Latest news with #BeautyIndustry
National Post
10-07-2025
- Business
- National Post
Vagaro's New "Textured Hair" Badge Makes It Easier for Clients to Find Stylists Trained in Coils, Curls, and More
Article content SAN FRANCISCO — As the beauty industry continues to make meaningful strides toward greater inclusivity, including when it comes to textured hair, Vagaro – the leading software for beauty businesses – recently introduced their new 'Textured Hair' business type badge, empowering salons and independent professionals to easily showcase their expertise in caring for coils, curls, and more. Article content The badge can be toggled on within a business profile, helping clients quickly identify stylists who are trained and confident in working with textured hair. Article content Article content Vagaro's recent launch addresses a long-standing challenge for many clients: the time and uncertainty involved in finding someone who understands their hair. Article content It simultaneously helps to highlight the professionals who have expanded their education to better serve a broader range of clients. Article content 'Hair is deeply personal, and textured hair requires specialized knowledge,' said Charity Hudnall, CMO at Vagaro. 'The ability to easily signal that expertise helps clients, especially those in the Black community, feel seen, while also helping to elevate industry standards.' Article content Launched ahead of National Black Business Month in August, the badge gives Black-owned salons and textured hair specialists a powerful way to identify their services and be more easily discovered by the clients looking for them. Article content This effort builds on Vagaro's recent activation in the UK at HairCon, where a dedicated mainstage showcase with Project Afro and a braiding bar in partnership with Braids Gang highlighted the artistry and expertise of textured hair professionals, bringing visibility to both stylists and consumers. Article content This also comes as an increasing number of states are passing new legislation requiring cosmetology schools to teach textured hair education. Article content Several states including Washington, Vermont, Maine, California, Minnesota, Connecticut, Louisiana, and New York have now officially recognized & required the need for stylists to be trained across all hair types. Article content As more recognize textured hair education as a professional necessity rather than an optional skill, tools like this badge reflect an important factor in what quality hair care truly means: inclusion, education, and accessibility. Article content Article content Article content
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Inside the Challenges Befalling Black-owned Brands in 2025 — and How They're Facing Them
Black beauty brand founders are facing waning support. Founders and executives told WWD that the galvanization they saw in the wake of George Floyd's murder has decelerated, largely in terms of retail support and investment, though not in terms of consumer sentiment. More from WWD It's Bigger Than Resale: How a Los Angeles Sneaker Store Is Building Its Business - and Community Golden Goose Brings Its 'Forward' Concept Store to Dallas Big 5 Sporting Goods Goes Private in $112.7 Million Deal 'Every year since 2020, we've seen a rollback of the support and investment into Black and BIPOC-owned brands,' said Ron Robinson, founder and chief executive officer of BeautyStat. 'I think it's only gotten more significant under this new presidential administration.' 'Eight out of 10 BIPOC-owned businesses fail within the first 18 months of launch,' said Piyush Jain, chief executive officer of Maesa, which introduced the Maesa Magic Incubator to provide grants and mentorship to underrepresented founders. That program is now in its third year. 'One cause is lack of mentorship, the other is lack of role models, and the third is funding.' The situation has become even more acute under the current presidential administration, which has actively rolled back DEI policies at a federal level, and taken legal action to do the same at universities across the country. More localized to beauty, part of the issue is the number of retailers, in particular, and the wider business landscape that have rolled back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives against the fast-changing political backdrop. During its first-quarter earnings call in May, Target Corp. cited a broader shift away from diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at the top of the year as a key contributor to single-digit sales dips, in addition to on-again, off-again tariffs. More specifically, Target ended its Racial Equity Action and Change initiatives, and changed the moniker of its 'Supplier Diversity' team to 'Supplier Engagement.' Elsewhere in the mass market, Walmart stopped