Dark and Lovely New Anti-Shrinkage Line = NO THANKS

[manter26]

I think this BSS product company is black owned. Professional Products Unlimited, Inc.

• Jamaican Mango & Lime
• Groganics
• III Sisters of Nature
• Roberts Diamond Bond
• Transition Natural (Jamaican Mango & Lime)
• The Nice & Curly Collection
• Love My Baby

There's also a very long list of small business owners in the etsy/handmade thread in the vendor forum.

 

[greenandchic]

I am insulted as well. First they focus on "RELAXING" the natural texture out of our hair w/chemicals. Now they focus on "ANTI-SHRINKAGE" so that we don't have to be doomed w/our natural texture. :Lachen70: It is clear that these are not black people behind the products.

I saw that line at a BSS the other day and the tag lines, "loose spirals and curls" reminded me of Ms. Jessie's, especially when they were called "Curve Salon" back in the day. They started an all out war against natural hair with their "turn kinks to curls" nonsense back in the early 2000s.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but we came up with the term "shinkage" when it comes to our hair. White folks don't even know what it is. I guess this company decided to spy on us and capitalize on what they think our biggest insecurities are.

 

[virtuenow]

Did You Know That Most Black Products Are Not Black Owned - Although You Thought they Were?

by Black Hair Growth Strategies (Notes)

MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONSThe Disappearing Black Power Base of Formally African American
Owned Manufactures of Afro Oriented Hair Care Products

By Dr. Edward Tony Lloneau
(310) 283-7118
[email protected]

Excerpt:

There have been several major acquisitions as of late involving black owned firms that are now owned by majority firms. However, this trend is not new, in fact it dates back to as early as the 60’s.

Prior to the 60’s, the black oriented hair care product business was all but ignored by the general market product companies. But when market surveys accidentally revealed that black consumer’s purchase cosmetic and related products well beyond their proportionate numbers, (meaning that at that time Afro Americans were only 10% of the total U.S. population, but were consumers of more than 25% of cosmetic products that included for the most part hair care items).

Also, Afro Americans paid more for professional hair care services per visit then others. For example, the average black patron paid about $30.00 for a full service treatment, meaning shampoo, press & curl, perms, conditioners and set. The patron’s of other cultures spent about $12.00 for just a shampoo, set and style.

Today the prices are higher, but the pay scale and trend are the same, only now Afro Americans are 12% of the population and consume over 33% of cosmetic products and services. The main factor as to why the Afro Beauty Supply consumer market is so strong is: Afro women spend up to three (3) times as much money per salon visit then do others. Most other patrons get shampoos, sets, color and hair cuts per visit. Afro women generally get a full service treatment such as Relaxer Perms, Curly Perms, Press & Curl, coupled with Conditioning treatments as well as all forms of color services and hair augmentations i.e. Weaves, Braids and Extensions. Many of these services are not even offered in non Black Salons, plus the Afro patrons return more often than other cultures.


So armed with this information, the majority owned firms wanted in on this potential profitable market that they had formerly ignored and considered unimportant. Note: the majority of Korean owned beauty supply outlets are directed at that market for this and other reasons, resulting in the Koreans controlling 80% of professional Afro hair care product, sales and distribution sold in beauty supply stores. Also because Afro women are the major consumers of commercial hair that the Koreans have control of, import and distribution for the most part, resulting in their stores being in the areas where the customer base is.

Revlon was one of the first majority firms to jump into this market in a big way in the early 60’s. They first acquired a black owned firm in Chicago (Deluxol) that manufactured a relaxer line and related products. This product did so well under the original name with Revlon financial backing for advertising and promotions, that Revlon came out with another similar line under their own name of Revlon. They have done quite well in that endeavor ever sense under several trade names.

Revlon was motivated primarily by how well Johnson Products Company (a black owned product manufacturing company in Chicago) was doing with their Ultra Sheen line of relaxer products. At that time, Ultra Sheen was the best selling relaxer line. Revlon’s advertising and marketing and misleading advertising, “That was addressed by the U.S. Fair Trade Commission” claims was aimed towards the Ultra Sheen market. With that ploy, they were able to infiltrate and dilute Johnson market share by 50%.

