Uncle Jimmy Beard Gro Balm

Uncle Jimmy’s Beard - Taliah Waajid is the CEO of Uncle Jimmy’s Beard, which she affectionately named after her well groomed Uncle Jimmy. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan hair was always a passion of hers. After completing her degree in cosmetology, she started her own salon in Detroit and eventually expanded her business to include a line of natural hair care products. With the launch of Taliah Waajid Brands, she has grown her brand to include 6 products line for women and children natural hair products In 2009, she launched Uncle Jimmy’s Beard Products, which specializes in high quality all-natural beard grooming products.

If you like this article, i'm sure you'll love Self Care Sunday - Massy Arais