Yes, times are a changin’… stop in any beauty supply store around the way and just take note of the all the windows and top shelves that used to only feature wigs & weaves of long flowing tresses that have now made space for braids, afro wigs and dreadlock extensions. Am I the only one who’s noticed? But the question is, who is leading the natural hair revolution?
In the last few years, we’ve seen the atmosphere towards African-American hair make a determined 180 degree shift towards natural (I’ll be posting about those deets soon…). When you walk into a beauty supply store you are more likely now than ever before to find a natural employee behind the counter. These stores that once sold things like relaxers exclusively, suddenly have products like shea butter, Ecostyler™, and castor oil headlining the shelves. What lead to this major change?
Well for one thing, hair companies have seen their relaxer sale drop by over 17%, while simultaneously watching the natural hair products interest skyrocket. But it wasn’t always this way. In 2008, the percentage of companies that sold relaxers were 43%. Today, relaxer sales have dropped by 26% in the last 5 years.
What happened? Are there more companies?
Although the amount of companies has grown, it’s the facts that are surprising. More than half or the relaxer companies have gone, or also sell hair products targeted towards naturals.
So what do you think? Who is leading this hair revolution?