Auja Little, MBA ’21: Beauty Outside the Box

TL;DR

The content explores the personal journey of the author as she confronts beauty standards, embraces her natural hair, and highlights the lack of diversity and inclusion in the beauty retail industry.

Transcript

the box said leave it in for 10 to 15 minutes i was in my early 20s slathering relaxer on my hair in the bathroom of my small dc apartment willing it to be as straight as possible and thinking why not leave it in for 20. my beauty philosophy was like my cooking philosophy a little less here a little extra there except as it turns out altering the t... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥺 Altering one's appearance to conform to societal beauty standards can lead to self-doubt and a loss of identity.
• 🤎 Eurocentric features continue to be upheld as the beauty ideal, marginalizing black and brown women.
• 💅 Beauty retailers have a responsibility to diversify their offerings and provide a more inclusive shopping experience.
• 🙃 Consumers have the power to demand change by supporting black-owned beauty brands and advocating for diversity in the industry.
• 🤳 Embracing one's authentic self can lead to self-love, confidence, and a sense of liberation from societal beauty standards.
• 💅 Psychological manipulation underlies the beauty industry, shaping societal perceptions of attractiveness and self-worth.
• 💅 Representation in beauty marketing plays a crucial role in shaping beauty standards and influencing consumer beliefs.
• 💅 By embracing diversity and inclusivity, the beauty industry can create a more empowering and inclusive environment for all.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the author's experience with chemical relaxers affect her hair and self-image?

The author's use of chemical relaxers resulted in severely damaged hair, which led to an identity crisis and a struggle to imagine herself without straight hair. It made her question societal beauty standards and the definition of her own beauty.

Q: How have beauty standards historically perpetuated Eurocentric features and devalued black hair?

Historical prejudices and slavery have contributed to the idealization of Eurocentric features and devaluation of black hair. Black hair was labeled as "bad hair" and considered nappy and uncontrollable, creating a binary system that still influences beauty standards today.

Q: What impact do beauty standards have on professional opportunities for black women?

Studies have shown that black women with straight hair are more likely to be perceived as professional and recommended for job interviews compared to those with curly hair. Embracing one's authentic self can lead to missed career opportunities and perpetuate the biased beauty standards.

Q: How does the beauty retail industry fail to cater to diverse skin tones, hair textures, and body types?

Sephora's study reveals that over 74% of shoppers feel that beauty marketing lacks representation of diverse skin tones, hair textures, and body types. Black and brown women, who contribute significantly to the beauty market, face limited options and biased treatment in retail environments.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The author shares her experience of using chemical relaxers on her hair and the irreversible damage it caused, forcing her to confront her identity and beauty standards.

• Beauty standards in society disproportionately harm black and brown women and perpetuate Eurocentric features as the ideal.

• The beauty retail industry lacks diversity and inclusivity, with limited options and biased treatment for black and brown consumers.