The reason that Revlon did not introduce their Afro line under their own name at first, is because they did not want to taint their name and reputation if the endeavor was not successful or accepted. Revlon later dropped the Deluxol name in favor of promoting their own trademark name.

After that many other majority company’s jumped into that market with greater success then anticipated. Company’s such as Alberto Culver makers of VO5, developed TCB and later the Motions line. Clairol, acquired an Afro owned line called Summitt Labs out of Indianapolis, Indiana. After a successful run, they sold the line to their then Summitt director Clyde Hammonds who was with the company from the start, who is black and runs the company out of Harvey, a suburb of Chicago, Ill. Clairol decided to get out of the ethnic product business because it was distracting from their main focus of hair color products. However they learned from that experience how to better serve and market to the Afro consumer. This was the first time that an original black owned company that was acquired by a majority firm was reclaimed by a black owned company.

In the mid 60’s, a new look that was a draw back to the original Afro hairstyle called the NATURAL. This was to allow the hair to grow out naturally then groom and comb or “fork” it out to a neat round appearance and cut to a well rounded shape. The first company to offer a product that conformed to this style was Magnificent Products in Los Angeles. Two barbers Dennis Taylor and Wilber Jackson founded the company. The product and the style it was related to became a nation wide phenomena. Other companies tried to capitalize on this success, but none over came the pursuit.

Later a majority owned firm, J. Strickland, of Memphis, Tenn. At that time, the makers of Royal Crown and Dixie Peach products made the Magnificent Products an offer that they could not refuse, and bought the company. But instead of furthering and enhancing the sales and popularity of the products, they withdrew it from the market and shut it down. The speculated reason for this was because the Natural look was interfering with the sales of Royal Crown, Dixie Peach and other similar products produced and sold almost exclusively to Afro Americans. People wearing the Natural did not need or use petrolatum-based products. Johnson Products picked up the slack with a product called Afro Sheen, that did quite well until the fad was replaced by the so-called Jeri Curl.

In the early 1980’s Worlds of Curls a black owned company in Compton, Ca. became financially strapped due to diversifying into endeavors outside of their niche market and the declining curl market. Worlds of Curls had the best selling curl maintenance products for both professional and retail. The company is now owned by the J. Strickland Company the makers of Royal Crown Products, as eluted to above, concerning Magnificent Products.

Johnson Products of Chicago that was mentioned earlier in this article, was acquired by a majority holding and investment firm a few years ago, and has changed ownership three times sense then including the Walla Corporation of Germany with U.S. headquarters in New Jersey. Walla’s major niche market is hair color products (the best selling hair color line in Europe). Later Walla was acquired by Proctor & Gamble, and now Johnson has new owners (more about that later in this article).

Soft Sheen Products of Chicago was the next product line to be acquired by a major majority firm. L’Oreal of Paris with U.S. headquarters’ in New York. Soft Sheen manufactured the best selling Afro Curl products, plus the Optimum and Mazoni line. At the time of the acquisition Soft Sheen was the largest Afro owned hair care firm in the world, with assets well over $85,000.000.00. This acquisition was the largest one of its kind ever recorded and put L’Oreal in the Afro Hair Care market big time, plus they now own the Dark and Lovely line. Prior to this, L’Oreal was the largest manufacturer of hair care products to the general market in the world, along with Bristol Myers (who also owned Clairol), that is now owned by Proctor and Gamble.

This acquisition also gave L’Oreal the distinction of owning the largest Afro hair care company in the world. L’Oreal later attempted to acquire the Johnson Products Co. from the investment company, but was stopped by the Fair trade Commission because it would have given L’Oreal an unfair monopoly in the Afro hair care market. This opened the door for Walla to purchase Johnson. Proctor & Gamble who also acquired Clairol from Bristol Myers acquired Walla later.

