Here we are, about to begin a new year (2011). We've had a black president for two years; markets have crashed; we're waging one active and one passive war; unemployment is above 9.0%, (above 20% if we're talking about the African American community); we have a black hair care industry made up of Asian suppliers, natural hair care product providers; a few remaining chemical treatment manufacturers/suppliers and the big established multinationals that are profiting from our community. All of this and we still can't get the mainstream African American hair care product providers, to manufacture products that are safe and non toxic to the scalp.
No where else in the world can you find a community so willing to fund a $9 billion industry, without demanding more from the product providers. With the average cost of a perm falling between $150 and $200, this translates to a cost of between $1,300 to $2,600 annually, for every black woman who’s hooked on the proverbial “creamy crack”. I know we have some great new companies, creating healthy, more natural products, made from non toxic ingredients. I additionally know that the traditional product providers will lose customers as women become more informed of the options and risk associated with its usage. My question however is, when will our sisters demand more? When will they require that the manufacturers produce a product that won't burn their scalps, weaken their hair, consume hours out of their lives per treatment?
This blog is about the traditional black hair care industry and how it must become more sustainable, if it wants to survive and thrive in this new era. My post will include the horror story examples, the risk that hair care providers are exposed to, and a new way of looking at an old industry in a new way. I hope you all enjoy - please let me know your thoughts.
