The Power of Your Purchase:
Your choice to invest in a headwrap isn't just about style - it's about solidarity. It's about ensuring that no child faces the harsh reality of hunger, whether it's during school hours or at bedtime. Together, we can rewrite this narrative, one purchase at a time.
From Our Partner: GGMADEIT:
Meet Gaye Glasspie, affectionately known as GG in the knitting community. Her story is one of resilience and compassion. Growing up in a system of welfare, Gaye's mother taught her the value of generosity, even in times of scarcity. Now, Gaye honors her mother's legacy by spearheading this fundraiser. Let's join her in reaching new heights - last year, her efforts raised over $27,000. Can we make it $30,000 this time? Let's nourish hope and feed the hungry.
Mahogany, Harlem, Adira, Ziggy:
Our Headwrap designs are not just accessories; they're statements of empowerment. Inspired by our dolls' vibrant backgrounds and rich patterns, each wrap is a canvas for self-expression. From Mahogany's chic prints to Ziggy's bohemian elegance, there's a style for every taste. And remember, these wraps aren't just for your head - they can transform into shawls, belts, or even body wraps.
Let's wrap our heads around ending hunger, one stylish accessory at a time.
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Have you even taken a solo trip? Wander the streets, find the perfect street market to wile the day away? Solo traveling is liberating and beach days should be at the top of your list.
We want to see more melanated beauties at the beach. Not only does your interaction with nature help promote serenity and peace, it also helps you regain balance and center within yourself.
As a Squad member, you know we only do it in style with brazen uniqueness. The best Pardon My Fro companions for your next beach day getaway:
1. Pardon My Fro's Squad Snatched Set: Just got out of the pool and need to get ready for dinner? We have you covered. Chlorine sucks out all the natural oils from your skin and hair, extra hydration, moisture, and coverage will help bring life back into your thirsty curls. Pair the Detangling Leave In Conditioner with Pardon My Fro's Jojoba Oil Rich Hair Oil to replenish and shine.
2. Squad Tote Bag: When we say this bag is a show stopper, we mean it. Be prepared to be stopped at the beach. The Squad Travel Bag is a foolproof way to fit everything you need, including your laptop, with the must durable style. To maximize space in this bag, we recommend putting your shoes on the bottom while layering your clothes and then, toiletries, on top.
3. Kimono: Versatility for the win. Spot the Kimono at the beach as a bathing suit cover, later that day when you stroll the street markets, and at night when you're enjoying a drink in the hotel. Each print has a signature style and bold flair - Ziggy, Squad, and Mahogany. It’s the perfect statement piece to wear on a relaxed vacation or even to unwind in your hotel after a busy day.
4. Beach Towel: There is no other way to enjoy a day at the beach than with our Pardon My Fro beach towels! The dolls are with you on this solo trip.
With these Pardon My Fro essentials, your next solo trip is bound to be a beautiful day out spend reconnecting with you. Don't be afraid to embrace the freedom and fun of traveling solo - just know, we are always there with you. Through the dolls, through the clothes, through the bags, and through the fro.
]]>If you’re new to curly hair types, note that 4C kinky curly hair tends to have an extremely dense curly coil pattern that can be fragile and result in considerable shrinkage. When cared for appropriately, it lends itself to incredibly versatile hair styles!
Whether you’re just learning to style your 4C kinky curly hair or have been rocking it for years, check out our top tips on keeping it happy and healthy:
Curly hair is always looking for moisture, so it only makes sense that 4C kinky curly hair loves the absolute most. When your hair is properly moisturized, it will be much easier to style. Use products like Pardon My Fro's Moisturizing Hair Milk, which combine various butters and oils to create the best moisturizing product for your hair. And don’t underestimate how consistently drinking water throughout the day can help with hair health!
Because our ends are the farthest from our scalp, they tend to be particularly dry and weak. To take good care of them, we recommend getting regular trims, taking advantage of protective styling, and using extra moisturizer on them daily. Better yet, do it all.
It’s easy to forget your scalp, but remember that it’s truly the foundation of it all. Keeping your scalp healthy reduces irritation and promotes healthy hair. Check out Pardon My Fro's Hair & Scalp Oil, a gorgeous formula of almond, avocado, and jojoba oil that will be dropping in a few weeks. It’s the perfect first step in any 4C kinky hair care routine!
