Are plant-based extensions the future of black hair care? – Consider

pink hair lotion. Colorful hair ties and beads. These were black women’s favorite hair things.

As the daughter of a hairstylist, Ciara Imani May witnessed the social art form of black hair care up close. Those looking for a fresh look gossiped about their lives while watching the hairdresser’s growing hands braid, push, lay curls and coils. At the time, May wore a half-up, half-down hairstyle in her school photo. She didn’t care if her hair was braided, kinky, or curly. Her hairstyle remained mostly the same.

But many problems have been hibernating on the shelves of beauty supply stores, including the burning pain of chemical emollients and the itchiness of snatching the ends of synthetic hair that irritates the skin. Mr. May, who is highly environmentally conscious, also noticed another problem. Most synthetic hair brands are made from plastic fibers, in addition to the single-use plastics already filling the nation’s landfills.

We are at the intersection of beauty and sustainability. So we lean into the nostalgia of black hair and the ingenuity of the future of hair.

— Ciara Imani May

sign Rebundleis a plant-based hair extension company that helps Black people take back their power from harmful hair care products in a sustainable way. rebundle hair extension line, Braids are better, made from biodegradable banana fiber and can be reused up to 3 times after washing in cold water with commercially available shampoo and conditioner. Hair colors range from jet black to chocolate brown and even dazzling shades like pink bubblegum and blue ocean. In rebundling, recycling program So braiders will ship their old plastic synthetic hair to the company’s St. Louis-based headquarters, where it will be recycled into outdoor furniture. Through Rebundle’s program, he recycled over 500 pounds of hair.

As CEO and co-founder of Rebundled, May is breaking new ground in the Black Hair Care industry.

“We are at the intersection of beauty and sustainability,” May said. “That’s why we lean into the nostalgia of black hair and the ingenuity of the future of hair.”

Braids are not only a form of self-expression in black culture; It is a declaration of black heritage.of cornrows As early as 3500 B.C., Africans wore knitting on their heads to identify tribe, age, and status, but it was also used to plot a path to freedom during enslavement .Egyptian She was wearing a braided wig. It means wealth and power. Today, braids are worn both on the street and on fashion runways to make a fashion statement.

Several beauty brands have capitalized on this pride and history of black hair in different ways. The less regulated hair care industry leaves Black people, especially Black women, more vulnerable to toxins. The Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization that studies the impact of outdated or absent laws in the health and wellness field, analyzed the ingredients in her 1,177 beauty products marketed to black women. , 1 out of 12 products deemed extremely dangerous. Thousands of black women are attacking major cosmetics companies like L’Oréal and Revlon. lawsuit After the National Institutes of Health linked uterine cancer to frequent use of chemical hair relaxers.

When it comes to braids, there’s a reason why hip-hop ally Friana Boss cited Kanekalon as one of the ingredients that contributes to their sassy nature on her show. The song is “You Wish”. The Japan-based company Kaneka began producing Kanekalon, a soft and strong modacrylic fiber, in 1957. Kanekalon is used by many synthetic hair brands because it mimics the texture of natural hair.

Women of color who want to avoid the high prices of human hair are drawn to affordable synthetic fibers. but, health report A paper published in May describes how Kanekalon is laced with various carcinogenic ingredients and toxic flame-retardant chemicals. Black women, who are already more susceptible to breast cancer and endocrine diseases due to racial differences, are the biggest consumers of the synthetic hair industry. So researchers are waving red flags in hopes of drawing some attention to this underreported and understudied public health problem.

May believes beauty brands’ silence on the issue sends a loud message to Black consumers, and is using Rebundle as a rebuke to the industry.

“We are trendsetters when it comes to things like hair and beauty, and it’s very disappointing to think that we’re suffering at the hands of big business to look and feel good,” May said. “I believe these two ideas should be mutually exclusive. Beauty is not painful, and black people do not have to make sacrifices to be cultural leaders.”