participating in the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Index, and agreed to drop the phrase diversity, equity and inclusion as well as products marketed to transgender children. On the prestige beauty side, the news is more positive. Both Sephora and Ulta Beauty have signed the Fifteen Percent Pledge, an Aurora James-founded initiative to dedicate 15 percent of shelf space to Black-owned brands and seem committed to attaining that goal. Founders also report investors pulling back in some cases. As WWD reported in 2024, Black-owned brands were among the first to feel the drought of a waning M&A market. For some, the picture is still grim. Crunchbase data, additionally, indicates that funding for Black-founded startups in the U.S. fell from $4.9 billion in 2021 to $700 million in 2024. 'We haven't had the growth scale that typical VC firms want. It's difficult to expect that from founders that are Black-owned because we're already at a disadvantage, we don't have the same resources and we don't have the same capital,' said Denis Asamoah, Forvr Mood, which he cofounded with Jackie Aina. He acknowledged that the brand was on track to meet its sales targets for 2025. 'It just seems like there's always a moving of the goalposts with Black founders, and what we've been able to build and create has been nothing short of incredible,' Aina said. 'It raises questions of what's required of non-Black founders versus Black founders.' 'It's hard right now in general — you can't ignore the macroeconomic pressures and general uncertainty. For small brands that's even more challenging,' said Alisa Carmichael, partner at VMG Partners, who oversees VMG's Parity Collective in partnership with James, an investment initiative that specializes in BIPOC brands. 'Also, the rollback from a DE&I perspective have made people in the ecosystem a bit more nervous.' Melissa Butler, founder and chief executive officer of The Lip Bar, characterized the landscape overall as generally tough. 'Investors are afraid to deploy capital,' she said. 'M&A hasn't been very active. That's true for every founder, and then you have to add on what I call the 'Black tax' on top of it.' Part of that, Butler said, was the persistent misconception that Black-owned brands are designed solely for Black consumers. 'Oftentimes, a Black founder will centralize a Black person in their advertising because your community deserves to be seen and it's an underserved community,' Butler said. 'The unfortunate truth is that can oftentimes lead to you only attracting Black customers. With the Lip Bar, for instance, there's no difference between my lips and a white woman's lips or an Asian woman's lips.' That phenomenon has also impacted the financial community. 'Everyone was so focused on investing in Black-owned brands with COVID and the murder of George Floyd,' said one investor who spoke on the condition of anonymity. 'Now, we're in this phase where saying you're Black-owned can be a disadvantage because shoppers wonder if the product is for them, if they should be buying it, or if it's cultural appropriation.' Conversely, brands that keep their appeal broad are reaping the benefits. 'Yes, I'm a Black female founder and this is a Black-founded brand, but the ethos of the brand has always been that it's about everybody,' said Danessa Myricks, who founded Danessa Myricks Beauty. 'Our whole perspective is that everybody is able to participate and feel they're in a safe space.' Added Robinson, 'I'm front-facing on TikTok, and a lot of people didn't even necessarily know that I was the founder until I started to do more on social. We have all these clinicals, all these patents, and that brings people into the brand. On the consumer side, I'm not seeing people pulling back from support.' Other brands agreed that it's not an issue of consumer perception. 'The challenge is that the strategy should always be inclusive,' said Butler. 'I think consumers are already in tune with that, but it's the retailers, investors, strategics and private equity groups that are a little behind in terms of how consumers are looking at beauty today. 'I don't think it's consumers that are shifting,' Butler continued. 'Especially when you look at the population, Gen Z and Gen Alpha are the most diverse and the most open to diversity. I think it's an old guard saying they followed the rules in 2020, and now, they're onto the next.' Best of WWD Which Celebrity Brands Are Next for a Major Deal? Lady Gaga, Beyonce and More Possible Contenders for the Next Corporate Prize The Best Makeup Looks in Golden Globes History A Look Back at Golden Globes Best Makeup on the Red Carpet, From Megan Fox to Sophia Loren [PHOTOS]
Zawya
30-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Henkel Consumer Brands launches Schwarzkopf Gliss Range in GCC Markets