]]>Hair Milk, often underrated and underused, is an eclectic product that combines the best parts of a leave-in conditioner, hair treatment, and hair cream. Lightweight and unbelievably hydrating, it’s the perfect addition to your hair care routine! If you haven’t heard of it before, read on to see our tried and true answers to some frequently asked questions.
Hair Milk is versatile because it can moisturize, smooth, define, and detangle hair. It can even help soothe your scalp and promote hair growth. So yes, although it’s most popular for curly hair, it can be beneficial for anyone!
Because Hair Milk offers incredible hydration, it may actually accentuate oily hair. Instead, we recommend using hair milk right after a shower. This will work to keep some of that moisture in your just washed hair, acting as a base for the rest of your hair routine.
Absolutely. Made by and for all the curly hair types, Pardon My Fro's Moisturizing Hair Milk is specifically formulated to keep curls and coils hydrated, soft, and shiny - to celebrate all curly hair in all its glory.
Although Hair Milk is similar to conditioner in some ways, it is lighter and meant to be left in rather than washed out.
Hair Milk doesn’t actually have milk. This name is actually an allusion to its milky texture, which comes from butters and oils responsible for its hydrating properties. In our product, we use ingredients like Castor oil and Jojoba Seed oil.
We hope this debunks any and all Hair Milk myths, but feel free to reach out with any more questions!
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Our Lily Afro Brat speaks to your daughter's unique style and serves as representation at it's finest. Explore all Lily Afro Brat home decor products here. Can't you picture the Lily Sherpa Fleece in your daughters room?
For your daughter, we recommend one of our Tote Bags. In 2023, she’s going to be out and about so what better to help her out than a bag that complements her fashion, while keeping her belongings safe and organized. It’s a win for her and a win for you, Mom. Choose our Mahogany Tote bag if she’s into subtle neutrality and the Tribe Tote bag if she vibes with a richer blue.
Author: Atiya Jordan
Article reposted with permission from Black Enterprise
Dany Bly‘s Pardon My Fro lifestyle brand is unapologetically afro obsessed. Featuring the entrepreneur’s stunning illustrations and designs, the expanding brand not only celebrates Bly’s natural self, but that of all Black women.
The designer and illustrator is currently gearing up for the 2023 launch of her new haircare line at up to 3,500 Walmart locations. Pardon My Fro’s hair care products, adorned in lime green packaging and images showcasing Bly’s signature illustrations of Black hairstyles, will make their grand debut on Walmart shelves and online in the upcoming months.
Pardon My Fro was “built on having an unapologetic attitude and it’s reflected in each and every product we create,” Bly tells BLACK ENTERPRISE.
The latest products are personally curated by Bly, including the citric fragrance that resembles the essence of lime green and exudes freshness. With prices ranging from $15 to $17, the haircare line consists of Moisturizing Hair Milk, Curl Enhance Conditioner, Detangler Leave-In Conditioner, Edge Slayer, Mousse, and Growth Oil.
The opportunity was presented to Bly when she was selected to participate in Walmart Start, an accelerator program focused on setting up small beauty brands for success by giving them a chance to display products on Walmart shelves. Through the program, the entrepreneur will gain invaluable tools for her brand like virtual classes, professional mentorships, and activation support.
“Being chosen to be one of the five brands out of hundreds to display our new haircare line is life changing. Amazing resources and educational classes are available to us to keep on track for success,” Bly tells BLACK ENTERPRISE.
“BEING ABLE TO PICK THE BRAIN OF OTHER BRAND FOUNDERS WHO ARE ON WALMART SHELVES HAS BEEN EXTREMELY HELPFUL.”
Bly, however, is no stranger to glowing up her business from a brand of chic home decor, accessories, and clothing to a haircare line that screams pride and self-care.
Now owning 51% ownership of Pardon My Fro, Bly continues to see the fruits of living unapologetically Black with an unapologetic attitude. Her mission of uplifting Black women stays the same, but she hopes that her line of products will reach them and beyond.
“Black hair is our culture. Pardon My Fro is about women lifting each other up. Our vision is to offer women like her products in which they can literally see themselves,” Bly explained.
Bly credits her journey to living in authenticity without comparisons and having fun.
The brand’s assortment at the massive chain will include haircare products Moisturizing Hair Milk, Curl Enhance Conditioner, Detangler Leave-In Conditioner, Edge Slayer, Mousse and Growth Oil. Makeup is in the product pipeline.
