Two Founders on the Struggles of Scaling a Black-Owned Brand and the Stigma Around Men and Skincare
Black History Month is in full effect and now is the time to celebrate and address the state of Black beauty and its place in the industry. You can find Black-owned brands in every business category, but for beauty, the range of haircare, makeup, skincare, body care and wellness business are popping up at a massive rate.
We see more representation outside of DTC, where Black-owned brands own shelf space in Sephora, Credo and Ulta. To add more color and context to the conversation, we’re even seeing Black, cisgender men pay more attention to their skincare routine and shed the layered stigma surrounding men and beauty. However, there is still a chat to be had around the struggles of scaling for a Black beauty business and why men have denied themselves of proper skincare over the years — and we’re leading the convo.
For the culture, Hypebae Beauty has tapped two Black-owned brands BAO Essentials and Klur to help facilitate the conversation and give the real deal of the state and matters of Black Beauty. Our wish is that this roundtable will provoke discussion and spark change within and outside of our respective communities.
As always, the only way to close these gaps is by investing in and purchasing from brands that derive from underrepresented groups.
BAO Essentials – Founder Jae Joseph
As a Black man in the beauty/skincare industry, what are some common myths you’d like to dispel for men who may be interested in skincare but have hesitancy?
Black men have always wondered about their skin yet expressing concerns was frowned upon by societal standards. In the past, being worried about beautifying your skin to obtain a flawless image was a “no-no” for black men and wasn’t looked upon as masculine.
Sadly,