Pro Line products of Dallas, Texas were acquired by Alberto Culver (mentioned earlier in this article) in 2005. Pro Lines niche was strong in the retail market for Afro hair care products. Alberto-Culver was already strong in the Afro professional market, with TCB and Motions, plus the fact that they were at that time the parent company of Sally’s Beauty Supply Stores. This acquisition gave them a strong position in the Afro retail market. In the latter part of 2010, Alberto Culver was purchased by the Unilever Company head quartered in the UK, Pro-line and the other Afro centric products (TCB & Motions) were a part of the deal. This made Unilever the third largest manufacturer of ethnic related products.

Published by the www.hairvitaminstore.com

 

[virtuenow]

Cont.:

A non-Afro firm in Chicago (JF Labs) now owns Hawaiian Silky, originally home based in Shannon, Miss., owned by Mr. Harry Green. Mr. Green passed away in mid 2010. Leisure Curl was also Afro owned and is now also owned by JF Labs. Namiste’, makers of ORGANIC ROOT STIMULATOR (the most imitated product line on the market today) in Blue Island, Ill. (southwest of Chicago), was purchased by an India owned firm called Dabur towards the end of 2010. This was the largest such transaction of a Afro owned hair care company in history, (over 100 million dollars) the owner of Namiste’ Mr. Gary Gardner is the son of Edward Gardner the former owner of Soft Sheen Products, prior to this transaction Soft Sheen acquisition by L’Oreal was the largest such transaction.

When Proctor and Gamble acquired Walla, Johnson Products were a part of the deal. Due to the fact that Johnson (Ultra Sheen & Gentle Treatment) was not the major reason for the acquisition (the Wella line was the main consideration for the acquisition), it made Johnson vulnerable for acquisition by any one interested. Johnson was purchased in March of 2009 by a Afro owned holding company headed by Eric and Renee Brown, a husband and wife team that are the son in law and daughter of the former Afro owner of Pro Line Mr. Comer Cottrel.

This is the second time that a hair care company that was originally owned by a black concern, sold to a majority owned firm, that sold back to a black entity. The first time was the Summit deal alluded to earlier in this article. A company founded by Ernest Jhosua, JM Products was headed by his son Michael after Mr. Jhosua’s death in 2005. In October of 2009 the company went into receivership. The company had several divisions that include production of the ISOPLUS and other trade name “Wet Goods” products, and an aerosol plant. The Isoplus line and other wet goods are now owned by the majority owned Murray Products Co. in Detroit, MI.



It is note worthy that many of the manufactures mentioned in this article are home based in other countries, for example, L’Oreal (France), Wella (Germany), Debar (India) and Unilever (England). It appears that many of the American based hair care and cosmetic companies are being dominated by foreign interest, especially in products directed to the Afro market. Three of the five largest manufactures of Afro designated hair care and cosmetics products are foreign owned.



A few of the hair care manufactures that are still Black owned as of this writing are: Luster products of Chicago, Ill. Producers of the Pink Moisturizer, Kizure Iron Works of Carson, Calif. (just south of Los Angeles). Manufacture of Curling Irons, Pressing Combs, Stove Heaters and several other related items, Summit Labs in Harvey, Ill. Also a suburb of Chicago, Lloneau Products in Los Angeles, Ca. makers of Liquid Gold Hair Bonding and Lace Front Adhesives, Bronner Bros. Of Atlanta, Ga. with a complete line of hair care products. Bronner Bros. Also are the publishers of Upscale Magazine and the producers of the most successful multicultural Cosmetology Trade Show in this or any other country. Dudley Products of Kernersville, N.C. one of the few Afro owned direct sales organization in this field. Dudley also owns a chain of Cosmetology schools in several states. Johnson Products that has recently come back under the Afro owned umbrella as stated earlier in this article. Fashion Fair Cosmetics, owned by Johnson Publishing (Ebony & Jet). Clentex of Chicago, Ill. owned by Mr. Steve Luster the brother of the founder of Luster Products. Research Labs in Atlanta, Ga. owned by Mr. Cornell McBride with a line called Design Essentials. Mr. McBride was one of the original owners of M&M Products. E.F. Young Products of Meridian, MS is now being run by a third generation of a family owned business. Mixed Chicks in Woodland Hills, Ca. Professional Products unlimited in Fayetteville, GA.