Pardon My Fro is a participant in Walmart Start, the accelerator program focused on finding the next big names in beauty. Walmart has stated it aims to identify brands through the program that fill gaps in the market with their prices or innovations. Along with Pardon My Fro, The Hair Lab, Dossier, Undefined Beauty and Paintlab are in its inaugural cohort. Walmart solicited Bly’s application to Walmart Start. “The artwork really spoke to them and also the mockups that I did for the hairline,” she says.
Bly began illustrating while toiling at a corporate job in 2009, the same year she was inspired by the natural hair movement to chop off her hair and move away from chemical processing. “I would always help my friends to design wedding and baby shower invitations,” she says. “I knew I wanted to do something more than just working a nine to five.”
Bly’s illustrations gained steam after she created a design for influencer and Meta marketer Christina Brown. She started Pardon My Fro with prints and note cards sold at pop-ups. She eventually graduated to home decor and launched a shower curtain that went viral in 2015.
Pop-ups, collaborations and Facebook advertising have help spread the word. Bly recently partnered with the Black Hair Experience in New York and made an appearance at Essence’s Music Festival. “People love to see the merchandise online, but they also love to touch it,” she says.
Haircare wasn’t exactly on Bly’s to-do list. Before the pandemic, Horizon Beauty Group, the beauty marketer and distributor strong in the fragrance segment, approached her about investing in Pardon My Fro. The company had seen the shower curtain and inquired about whether Bly was interested in a haircare line. “‘With the name itself, you really should have one,'” she says they told her in an early conversation.
Bly wasn’t immediately persuaded by Horizon’s offer and demurred its overtures at first. Once the pandemic occurred and salon closures forced people to fully care for their hair at home, however, she reached back out to the company. Still unsure about giving away a piece of her business, she entered into a good-faith arrangement: If Horizon Beauty got her brand on HSN, she would go forward with its investment.
Pardon My Fro debuted on the Home Shopping Network in 2021 via Zoom from Bly’s hometown Charlotte. She was forecast to sell 14,000 blankets and pillows, but ended up selling 69,000. Pardon My Fro’s haircare line was conceptualized shortly after, and Bly struck a deal with Horizon. She retains 51% ownership, and Horizon has 49%.
In keeping with Bly’s signature illustrations, Pardon My Fro’s green haircare product packaging features images of Black women wearing different natural hairstyles. “It was very important for me, when I did this haircare collection, that I was very, very detailed on how the packaging would look,” she says. “I felt like, when you go into Target and you go to the natural hair section or texture hair section, there’s so much beautiful packaging already, so I wanted to make sure that my packaging was really going to hit you in your throat, stop you in your tracks to just be like, ‘What is this brand about? I want to learn more.’”
Black women are expected to be a core customer group, but Bly anticipates the reach of Pardon My Fro broadening beyond them. “I’m thinking about women who may not have curly textured hair, but their kids do, whether they adopt or their kids just have the genetics of having curly hair,” she says. “I feel like the haircare line is going to expand our demographic, and I feel like it makes sense. I’m ready for that.”
The expansive reach dovetails with the evolution of Pardon My Fro. While the name initially came from what Bly describes as her “unapologetically Black” approach and embrace of her “naturalness,” today the brand is about sisterhood and uplifting women of all shapes and skin tones. She says, “I want the brand to be known for being a tribe, and I want to make sure that the artwork I’m designing is bringing joy to people’s lives.”
]]>Rao Since 2020, a flurry of beauty accelerator and growth programs, like Clean Beauty Summer School and Credo for Change, have come to market. Many were initially focused on advocating for and supporting diverse founders, as brands could no longer ignore the acts of racial injustice and discrimination happening in the U.S. Even Sephora's longstanding Accelerate Program retooled its focus with an eye on diversity in 2021.
But the nation's largest retailer, Walmart, had not joined the fray — until now. In spring, Walmart announced Walmart Start, an accelerator program for hair, skin, cosmetics, nails, fragrance and beauty accessory brands. Prospective beauty brands were not only promised mentorship from Walmart merchants and connections with Walmart supplier services, but they also had the potential to launch in 1,000-3,500 Walmart stores. Walmart has approximately 4,700 stores in its fleet. Across Walmart's robust and varied departments, this is the first growth accelerator of its kind at the retailer, said Creighton Kiper, Walmart beauty merchandising vice president.
"We want to get to these new beauty brands and develop these relationships faster," said Kiper, who was named Walmart's head of beauty, replacing Musab Balbale, in February.