Interactive experiences showcased global engineering excellence and product innovation "For every you" positioning brings inclusive Hair Care solutions to regional consumers Dubai, UAE – Henkel Consumer Brands officially launched the Schwarzkopf Gliss Hair Care range in GCC markets with an exclusive beauty industry event at the prestigious Bvlgari Hotel & Resort, marking a significant expansion of the brand's regional footprint within the Middle East personal care market. The Schwarzkopf Gliss launch event featured Middle East beauty icon and renowned actress Nadine Nassib Njeim, who serves as the exclusive brand ambassador for Schwarzkopf Gliss with more than 17 million Instagram followers, alongside a captivating model show and multiple interactive experiences showcasing cutting-edge cosmetic technology behind the Gliss hair repair range. Following Schwarzkopf's global strategy of partnering with celebrated personalities worldwide, Njeim's appointment represents a significant milestone bringing decades of global engineering excellence to meet diverse regional beauty needs. "This Schwarzkopf Gliss launch represents more than a new product line for us," said Irina Eliseeva, General Manager, Henkel Consumer Brands GCC. "With Schwarzkopf Gliss hair care products, we're bringing decades of global innovation and Hair Care expertise to the GCC region. This launch marks more than just a new product line — it's a promise to our consumers. A promise that their hair deserves the best, and that we are here to deliver it. This addition to our winning portfolio of products strengthens our competitive edge within the personal care market and positions us for success in meeting the diverse needs of our consumers". The evening attracted regionally known beauty influencers from the GCC, Egypt, and Levant regions, national media representatives, as well as Henkel GCC retail and distributor partners. Multiple interactive installations at the event included a live Gliss Lab with Henkel R&D experts demonstrating product formulation, hair health testing booths proving product efficacy through strand strength demonstrations, professional styling stations, and an Instagram-worthy box installation featuring the Schwarzkopf Gliss Ultimate Repair range. For more than 120 years, Schwarzkopf has represented quality, expertise, and innovation in the global beauty industry. As the Hair Care expert, Schwarzkopf brings proven global technology to the GCC through Gliss products, featuring unique Liquid Hair-Repair Technology with liquid keratin to repair both damaged surface and core hair strands. With this launch, we're not just celebrating Hair Care, we're elevating it. The brand's "for every you" positioning emphasizes inclusivity and addresses diverse regional beauty needs with scientifically-backed formulations that cater to the Gulf region's discerning consumers. Overall, the successful event generated significant engagement through influencer posts and media coverage across the Middle East, resulting in high impressions and strong social media impact. With this launch, Henkel continues delivering on its Purposeful Growth Agenda by elevating GCC Hair Care. Henkel's legacy of innovation makes Schwarzkopf Gliss poised for regional success and well-positioned to meet consumer needs across Gulf markets. About Henkel With its brands, innovations and technologies, Henkel holds leading market positions worldwide in the industrial and consumer businesses. The business unit Adhesive Technologies is the global leader in the market for adhesives, sealants and functional coatings. With Consumer Brands, the company holds leading positions especially in hair care, laundry, and home care in many markets and categories around the world. The company's three strongest brands are Loctite, Persil and Schwarzkopf. In fiscal 2024, Henkel reported sales of more than 21.6 billion euros and adjusted operating profit of around 3.1 billion euros. Henkel's preferred shares are listed in the German stock index DAX. Sustainability has a long tradition at Henkel, and the company has a clear sustainability strategy with specific targets. Henkel was founded in 1876 and today employs a diverse team of about 47,000 people worldwide – united by a strong corporate culture, shared values and a common purpose: "Pioneers at heart for the good of generations.' Henkel in the GCC was established in 1998 and has since grown rapidly with over 1,000 employees representing more than 50 different nationalities and building a strong, talented local and multinational work force. In Dubai (UAE) Henkel operates its corporate headquarters as well as two innovation centers for the region and one factory for Adhesive Technologies in Umm Al Quwain. For KSA the company operates one factory for Laundry & Home Care and one factory for Beauty Care in Riyadh, and two factories for Adhesive Technologies in Dammam.
