As March comes to an end, so does the celebration of Women's History Month, a special time dedicated to recognizing the achievements and contributions of women throughout history. At Clara Bea Essentials, we embrace the spirit of empowerment and honor the trailblazing women who have paved the way for progress and equality. Join us as we celebrate the remarkable journey of women and reflect on the impact they've made in shaping our world.
- Martha Matilda Harper was born in September of 1857 in Ontario, Canada. Martha became one of the most highly respected businesswomen of her generation. As a result, she paved the way with huge innovations in both beauty and business thanks to her hair salon, The Harper Hair Parlour. She is credited to be the first person to come up with a system for what we now know as franchising. She then trained women to open salons using the Harper Hair Parlour and following her rules. By the 1920s, there were over 500 Harper salons around the world. In addition, she also invented the reclining shampoo chair which we all use every time we go to the hairdresser!
- Madam C.J. Walker, who legal name was Sarah Breedlove, became the first female self-made millionaire in America. She developed and marketed a line of beauty and hair products for black women during the 1900s. At first, she started out selling door to door. Then she trained women to become “beauty culturists” by teaching them how to groom and style their hair. Then, she ended up owning a company which included a factory, hair salon, beauty school and learned the art of selling. Madame C. J. Walker was a true pioneer in the beauty industry.
- Iman, Zara Mohamed Abdulmajid, was born in Somalia in 1955. man is a woman who saw a fundamental gap in the beauty industry and after failing to find products which worked for her skin tone, took matters into her own hands. As a result, Iman Cosmetics is designed around a range of foundations and cosmetics in shades which work with darker skin tones. She developed products which gave women of color real options at an affordable price. The Iman Cosmetics foundations has been one of the top selling foundations in the USA. Iman gave women of color visibility within the beauty industry and the success of her brand speaks volumes for the demand for products which work on all skin tones.
- Eunice Johnson started Fashion Fair along with her husband, John H. Johnson, in 1973. The company caters to the makeup needs of women of color. According to The New York Times, three years after its launch, the brand prompted Revlon, Avon, and Max Factor to expand their shade ranges to include darker shades. As a result of cosmetic influence, she was an advocate of supporting and promoting Black designers and models. She created the Ebony Fashion Fair, a country-wide tour that showcased couture and ready-to-wear clothes for a predominantly Black audience.
As Women's History Month ends, let us carry the spirit of empowerment and celebration forward throughout the year. Together, we can continue to honor the achievements of women, amplify their voices, and work towards a future where every woman can thrive. Join us as we celebrate women today, tomorrow, and always. Explore our collection of empowering haircare, skincare and wellness products at Clara Bea Essentials and join us in supporting your women-owned business as we continue to make our marks in the beauty industry.