Where we spend our money matters. It’s the very essence of initiatives such as Black Pound Day and Jamii, the online home of Black British creators, but it’s something worth thinking about when it comes to the products we use day in and day out, too.

Equality in the beauty industry, particularly when it comes to haircare, is something Stylist has long campaigned for: women with tighter textures are still paying a premium to take care of our hair, and we’re still not catered to in enough shops and salons to make wash days and style switch-ups stress-free each and every time.

It’s especially frustrating when our spending power is clear: according to data from the Office for National Statistics and Treasure Tress in 2020, Black women account for 10% of the total haircare spend each year in the UK, despite the fact we only make up 2% of the UK population.

The fact remains that the vast majority of retailers selling hair products specifically for afro textures are not Black-owned, and often we’re left to seek out haircare advice and product recommendations from people without first-hand knowledge, or alone, poring over natural hair blogs and YouTube tutorials.

The good news is that more Black-owned hair businesses are cropping up all the time, from online marketplaces to bricks-and-mortar shops where you can count on friendly service and bespoke advice. Here is our pick of some of the best to support now.

8 Black-owned hair shops to support now