Mariama Bah, 17, is used to struggling to find just the right products for her hair type.
Bah was getting her hair done at Unbeweavable Salon and Beauty Supply salon in east Windsor Thursday. Most products, she says, are too expensive and don’t hold up her curls.
“Everybody just makes products for hair, but they don’t really know what the real problem is, you know,” Bah said.
Audia Eastwood Strachan, owner of Unbeweavable, believes she has just the trick.
The Windsor woman has invented and launched Sworls, a line of shampoo, conditioner, curl gel and curl cream.
She says she has been selling the products for about a month in her salon and has already sold about 100 kits, which includes all of her line of products.
“Throughout my almost 30-year career, It’s been a problem within our community, especially with children really not knowing how to care for their curls, how to manipulate them so they can love their curl,” she said.
“So, that was the main reason why I came up with (these products).”
The needs for Black hair are different, she said, and there aren’t enough products in Canada geared toward it.
“We have curls, we have kinks, we have coils, but there isn’t enough for our hair,” she said.
“There’s a lot for the straight hair market, but not enough for us who have curly hair.”
Strachan has been a hair dresser for 30 years and started her salon Unbeweavable Salon & supply Inc. in March 2005. During her career she has had clients who have issues managing their curls of and that’s why she said she came up with this business idea.
Strachan Eastwood said she’s keeping the price point down by getting the products manufactured in Canada, unlike others in the market.
“I think in the Canadian market, we don’t get enough. We (have) a lot of what we use is coming from the U.S.”
She has also been taking classes to teach young girls on how to take care of their hair as says that would “cut frustration” and “cuts back on tears.”
Bah said she has been loving her hair after using Sworls.
“It leaves your curls very nice and defined.”
For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community — check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.