When May started wearing protective styles regularly in the summer of 2019, she began to question the quality of care for her synthetic hair. My scalp was on fire due to irritation from hair extensions. She learned she wasn’t the only one suffering, as one in three of her women experience irritation from synthetic hair. May began raising grants to conduct laboratory analyzes to determine the toxicity of popular synthetic hair brands. According to She, she learned how most plastic hair brands contain polyvinyl chloride (commonly known as PVC). This can increase your risk of rare liver cancer. environmental protection agency. PVC is also difficult to recycle.May predicts synthetic hair will be added 30 million pounds of waste annually In the country.

Rebundling taught me that I don’t have to work with industry gatekeepers.

— Ciara Imani May

These revelations prompted May to look for alternative materials for braiding hair, leading to the discovery of cellulose-based fibers like banana. Rebundle processes discarded banana stems and refines strands to mimic the movement and texture of hair. May and a team of female-led experts worked on Braid Better’s formula for about a year and a half before launching the hair extensions, which include aloe vera leaf juice, grape seed oil, and additional moisturizing ingredients. Despite being a natural material, Rebundle’s Braid Better Hair can withstand heat up to her 350 degrees. Hair does not contain flame retardant chemicals, so Rebundle does not recommend using a lighter to burn the ends. Instead, you can use a hot water set to seal, iron, or curl your hair, depending on your preference.

Rebundle uses social media as an educational tool on how to use and recycle Braid Better Hair. Instagram Highlights provides curious buyers with the following information how many bundles to buy For certain styles: 3 bunches for faux locs, 2 bunches for feed-in braids in buns, or 5 bunches for small knotless braids in space buns. Bundles start at $45 each and range in size from 18 to 30 inches.

Rebundle gave Black women with sensitive scalps the option to express themselves while purchasing products that align with their values.black movie director Janessa St Pierre Because of her alopecia, she said she has felt unheard and unseen for the past few years because of the hair care industry. After Ribundle gifted St-Pierre with its first wig during Alopecia Areata Awareness Month, pink braids will now cascade down St-Pierre’s back. Dr. Tiara Moorenon-profit founder Black people in marine science, I swam with ocean-colored hair without any problems. The braids were wet to the touch, she told Rebundle. However, her hair wasn’t soaking wet and didn’t feel heavy, which can happen when synthetic hair gets wet. For Moore, rocking an eco-friendly hair brand while soaking in the ocean is fulfilling, she said.

“I feel like I am doing my part with all my heart to protect the ocean, which is my goal.” Moore said. “Even better because you’re contributing in a cool, authentic way, braided hair! Bring me a bunch of bananas!

Rebundle hasn’t just impacted the lives of customers who are experimenting with plant-based hair. The company has also inspired his community of 76 braiders across the country who use his Braidbetter brand in their salons.Philadelphia-based blader kiera hill She says Rebundle allows her to help her clients become their best selves without the pain.

“I suffer from eczema on my hands, and after a really long week of braiding, I sometimes get really bad breakouts,” Hill said during the event, where she wore Ribundle’s hair in knotless braids. After installing, said. instagram reel“I have a cut on my hand, which I’m sure is due to a reaction to Kanekalon. After braiding it with Ribundle hair, I didn’t have any burns on my hand.”

May said she couldn’t imagine any other career for her. I mean, who else can say she makes her hair out of bananas? But it also gives her scope to approach issues in her hair industry from multiple levels.meanwhile Black-owned beauty supply store Non-black people still make up the majority of the market. May wants to make sure her hair is sold by people who understand black hair issues.

“Rebundle taught us that we don’t have to work with industry gatekeepers,” May said. “That’s why we chose not to work with many hair manufacturers in Asia or beauty supply stores that we don’t represent. Even though the issue is well understood, research The investigation is inadequate and we have taken matters into our own hands.”

This story is part of Black Joy’s series celebrating Black entrepreneurs this holiday season.Black business owners have holiday sales Google Form.