THE BRITISH beauty industry is worth billions, with women of colour contributing to these statistics. We have recently seen a shift in the market, with well-known brands catering for darker skin tones more now than ever before.

Unfortunately, a lot of the recognition and spotlight is sometimes somewhat unfairly shone on white beauty business owners. However, there is a small but mighty force of black women brand founders, creating waves and serving their communities with their phenomenal beauty contributions. Life & Style bring you four successful black-owned businesses making huge strides in the beauty industry.

Antidote Street
Winnie Awa, founder of Antidote Street, aims to connect her customers to high-quality hair brands and services.

The online platform was launched in 2015 by e-commerce expert Awa. Antidote Street is a one-stop shop of discovery to the world’s greatest brands for Afro and curly-textured hair, dedicated to giving consumers knowledge, power and choice.

We all know the struggle when it comes to finding suitable products and services for Afro hair, so this is a much welcomed and needed phenomenon for the black community.

Elenge
Carine Mbala, founder of Elenge, fair trade and ethical bath and body range, was inspired by the richness and vitality of Africa.

ETHICAL BEAUTY: Carine Mbala

Natural, organic, handmade, and vegan, Elenge ticks a lot of boxes as a brand, but one of my favourites has to be the shea butter for face and body.

The light formula locks in moisture and leaves skin glistening and nourished. All products are made as and when orders are received, guaranteeing fresh, homemade products.

The organic shea butter takes up to three days to be made. The light butter is whipped to perfection before being packaged.

Carine uses unrefined, fairtrade shea butter from Ghana, using sustainable methods free from radiation, as they do in Africa.

Gina Knight Wig Design
Gina Knight, founder of Gina Knight Wig Design, who creates authentic Afro kinky textured wigs, is raising the conversation of hair loss within the black community.

WIG MAKING EXTRAODINAIRE: Gina Knight

Gina, who herself has been battling hair loss since 2012, was no longer satisfied with the wigs and services available, so she decided to create her own line of wigs (inset) that celebrate Afro hair textures and focus on truly protecting hair without the use of glues or adhesives.

With more than 10 years in the industry, Gina has created wigs for singers, actresses and media personalities, and wigs have been used in editorial shoots and on the West End stage.

Dija Ayodele – Black Skin Directory Dija Ayodele is founder of the Black Skin Directory, a pioneering new platform connecting people of colour to the skincare they deserve.

PIONEER: Dija Ayodele

Women of colour struggle to find dermatologists and skincare professionals experienced in the unique demands of darker skin. Dija is extremely passionate about ensuring a level playing field for all.

Her goal is to ensure access, availability and affordability to professional skin care services for all women, especially black women, who are all too often unrepresented.

The award-winning Black Skin Directory will connect women of colour with experienced skincare professionals, cosmeceutical treatments and products, events and roadshows.