Apps and Edges: Historical and Modern Innovation of Black Hair

Hairlines. Line-ups. Weaves. Perms. Fades. Braids. Lacefronts. Caesars. Edges. These are terms which various black communities may have as part of their casual vernacular, whether they be African, Spanish-speaking or Asian.

Barbershops and beauty salons have and will always play a critical role in black cultures and commerce. This prominence is arguably a result of blacks being compelled to find great pride and security in one’s physical appearance and attractiveness.

Madame C.J. Walker, innovator and first female self-made Millionaire

As it was for Madame C.J. Walker in 1904, when her hair straightening cream made her the first female black millionaire in America, opportunities for hair-related financial profits continue to exist. In 2016, however, businessmen and women who are looking to profit within black hair markets are beginning to re-think both the products which blacks use as well as the processes they undergo in order to access and utilize these products.

Modern Web and Software Innovations Optimizing Black Hair Markets

In the last 1-2 years, there has been an incredible increase in the discourse and awareness of web and software based startups as pertaining to black communities in America. Coursework in coding and software development is slowly becoming more accessible by the disadvantaged.

This increase in access and awareness has, partly, led to an increase in the number of people with underprivileged backgrounds or perspectives who are building web and software-centric businesses.

Mayvenn makes it easier for customers to purchase hair extensions in different styles

A few of the by-products of this social and commercial shift have been companies such as Bevel, Mayvenn and Squire which are all re-conceptualizing the way blacks cut, style or even purchase hair via innovative software.

There are surely other markets in which black entrepreneurs are active. However, hair seems to persist as a market of particular interest. But this is nothing new for black business persons.

Big Business and Market Size of Hair Business

To say that that hair is big business would be an understatement. According to the market research firm, Mintel, the black hair care market was at $684 million in 2012 and is projected to grow to $761 million by 2017. However, when the market of extensions, styling tools, wigs, accessories, etc are included, expected revenues in 2012 jump to $500 billion.

The salon and barbershop market in the United States, according to First Research, includes about 86,000 establishments who employ just over 1.7 million people.

Mayvenn brings Hair Extension Market into the Digital Age

In an historical sense, Mayvenn, Squire and Bevel have created no new ideas- except that they have.

These three companies have innovated new ways of carrying out the timeless processes and errands of shaving, purchasing extensions, buying razor blades and scheduling haircuts.

Mayvenn, co-founded by Taylor Wang and Diishan Imira (pictured below), provides customers with a modern ecommerce platform for hair extensions and closures. The branding is incredibly African-American oriented, even though the products can presumably be worn well by a person who possesses any hair texture.

Mayvenn Co-Founders- Diishan Imira and Taylor Wang

Web browser and Android mobile application users can choose their designed hair type, length, color and geographic origin. They can validate their choices with reviews and user generated product photos before completing their purchase.

So, are your ancestors from West Africa but you need dat blonde 22 inch Malaysian? No worries, Mayvenn gotchu'.

In addition to their ecommerce platform, Mayvenn also runs Real Beautiful, blog and content platform

With an Asian American Founder and African American CEO, Mayvenn was a natural fit at the diversity and inclusion-minded 500 Startups. As a venture capital firm with a 4 month accelerator in Mountain View, California, 500 startups provided Imira and Wang with both helpful mentoring and seed capital.

In all, Mayvenn has received $2,500,000 in seed funding and $10 million in Series A Venture capital, with the later coming from Andreessen Horowitz and Trinity Ventures.

Walker and Co. transforms the Art of Grooming for Black Men with Bevel and Bevel Code Brands

Walker and Company's Bevel Brand includes their signature razor as well as a suite of complimentary products and a content site, Bevel Code

Meanwhile, Squire and Bevel have been successful in male grooming markets. Bevel, a flagship brand of Tristan Walker’s Walker &Co, created a single blade razor designed for coarse and curly facial hair, reducing skin irritation.

They have since used their millions of dollars of seed and venture funding to develop a more comprehensive array of products, which includes hair trimmers, after shave gels and facial lotions.

Like Mayvenn, Bevel has a really well designed ecommerce platform, making it easy for customers to begin, manage or end either their monthly razor blade subscriptions or one time purchases.

However, while Mayvenn runs a pretty straight forward hair and lifestyle blog "Real Beautiful," Walker and Company invested in a stand alone content platform, Bevel Code, which engages their user base with both hair and lifestyle content.

Squire, the startup which Wants to Take the Wait out of Your Next Haircut

Squire is working to make the process of getting a haircut as seamless as going to a CVS

Meanwhile, Squire, a mobile haircut scheduling service, is a much younger company than Bevel or Mayvenn. Also unlike Bevel and Mayvenn, Squire provides a customer experience rooted in a mobile application, instead of a web application in a browser.

Their application enables users to schedule haircuts in a particular time slot, allowing them to avoid the dreadful barbershop line which is traditionally used to determine who's next in "the chair."

Two of the Three Squire co-founders: Dave Salvant and Songe LaRon

Digital and Software: Great First Steps in Correcting Historical Inequity and Market Inefficiencies

It’s no surprise that African-Americans and other non-European American business owners have been so active in the hair and beauty spaces, from the time of Madame CJ Walker to the current winning streak of Tristan Walker.

These black communities and their millions of individual consumers have often been compelled to spend, more time, energy and money on their physical appearance as a means of establishing not only a state of "physical beauty" but also fundamental dignity and high-regard.

Given the need for one's line-up to be on-point and hair to be "laid for the gods," entrepreneurs in black hair markets have tackled the market hurdles others companies were either unable to spot or unwilling to confront.

And such is capitalism and innovation for blacks in the Americas.

Too often the lives and experiences of working class and lower class consumers are overlooked and ignored by large companies and entrepreneurs from more privileged backgrounds. However, this disparity provides a niche for those who can assess these inefficiencies and learn how they can capitalize on these opportunities.

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Medvis Jackson is a web designer at Hindsite, curator at Kulchah and avid cricket fan. You can follow him @medvisjackson for his random thoughts.

#perspectives #tristanwalker