Upon opening the Start application floodgates, Kiper said the retailer received over 500 applications. Applicants had to show they had a winning brand, value and product proposition, had high potential for growth, were ready to scale at retail, and met a set of Walmart supplier criteria. On Tuesday, the retailer announced the first five brands selected for the Start accelerator: customized hair brand The Hair Lab by Strands, Black female-founded and -owned hair-care line Pardon My Fro, press-on nail brand Paintlab, clean skin-care and wellness line Undefined Beauty, and fragrance brand Dossier.
The selected brands are at various points in their life cycles, and that was intentional. Kiper stressed that, as this program continues into 2023, included brands can be at any stage of business. Undefined Beauty launched in 2018, for example. Meanwhile, The Hair Lab by Strands was not a fully formed brand prior to an Instagram DM that founder Eric Delapenha received from the Walmart merchant team in March 2021. Delapenha, also the founder of prestige hair company Strands Hair Care, spun out The Hair Lab exclusively for Walmart. Though The Hair Lab by Strands did not apply via the Start application, the brand is considered the first graduate of the Walmart Start accelerator, given its 1-1 partnership with Walmart. It launches in 2,500 Walmart locations on September 1.
Walmart was initially interested in selling Strands Hair Care's test kits, a 23andMe-esque offering that analyzes cuticle strength, protein levels, texture and scalp health. However, the company and Delapenha collaborated on a new concept in May 2021 upon realizing that a customer journey inclusive of a take-home test was inconvenient for Walmart shoppers.
"A consumer doesn't want to go into a Walmart store today and say, 'OK, I need to go get a test kit, go home, take a test, and go back and get products at Walmart or have it shipped to [my] home,'" said Delapenha. Instead, The Hair Lab by Strands developed in-store testing sites, which Delapenha said were a million-dollar investment. Shoppers can now get personalized recommendations in-store and then buy products on the spot.
Walmart has become more strategic with its beauty proposition since 2017. What began with an in-store experience update across its store fleet segued to Walmart exclusive beauty brands like Mindy McKnight's Hairitage, developed with by OG hair influencer McKnight and incubator Maesa. 2021 was a particularly important year for Walmart beauty with the launches of Gen-Z skin-care brand Bubble and makeup line Uoma by Sharon C., developed by Sharon Chuter, founder of Uoma Beauty. Like Delapenha, Chuter was also approached by the Walmart team via DM. And last week, Walmart proved it had not slowed down its cornerstone strategy of incubating buzzy talent. McKnight's teen daughters, Brooklyn and Bailey, announced they too had partnered exclusively with Walmart for their Itk skin-care debut.
Walmart delivered positive news in its second-quarter fiscal year 2023 results: Total revenue was up by 8.4% year-over-year, to $152.9 billion; comp sales grew 6.5% and e-commerce sales increased by 12%. But the beauty landscape is increasingly cutthroat, even with the deluge of brands launching daily. Competition for beauty has never been more fierce among retailers, whether it's beauty-centric players like Sephora and Ulta Beauty or mass retailers that sell beauty like Target and Amazon. While many of the above accelerator programs were targeted at BIPOC-founded brands at the outset, they were also vehicles to capture better, newer and different indie brands before they popped.
Kiper said the close relationship Walmart's merchant team has with emerging brands allows lines to scale quickly. He noted that Halsey's recent diffusion line for Walmart, AF94, took less than a year to ideate, create and launch. For their part, Start brands have one-on-one merchant mentors that they meet with at least twice a month; meetings become more frequent as a line prepares for its in-store debut. Fragrance brand Dossier will be the next Start brand to launch at retail this fall. Founders also meet with cross-functional partners like retail media platform Walmart Connect to develop their brand's digital marketing strategy and merchandising operations to ensure supply chain success. In addition, Start brand founders engage in various sessions with existing Walmart brand founders like Mabel Frias from makeup line Luna Magic and Jordan Jones from Packed Party, an offering of confetti-embellished products.
It remains to be seen which of Walmart's indie brands will become the next big thing in beauty, but with the retailer's massive reach of stores and e-commerce, it is likely that Start brands will catch on. Still, execution will be key to ensuring brands have staying power.
"This isn't 'Shark Tank,'" said Kiper. "What we are doing is all about mentorship and partnership. We're not starting these brands at 4,700 doors, and we don't expect brands to be ready for that out of the gate."
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