Between Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade's decision to only wear black designers during All Star Weekend to the release of Black Panther, it's been an exciting Black History Month.
Today,
we're continuing the celebration with the beauty companies made for and
by black women that have made an impact on the makeup and hair
industries, as well as Hollywood. While it may be hard to believe, it
wasn't until recently that products for dark skin tones and kinky hair
were readily available.
"The first ten years of my career, no one ever got my foundation color right on an acting job," Rashida Jones told E! News.
Most
people can understand the horror of getting your foundation color wrong
and walking outside. Now, think of what it would feel like to have this
happen in front of cameras, then see your mismatched makeup on
television. It's mortifying.
Knowing the damage this can cause to the self-confidence of models and actresses, black women like Iman
came to the rescue, creating products that made worked well on all
skin-tones. Considering that the African-American community includes
every shade and hair texture, these brands have an natural desire to
have something for everyone.
Today, the awareness for inclusive
beauty is at an all-time high with large corporations following suite
and diverse glam squads on set and the red carpet. Yet, there are still
beauty brands that are pushing forward with innovations fit to address
the needs of communities of color.
Check out the beauty brands making an impact in Hollywood below!
Iman Cosmetics
In 1994, supermodel Iman launched
Iman Cosmetics
for women with skin of color. By aligning with Proctor & Gamble in
2004, the makeup company grew, becoming a major drugstore label in
Target, Wal-Mart and Walgreens. Today, Iman remains a leader of the
movement and the company continues to be a staple.
ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images
Black/Opal
Also launched in 1994, Black/Opal claims the #1 spot, as
the first skin-care company made specifically for black women,
prioritizing hyperpigmentation, oil control and shade matching. Since
then, it's had a glowing presence in Hollywood, working on the sets of
films such as
Think Like a Man and
The Best Man, as well as the red carpet.
For the 2018 SAG Awards, Mary J. Blige used the brand, applying the
Invisible Oil Blocking Gel Primer,
Total Coverage Concealing Foundation and the
True Color Skin Perfecting Stick Foundation.
Europa Press/Europa Press via Getty Images
Fenty Beauty
Rihanna's newest venture,
Fenty Beauty,
has made a major impact. Sephora stores are barely able to keep the
products in stock. When it was first announced, it was the
businesswoman's push to create products "so that women everywhere could
be included" that got people excited. With 40 foundation shades and
diverse campaigns, this company has proven that diversity is key to
successful beauty companies.
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
Tailah Waajid
Tailah Waajid started her career in the braiding salon
in NYC. Now, after 25 years in the business, she's created products
specifically to address the needs of naturalistas and braid lovers
worldwide. Celebrity hairstylist
Nai'vasha Johnson used
Tailah Waajid Green Apple & Aloe Nutrition Leave-In Conditioner,
Curls, Waves, Naturals Curly Curl Gello and Shea Monoi Oil to create Yara Shahidi's hairstyle for the 2018 NAACP Image Awards.
Miss Jessie's
In 2004, Titi and Miko Branch named their salon and
hair-care line after their grandmother, Miss Jessie, a Poughkeepsie, NY
native with a knack for sweet potato pie and kitchen-made beauty
products. Now,
Miss Jessie's is a household name for kinky and curly hair, as well as the secret behind
Gayle King's Golden Globes style.
ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images
SheaMoisture
At age 19, Sofi Tucker, a widowed mother of four,
started selling African Black Soap and Shea Butter in Sierra Leone. The
beginning of her business started in 1912. Now, one hundred years later,
her legacy lives on in the shelves of Target, CVS and more as
SheaMoisture. It has grown into a large corporation that includes makeup
and hair products because, as the website states, "The best in personal
care and beauty should not belong to the few."
To create Janelle Monae's epic pixie for the Grammy Awards 2018, celebrity hairstylist
Nikki Nelms used the brand's new
Red Palm Oil & Cocoa Butter collection.
Vernon Francois
Vernon Francois is a celebrity hairstylist that wasn't content with the products made for curly hair, so he made
his own.
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