The preceding is a partial listing of Afro owned firms, but does represent most of the major Afro owned players still in the game.



So if you were curious as to who’s who in regards to ethnicity in the ownership of major ethnic directed product company’s you now know part of the story. This story is still unfolding as you read this article.

 

[MilkChocolateOne]

Lhcf should make commercials. We do all this research yet we on the boards are the only ones who recognize this stuff.

Hey....what about Elasta?

Elasta was once owned by Kenra now they are owned by strength of nature(the makers of profectiv and african pride).


I don't know if they are black.

 

[IrrationalThoughts]

Didn't Carol Daughter get sold?

 

[demlew]

Sounds like L'oreal is reading message boards. So many naturals complain about shirkage. And let's not forget about the ones on an endless search to naturally loosen their curl pattern(coconut milk/lime relaxer, henna etc..). And a lot of naturals keep their hair stretched all the time, so I am not insulted by L'oreal focusing on an anti shrinkage line.

MilkChocolateOne - I think someone from Sally's reads the hair boards, too. My local stores just started selling Reshma henna! $7/box? No thanks, I'll keep going to Patel Brothers for the fresh batch

 

[MilkChocolateOne]

demlew[/USER];18153327]@MilkChocolateOne - I think someone from Sally's reads the hair boards, too. My local stores just started selling Reshma henna! $7/box? No thanks, I'll keep going to Patel Brothers for the fresh batch

demlew


I think so too. Sally's increased prices on many popular hair board products. The aphogee line seems like it almost doubled in price.

 

[DarkJoy]

Thing is I'm the opposite--never thought any of these companies were black owned. I always assume white until notified otherwise. Only exceptions are 'new' companies like Miss Jessie's, Mixed Chicks, etc.

 

[blackeyes31626]

ITA
All my staples are from blk owned companies except pantene curl conditioner. I am currently looking for a blk replacement.

dang, I didn't know Curl Junkie wasn't blk/blackish owned anymore.

 

[BostonMaria]

No thanks! I definitely won't buy this either for the reasons you stated. Their products are full of junk.

 

[greenandchic]

ITA
All my staples are from blk owned companies except pantene curl conditioner. I am currently looking for a blk replacement.

dang, I didn't know Curl Junkie wasn't blk/blackish owned anymore.

I didn't either until today.

Unfortunately almost none of my staples are from black owned companies due to economics and availability (don't want to have to order online). I am a CurlKit subscriber so that's something.

 

[Angelinhell]

demlew


I think so too. Sally's increased prices on many popular hair board products. The aphogee line seems like it almost doubled in price.

That was Ateya's fault. It's funny though, because Aphogee keeps changing their ingredients(I had to give up on my beloved Green Tea Restructurizer)so the products barely have any benefits anymore......yet their selling like hotcakes.

 

[Ogoma]

ITA
All my staples are from blk owned companies except pantene curl conditioner. I am currently looking for a blk replacement.

dang, I didn't know Curl Junkie wasn't blk/blackish owned anymore.

NVM..............

 

[Ogoma]

Who did Marsha sell Curl Junkie to? I cannot find anything about it online.

ETA: It is still black owned:

http://www.curljunkie.com/aboutus.asp

 

[nlamr2013]

the thing is though some people can't afford to buy the black own products as they are usually more expensive and less available.

like for example right now my staples are creme of nature organ oil sfs, relaxed and natural conditioner, suave almond, and motions cpr. all of those products are under 6 dollars each.

I like shea moisture but at 10-12 dollars a jar it seems too pricy for my no job self right now.

