5 minute read
BLACK BEAUTY GONE GREEN
BLACK BEAUTY GONE GREEN
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It’s no secret that Black Women love beauty products. However, as we embark on our self-care journeys, there are new levels of consciousness all around the types of products we use on our hair and bodies. Finding the right products can often be an expensive and very frustrating experience. Thanks to Dr. Kristian Henderson, a professor of public health and natural lifestyle enthusiast, and her company BLK+GRN, the process of shopping for self-care products just became a treat rather than a chore.
When visiting the BLK+GRN website, you can shop with confidence because they do not allow just every product that inquires to be sold on their site. They have a strict approval process, where they vet each and every product. When asked, “why have an approval process? “Dr. K. Henderson advised, “our mission at BLK+GRN is to promote beautiful, sustainable and high-quality products that are ethically sourced and free from toxins. I really wanted to uphold the integrity of that by making sure that all of the artisans that are featured on our site met certain requirements. Each brand is carefully chosen by experts and share in our mission of health, wellness, and community cultivation. We want to be absolutely sure that we’re offering the cleanest plant-based products on the market.” She emphasized, “our approval process shows the steps that we take when reviewing applications for artisans to feature. This 4-part process evaluates ingredients, sourcing, effectiveness and we even look at the packaging and branding of the products. We also want to know if it’s meeting a new niche and filling a gap in the beauty space. We discover hundreds of artisans, but we curate our selection to include only the best of the best of Black-owned brands. I’m always interested in making sure that we give our customers as much diversity as possible so that we can replace them having to purchase their personal care products from other places.
” IN HER OWN WORDS
Ellese & Co: What inspired you to start BLK+GRN?
KH: Well, my background is in public health and one of the things that was central to my work was health disparities — particularly looking at why Black women have poor health outcomes in comparison to their white counterparts. The growing research pointed to the levels of toxicity in the products that Black women are using, and the impact that it may be having on their overall health. We found that 75% of the products that are marketed directly toward Black women are considered toxic and contain harmful ingredients. That statistic, alarming as it is, really put things into perspective for me and prompted me to embark on my own wellness journey by opting for products that were better for me. I also wanted to make it easier for other Black women to make that same choice.
So, in 2017, I started BLK+GRN, which is an online marketplace and educational platform that curates all-natural and toxic-free products created exclusively by Black artisans and entrepreneurs. I wanted to create a safe space where people could discover clean products and move towards holistic health. It was also important for me to encourage people to remove toxic chemicals from their diets and products and instead use the power of plants and nature to heal and thrive.
BLK+GRN was really born out of this desire for Black people to be conscious, politically and socially, with their consumption decisions.
What I love most about what I do is being able to help people live their healthiest and happiest lives. I’m just so overwhelmed by the amount of support that I’ve gotten from people all over the country who are willing to buy our products and are seeking to dedicate themselves to healthy-living – that’s been really fulfilling.
Ellese & Co: What are some of your favorite beauty brands, and why?
KH: Ever since I became a mom, I try to look for gentle products with multiple purposes. Plus, I’m constantly traveling for work, which can really take its toll on the skin. So, The Rose Glow Mini Kit by Matrescence Skin has become a favorite of mine because it helps revive my skin, it protects against environmental aggressors and it gives it that healthy glow when I’m on the go. And, for multi-purpose moisturizing, Posy Hair + Body Oil is my go-to magic oil. It comes in a spray bottle, it’s easy to apply, and gives you that needed hydration without being excessively oily.
Ellese & Co: We read the article that you published on Medium; why is having the BLK+GRN trademark so crucial to you? It’s an expensive fight, so why are you willing to take on such a big brand?
KH: Having the BLK+GRN trademark is really important to me because it affords the visibility needed for small Black-owned and Black affirming companies, especially in the current beauty space. It directly informs consumers that they are buying clean and eco-friendly products from actual Black brands.
Right now, we are in a trademark battle with Mansa Products Inc., the parent company that actually owns BLK/OPL, over the use of the word “BLK.” This has been truly eye-opening because I’m understanding first-hand the power behind these large corporations and how they can stifle the growth of small businesses. But, what’s baffling to me is that there are hundreds of other trademarks that have “BLK” in them. So, you can’t really trademark the spelling of a commonly used color.
And, you’re right. It is an expensive fight — one that can run the risk of us going out of business. I mean, it can cost tens of thousands of dollars to keep filing the briefs and paying for lawyer fees, even if the small business isn’t violating someone’s trademark.
Ellese & Co: Any advice for someone that wants to create a beauty brand?
KH: BLK+GRN didn’t start out as a business—it was really a solution to my own wellness needs. I started my career in public health as a hospital administrator. But at that time, I felt that the hospital practices and the way we treated patients weren’t aligning with my personal values. So, I wanted to create a platform where I could connect people with eco-friendly brands and products that support wellness, and cultivate forward-thinking Black artisans and entrepreneurs.
And for me, it’s a little more frustrating because this is almost like a form of “blackfishing.” BLK/OPL presents as a Black-owned brand — based on their content and marketing, many people think BLK/OPL is a Black-owned brand — but they’re actually not. They just want to capitalize on Blackness without actually being Black, and then try to prevent an actual Black company from thriving. Or, at least that’s how it feels to me. It’s very hard to wrap my head around at times.
So, my biggest tip is to develop a mission-driven business. Make sure that it is something that is authentic to your core values, and is something that you truly care about. It will become invaluable as you grow your business.
www.blkgrn.com