Bloomberg
30-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
China's Makeup Brands are Winning Over Western Consumers
The US' threat of a TikTok ban prompted millions of users to jump ship to Xiaohongshu, where they discovered Chinese cosmetics. The exposure has been a boon for the multibillion-dollar Chinese beauty industry and brands like Judydoll and Florasis. (Source: Bloomberg)
Daily Mail
31-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Selena Gomez accused of SHADING Hailey Bieber following sale of her beauty brand Rhode
Selena Gomez has been accused of shading Hailey Bieber following the sale of her beauty brand Rhode. News hit the web earlier this week that Hailey's company was being acquired by E.l.f. Cosmetics in a massive, $1 billion deal. The mom-of-one, 28, will still serve as founder of the brand as well as Chief Creative Officer and Head of Innovation. Just one day after the announcement, Selena's cosmetics company Rare Beauty posted two snaps of Selena and simply captioned them with, 'Still here.' One of the images showed the Bad Liar songstress blowing a kiss towards the camera, while another featured her starring into the lens with a sultry look on her face. Many fans became convinced that Selena, 32, was subtly poking fun at Hailey's sale with the post, and they were not amused. Hailey's supporters quickly flooded the replies of the post with angry messages. 'It seems like Hailey is always on her mind. Pathetic,' one outraged user wrote. 'The way she's actually shady as hell,' added another. 'She actually pisses me off. Like MOVE ON UR A GROWN A** WOMAN,' scathed someone else. 'At this point you might as well tag her,' a fourth tweet read. 'Omfg this girl won't miss an opportunity to shade… she needs attention so bad,' a fifth said. A different user penned, 'It doesn't seem like the behavior of someone who claims to be a girl's girl.' 'She is so mean. This is so unnecessary,' someone else wrote. has reached out to Rare Beauty for comment. Hailey launched her much-anticipated brand in June 2022, releasing only three products at the time - Peptide Glazing Fluid, Barrier Restore Cream, and Peptide Lip Treatment. Many fans became convinced that Selena, 32, was subtly poking fun at Hailey's sale with the post, and they were not amused. Since then, the brand has grown exponentially, expanding into different tinted lip products, blush, and even viral phone cases that double as lip gloss carriers. 'E.l.f. Beauty found a like-minded disruptor in Rhode,' said E.l.f. Chairman and CEO Tarang Amin Wednesday, per Business Wire. 'Rhode further diversifies our portfolio with a fast-growing brand that makes the best of prestige accessible,' his statement continued. 'We are excited by Rhode's ability to break beauty barriers, fully aligning with E.l.f. Beauty's vision to create a different kind of company. Rhode is a beautiful brand that we believe is ready for rocketship growth.' Following the news, Hailey took to Instagram to break her silence on the monumental deal. 'When I launched @rhode in 2022, I always had big dreams for the company, and the most important thing to me is to keep bringing Rhode to more spaces, places, and faces globally,' she wrote in the caption, which was accompanied by two pictures of her. 'So today I am so incredibly excited and proud to announce that we are partnering with E.l.f. Beauty as we step into this next chapter in the world of Rhode. 'I found a like-minded disruptor with a vision to be a different kind of company that believes in big ideas and innovation in the same way that I do and will help us continue to grow the brand. 'I feel invigorated, excited and more ready than ever to step into an even bigger role as Chief Creative Officer, and Head of Innovation of Rhode as well as strategic advisor to E.l.f. Beauty.' Selena and Hailey have long been pitted against each other due to their shared romantic link with Hailey's husband Justin Bieber. However, both beauty founders have made attempts to quash the narrative with statements on social media and in the press. Last week, Selena seemingly showed her support for Hailey when she liked a post by Sephora announcing a collaboration with Rhode. Rhode products will begin being sold at Sephora this fall, joining Selena's Rare Beauty items on the retailer's shelves. In April Hailey was called a 'creepy stalker' for using similar language in her 2025 Daily Front Row acceptance speech to what Gomez used in a 2021 interview with Special Madame Figaro Arabia. As Hailey picked up the Beauty Innovator of the Year Award, she said, 'When I started Rhode, I didn't want to start a brand for the sake of starting a brand. I really wanted to create an entire world.'
