I Support Korean Products for Afro and Textured Hair however…..
In addition to testing and supporting Bephor’s no-rinse solutions, I also want to highlight why I support the growing role of Korean products in Afro and textured hair care. On the surface, it might seem like two very different beauty worlds — but in reality, the partnership holds tremendous potential.
Technology Meets Lived Experience
Korean beauty (K-beauty) and hair care are known globally for their cutting-edge technology, product innovation, and science-backed formulations. They bring precision, research, and advanced manufacturing to the table.
On the other side, those of us who live with and specialize in textured and Afro hair bring cultural knowledge, lived experience, and practical expertise. We understand the unique challenges of tight curls, locs, braids, and protective styles. We know what our hair needs not just scientifically, but culturally.
Together, this creates a powerful synergy:
Korean technology + Afro hair expertise = products that actually work for our lifestyles.
Addressing Tensions in the U.S. Hair Industry
It would be incomplete to talk about global partnerships without recognizing the realities we face here in the U.S. For decades, the textured and Afro hair industry has carried a deep tension: Korean and Asian communities have largely owned and controlled the retail and distribution spaces, while Black women — the very heart of this market — have often been positioned only as consumers.
This dynamic has understandably created frustration. After all, how can the people who drive the culture, styles, and demand for textured hair products be excluded from true ownership?
A New Way Forward
While the history is complex, I believe there is also room for change and partnership. By opening doors for Black women to become retailers, distributors, testers, strategists, and innovators, we can reshape the landscape.
This shift allows us to move from being seen solely as consumers to becoming decision-makers, tastemakers, and business leaders within the very industry we fuel. It also ensures that products are developed and marketed with authenticity, cultural understanding, and lived experience at the center.
Why Collaboration Matters
Shared Knowledge: Asian-owned companies bring access to manufacturing power and advanced technology. Black women bring cultural intelligence, creativity, and insight into textured hair care that no lab alone can replicate.
Economic Empowerment: Creating opportunities for Black women to step into roles of distribution and retail ownership builds generational wealth and strengthens our communities.
A Better Industry: An industry where ownership is more diverse, inclusive, and representative of the consumer base will naturally create better products and better outcomes.
My Stance
I choose to support collaborations with Korean and Asian companies not as a replacement for Black ownership, but as a pathway to it. When approached with mutual respect and equity, these partnerships can help us build something more sustainable, more empowering, and more inclusive than what has existed before.
This is not just about hair — it’s about reclaiming agency in an industry that has historically profited from our culture without always centering our voices. And that’s why I stand behind both testing innovative products like Bephor and championing new models of partnership that recognize Black women as not just the customers, but the co-creators and owners of this movement.
Why These Partnerships Matter
Access to Innovation: Collaborations open the door for Afro and textured hair communities to benefit from Korean labs’ advanced formulations, packaging, and product delivery systems.
Representation: By engaging with Korean companies, we ensure that textured hair is represented in product development conversations.
Global Beauty Industry Shift: These partnerships set the stage for beauty to be more inclusive, innovative, and culturally aware.
Building Bridges in Beauty
Supporting these partnerships is about more than products — it’s about creating a bridge between industries and communities. When Korean technology meets the creativity and resilience of Afro hair culture, the results are not just useful; they are revolutionary.
That’s why I support Korean products and partnerships for Afro and textured hair: because they allow us to combine the best of global science with the depth of our lived experience to produce solutions that honor who we are and how we care for ourselves.