 

[virtuenow]

greenandchic Ogoma I've updated the list. I actually pulled the lists from blackhairmedia and lipstickalley and added a few things from the lhcf lists. It is a work in progress to check each and everything on the list. Johnson is apparently black owned again. After selling out years ago, black owners have recently repurchased. I'll update that later. Let me know if either lists need additions or deletions.

 

[StarScream35]

I'm surprised I never hear any sistas talk about using Dudley products. I try to at least by a few of their products every now and again. Yeah I know they aren't natural products but I am pretty pleased with a few products I have tried. There is the moisturizing conditioner, PCA moisture retainer and Idiversify hydrate leave in condition. I like the fact he has a hair school and has survived through all these white owned companies. Lets keep him in business sistas. He was one of the originals back in the day!

I also support my Dominicans peoples and love their products.

 

[greenandchic]

I'm surprised I never hear any sistas talk about using Dudley products. I try to at least by a few of their products every now and again. Yeah I know they aren't natural products but I am pretty pleased with a few products I have tried. There is the moisturizing conditioner, PCA moisture retainer and Idiversify hydrate leave in condition. I like the fact he has a hair school and has survived through all these white owned companies. Lets keep him in business sistas. He was one of the originals back in the day!

I also support my Dominicans peoples and love their products.

I had no idea they were still around. I always thought Dudley was mainly for relaxed hair and I've only seen their products in salon settings, not the retail market.

From their website: "Dudley's Professional Products are only sold to Licensed Cosmetologists."

I just looked on their site and did a salon/product search and there are none 50 miles from here.

I would love to dry Dominican products but they don't have a presence on the west coast.

 

[StarScream35]

I had no idea they were still around. I always thought Dudley was mainly for relaxed hair and I've only seen their products in salon settings, not the retail market.

From their website: "Dudley's Professional Products are only sold to Licensed Cosmetologists."

I just looked on their site and did a salon/product search and there are none 50 miles from here.

I would love to dry Dominican products but they don't have a presence on the west coast.

I bought my Dudley products from sleekhair.com I don't recall seeing Dudley's relaxers on sleekhair but they definitely had shampoos and conditioners. I have seen Dudley relaxers illegally sold to the public in Korean stores. I'm can't believe they don't get busted.

Isn't it ashamed you can't find Dominican products in stores. I have to order mine from roundbrushhair.com. There is a Dominican salon where I live that carries a limited selection of stuff but unfortunately none of the things I like...........

 

[naturalmanenyc]

I saw this line at Target yesterday but have never seen the commercials. The ingredients are crap and I would not bother trying them even if they were free.

 

[kupenda]

Bumping...for anyone who hasn't seen this or was tempted by the idea of bamboo milk

 

[kimpaur]

Yes, we need a sticky, more of a database of black owned hair care product companies @pebbles @Supergirl @Allandra. In that thread, we should also include a list of non-black owned hair companies. It's important to know that certain companies we assumed were black owned are far from it (e.g., Dr. Miracles, Dark n Lovely, Motions, TCB, Hawaiian Silky, As I Am Naturally, Cantu Hair Products/Shea Butter, and ORGANIC ROOT STIMULATOR or ORS = NOT BLACK OWNED).

Until then, here are some threads that list black owned hair companies:

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=665547

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=423382

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=419508

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=635311

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=676897

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=581213

Dr. Miracle isn't black owned!!

 

[Napp]

Wow this is great! I like to use alot of international lines however so I know that quite a few products I use aren't black owned. The big push right now is for black owned companies to cater to curly haired naturals but I am looking for companies that have products for straightening natural hair too.

Here are a few that I know of off the top of my head
Kay Vel
Essations
Arosci
Huetiful
Goin' Natural Morogan Gold
Milstan

 

[greenandchic]

Wow this is great! I like to use alot of international lines however so I know that quite a few products I use aren't black owned. The big push right now is for black owned companies to cater to curly haired naturals but I am looking for companies that have products for straightening natural hair too.

