No conversation about beauty is complete without the voices of stylists, creatives, and business leaders who are Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC)
There’s no shortage of ways for every industry professional to celebrate, support, and advocate for BIPOC beauty. From business owners to stylists and content creators to models, Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color are doing the hard work of pushing back against outdated norms to reimagine the public’s understanding and appreciation of beauty at every level.
In this article, we’ll look at four ways everyone can support, learn from, and follow in the footsteps of the BIPOC leaders who are guiding the entire beauty industry to a new frontier.
Follow and learn from BIPOC stylists to the stars
Celebrity hairstylists understand that hair is so much more than it seems; their star clients are perfectly poised to turn hairstyles into works of art, striking statements, or entire revolutions. The celebrity aspect of their clientele helps expose the work of hairstylists like Ursula Stephen, Tymothe Wallace, and Andre Walker to a broader audience, inspiring people around the world — both within and outside of the beauty industry — to embrace and exalt the beauty of Black hair.
Listen to beauty podcasts from BIPOC hosts
It’s no secret that the beauty industry has widely neglected BIPOC voices. Although there’s still a long way to go, podcasting has emerged as one avenue for people of color to broadly discuss beauty, analyze the industry, and share the experiences that have so often been silenced in the mainstream. The range of BIPOC-hosted beauty podcasts out there today includes perspectives as varied as creatives to industry insiders and surgeons to cosmetologists, meaning there’s something for everyone no matter what type of beauty conversation you’re looking for.
Stock products from BIPOC-owned brands
Using and offering products created by BIPOC-owned beauty brands does double duty in supporting the community. On the one hand, you’ll be setting up your business to champion BIPOC creators and business owners constantly, no matter what your operational focus is during any given week or month. On the other hand, you’ll be able to offer your clientele a more inclusive product line. That way, every customer who walks in the door can both find the tools and supplies they need for their personalized home beauty regimens and also see themselves represented, respected, and appreciated in your salon or spa environment.
Hire BIPOC talent for your beauty business
Representation doesn’t stop at the shelf, of course. Building a diverse team of talented and creative professionals is a crucial way to support BIPOC beauty. Ensuring that your staff represents the wide variety of clients who might step into your salon or spa will lead to both a safer space and a more well-rounded menu of services that caters to more inclusive beauty ideals. Resources like the BIPOC Network database exist to help elevate and sing the praises of talented people of color in the industry, including hairstylists, makeup artists, manicurists, and more.
The beauty industry is evolving rapidly. At this point, it’s a moral and ethical imperative for beauty businesses to support more expansive and inclusive ideas about beauty. This list is just a starting point for the countless ways industry professionals can work to center, support, and learn from BIPOC beauty leaders today and into the future.
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