Some create clothing, others collaborate with beauty or hair brands (like brand ambassadors) and still others create beauty products. I would not say it’s a natural gravitation for all bloggers, but it seems it was indeed for the four mentioned below. And for good reason…they bring incredible products to the world that needed to be appreciated. Just like many creators of products before them, these four women found a need that was not being met, or at least not specifically sculpted as they saw fit. Some of the best products on the market are those that the creators knew were missing from the world. They brought to the masses an idea, product, or even a service that was not yet discovered. Does this sound easy? It might appear that way, but the behind-the-scenes formulations are rough, even cut-throat, as bringing your creation to life takes all guts but quite often doesn’t give any glory. Despite the obstacles, Alex Elle, Kim Love, Rochelle (BlackOnyx77) and Nikisha Brunson made reality so much sweeter by gracing us with amazing products while holding down the fort in the blogging and vlogging worlds.
Alex Elle / Balm & Co.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBz6YS2xZbq/
Alex Elle didn’t only create Balm and Co. She’s a natural hair blogger, jewelry designer, poet and author. She is a wondrous multitude of various talents she willingly shares. She’s an entrepreneur and a mother who believes in self-care practices and sharing the talents of local artisans. Balm & Co. was born in 2014 and the mission is the same to this day. Create natural, holistic, planet + people friendly skincare products to those near and far. Their products are vegan, handmade with fair trade ingredients and are 100 percent natural with no GMOs, fillers, parabens, alcohol, sulfates or unnatural preservatives. Every ingredient picked is included in the formulation for a therapeutic purpose. Many essential oils contain almost magical qualities that help the mind, body and spirit. From lip balms to activated charcoal cleansers, Alex Elle’s Balm & Co. takes every product and ingredient seriously.
Kim Love / Luv Naturals
https://www.instagram.com/p/19qTIxHt6o/
Kim Love or Kimmaytube was a natural hair vlogging sensation when she began her natural hair journey in March of 2009. We walked through her very first video of a wash, tuck and go to today, when she’s incorporating her hair care line Luv Naturals into her styles, hair care and life. This talented businesswoman let us into her life and we were in awe of her very disciplined very well-thought-out procedures to grow her hair from ear length to hipbone length in only four years. She created the Luv Naturals website in 2010 selling hair accessories, but her hair care product line didn’t launch until September 2012 and was a four-step foundation line for everyday hair care maintenance and manageability. Today she has products ranging from detanglers to gels and has become a beloved line in the natural hair community.
Rochelle (BlackOnyx77) / Alikay Naturals
https://www.instagram.com/p/BCAvYVOSEwA/
Rochelle Graham, AKA, BlackOnyx77, began her natural hair journey back in 2008 and has turned her YouTube channel into a successful resource for women wanting to go natural. She used YouTube as a platform to share her experiences during her natural hair journey and by the time she was 26 years old she was named “Black Beauty Pioneer” by ESSENCE magazine. At the beginning of her natural hair journey she had damaged her hair with harsh chemicals. While on the hunt for healthier products to use, she decided to make her own and reach her own natural hair goals. While still in college, Alikay was launched. With only $100 she and her husband earned from part-time jobs and through rigorous research she created her first product, Essential 17 Hair Growth Oil. Alikay Naturals has expanded into a formal company offering more than 60 products that focus on natural hair, skin, bath and body.
Nikisha Brunson / Folie
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBx_rb0ACgy/
Nikisha Brunson, the co-founder of the beloved Urban Bush Babes, is an inspiration to all. Her life is an open book and as she accepts the challenges life has given her. She created UBB with her best friend to discuss natural hair, fashion, health and lifestyle while infusing music and art and culture into this world through their blog. UBB is a hugely popular blog with women who love and embrace not only natural hair but are comfortable in their own skin and refuse to apologize for it. Folie is a 100 percent natural and handcrafted teas, soaps, hair care and skin care line that was launched just this past October. Her line excludes parabens, synthetic preservatives, petroleum or mineral oil, silicones, sulfates or phthalates. As it continues to grow, so will the product line and creativity.
