In the beauty industry, Black consumers are a minority and often face systemic barriers when it comes to building their own businesses. However, they are also a growing segment of the US population. They are spending 6.6 billion dollars on beauty products in 2021. That represents 11.1 percent of the entire US beauty market. While their share of the industry may be smaller, it is growing rapidly. And Black entrepreneurs have a lot to gain from a better understanding of the consumer base and greater partnerships with Black brands.
For instance, Black brands make up 2.5 percent of the total beauty market in the U.S., yet they only represent about a fifth of the revenue in the industry. The other ninety percent of the industry’s revenue goes to non-Black brands. Creating a more equitable beauty industry ecosystem is not an easy task. But addressing the pain points of Black consumers can lead to a fundamental change.
One of the most common frustrations for Black consumers is the lack of quality beauty products. Despite the fact that they are spending more money on beauty, they have a hard time finding what they need. As a result, they are not seeing themselves reflected in the industry’s advertisements. This can have tangible effects, such as feeling inadequate and suffering from body dysmorphia.
Another limiting factor is the high expectations of Black consumers. These expectations can be hard to live up to, especially if they are based on stereotypes. Being considered beautiful increases a person’s power in certain settings, but it can also be a powerful magnet. Therefore, being perceived as beautiful can have significant effects on a person’s social, economic, and emotional life.
The pressure to conform can lead to a variety of health problems, including eating disorders, depression, and body dysmorphia. It is also important to keep in mind that society’s standards of beauty change over time. By looking at the history of the industry, it is clear that perception of beauty can vary depending on the period, culture, and society.
Interestingly, the same factors that affect the ideal appearance of women also impact the ideal appearance of men. Women’s ideal appearance can be influenced by fairy tales, ads, and other forms of media. Similarly, males’ ideal appearance can be influenced by capitalism and by racism. Throughout the years, the body mass index has fluctuated between cultures.
Ultimately, defining beauty can be very confusing. Some experts agree that beauty is a matter of harmony between parts. Others believe that it is a matter of taste. Even so, the beauty industry is in the process of attempting to deconstruct its prevailing conceptions of beauty.
However, the truth is that many people use the concept of beauty to create and maintain their own power. There are also groups that have taken advantage of this to increase their own social standing. Specifically, the beauty industry has capitalized on the insecurities of its consumers to gain power over their own self-image.