Here are a few that I know of off the top of my head
Kay Vel
Essations
Arosci
Huetiful
Goin' Natural Morogan Gold
Milstan

Are you look for companies that create chemical straightening products (relaxers), or more on the styling side?

Business wise, I think the real money is in relaxers, styling tools, and of course wigs/weaves.

 

[Napp]

Are you look for companies that create chemical straightening products (relaxers), or more on the styling side?

Business wise, I think the real money is in relaxers, styling tools, and of course wigs/weaves.

I am looking for companies that have products made specifically for straightening natural hair with no permanent chemicals. Products like straightening balms,pressing oils cremes, amino acid straightening treatments etc.

So far the best straightening product is ever used is made by an Italian company that specifically formulated it for natural/highly textured hair.

 

[CheLala13]

Glad I only stick to one line, which is Darcy's!

I know to some it may seem like we're doing too much, but we have to take a stand somehow. Natural hair is UNIQUE to us, therefore, WE should be the ones making money from it. Just like Asian food restaurants, people always want to go to the ones that actually have Asians!

 

[greenandchic]

the thing is though some people can't afford to buy the black own products as they are usually more expensive and less available.

like for example right now my staples are creme of nature organ oil sfs, relaxed and natural conditioner, suave almond, and motions cpr. all of those products are under 6 dollars each.

I like shea moisture but at 10-12 dollars a jar it seems too pricy for my no job self right now.

I think the "boycott" would be helpful if we at least try to eliminate big brands first. Aubrey Organics GPB is part of my staples, and they are not black owned, but somehow I don't harbor ill will towards them since they don't seem oppressive to me. It would be nice if we had a large company as AO, but AO have been around since the '60s and as far as I know they didn't sell out.

Carol's Daughter is a big name now, but she sold to the highest bidder. I don't know if she still owns the company, but she compromised a lot over the years in terms of quality.

Since this is LHCF, we naturally use a lot of product at times, especially conditioner. I can't see spending $12 on 8 oz of something that will be gone in a few weeks. I do sometimes, but not on a regular basis.

 

[LexiDior]

I know that when i first heard Dark and Lovely came with their natural line, I was offended because its like they spend years telling women to relax their hair now they want to market to naturals. I feel like its a slap in the face.

 

[QuietJamboree]

My favorite line is Curls.

I didn't try Curls until they sold them in Target. My only gripe is that small bottle of conditioner that I blow through with the quickness. I need a tub of it.

After so many good reviews, I ordered Curl Junkie online and loved their products too. If Curl Junkie started selling their products in Target, I would be ecstatic, because I don't like ordering hair products online. I like to smell the product and look at the consistency before using it.

My favorite non-Black line is Loreal. I have used several of their lines with success.

I tried the Dark and Lovely Au Naturale Coil Moisturizing Souffle on Saturday. I used it as my only styling product, and my braid-out looked great. I got several compliments at the Easter dinner. The consistency is like Cantu Shea Butter, and when it dried, my hair looked similar to when I use Curl Junkie Hibiscus and Banana Honey Butta. My hair looks good, smells good and feels good...so I am good with it. I really like the scent, but if you are scent sensitive, I would skip this product. Curl Junkie is better but I am pleased with my results.

Will I re-purchase? I might, but I really want to try the Karen's Body Beautiful line, since I hear it is now sold in Target .

A white lady at work with 3a/3b hair uses black hair products like Carol's Daughter and Miss Jessies. She gave me a jar of one of her Miss Jessie's products and the peppermint in it set my scalp on FIRE. So I will not be trying anything from them again .

I think it is wonderful that more black-owned businesses are selling hair products and they will get my support, but I fully expected the non-black companies to ALSO pick up on the hair trends of the targeted audience and try to compete.

Back when I first went natural a decade ago, the only thing that I could find that worked was Black and Sassy Creamy set, so I am loving ALL of the options that I have to choose from now.

I don't see Dark and Lovely doing anything different than the Relaxed and Natural line. Even John Freida is making curly girl products. And no company is more committed to killing a curl than John Freida .