Black-owned businesses are not a new concept. For years they’ve been chipping away in the background waiting for recognition while other brands hogged the limelight. But with the recent shift in mainstream consciousness thanks to the Black Lives Matter movement, black British brands are having a big moment. At Spell, we believe supporting homegrown brands shouldn’t be a fleeting trend and we will continue to offer our platform to established and emerging entrepreneurs to showcase their brilliance. With this in mind, we’ve complied a list of brands that pay particular attention to packaging aesthetics, quality ingredients and a luxury feel that can be hard to find on the high street. Put these on your hair and skincare radar now…
Soapsmith
Soapsmith founder Samantha Jameson has made no secret of obsessively refining her craft to produce a body range bursting with organic ingredients and natural fragrances. The result is a luxe collection of bath soaks, body lotions and handmade soaps that are fit for any bathroom display. Plus, in homage to her London roots, Jameson has named each scent after a vibrant city area such as Hackney and Camden.
Freya + Bailey
After experiencing stress acne, Freya + Bailey founder Abbie Oguntade partnered with her beauty team to create a genuine solution for stressed-out skin. Its prettily packaged skincare line-up ditches the stringent smells and clinical aesthetic often associated with acne-related products and targets prominent concerns affecting black skin like dullness, dehydration and hyperpigmentation.
79 Lux
Add a premium touch to your skincare routine with award-winning beauty range 79 Lux. Founded by nutritionist Karen Cummings- Palmer who just so happens to visit the same salon as Spell Editor Jemima Cousins – Hector’s Global Hair with Zeal – it’s the perfect antidote for dry complexions. The line uses a cherry-picked menu of organic, plant-based ingredients as well as gold to get the melanin poppin’. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed.
Talou
It’s often easy to find black-owned hair and skin related brands, but what about aromatherapy? Filling the gap is Talou, a beautifully crafted holistic line that is centred on modern living. The range includes a standout selection of handmade candles, mood-lifting pulse point oils and cleansing smudge sticks. To learn more about the budding entrepreneurs behind the brand, turn to page 4 to read our interview.
Roxanne Campbell
After qualifying as a nail technician in 2006, Roxanne Campbell burst onto the beauty scene working at various Fashion Weeks. It wasn’t too long before the nail supremo decided to launch her 100 per cent crueltyfree Nail Lacquer. Available in an assortment of colours complementing the undertones of black skin, you can tap into Roxanne’s expertise by signing up to her monthly online masterclass, which commences next month.
http://www.roxannecampbell.com/
T.W.O.K London
London-based cosmetics company T.W.O.K – The Woman of Kolor is finally getting the props it deserves. Founded in 2016 by pharmacist Toyin Fajemirokun Onyolu, the quest was to create a brand that was not only inclusive but looked the part too. Its zingy packaging rivals new school brands like Glossier and Tarte Cosmetics. And with the expansion into lashes and skincare, this is a brand to watch.
Jim + Henry
Celebrating curly hair in all its crowning glory, Jim + Henry is the UK’s first leave-in conditioner made up of just eight ingredients. The attention to detail and high-spec ingredients means you can cut down on homemade concoctions and work with what’s in the tub. But don’t just take our word for it: head over to the brand’s website for curlinspiring picture testimonials and easy-tofollow how-tos.
Dizziak
Led by its mission statement ‘All hair is different – Dizziak is different’, what jumps out first about this ground-breaking haircare range is its edgy, standout packaging. It sets the bar high by making a much welcomed departure from the old-fashioned appearance of most afro products. Gaining shelf space in Selfridges and a TFL billboard campaign, we can’t wait to see what else this buzzy brand has in store.
