Columbia, Missouri, has witnessed a historic milestone with the opening of its first Black-owned beauty supply store, according to the Columbia Missourian.
The store, Beauty Trap, was founded by local entrepreneur Sarah Brown. She holds a cosmetology license and works as a hairstylist, and has been in the beauty space for close to three decades.
Located at 200 Penn Ter. Ste. 121, Beauty Trap is one of two beauty supply stores in Columbia. The store offers an extensive selection of hair extensions, wigs and other cosmetics.
The store aims to provide high-quality products and foster a welcoming environment where customers can feel seen and valued. Brown emphasized the importance of representation in the beauty industry, stating, “My company’s mission is to mentor, uplift and encourage young African American girls.”
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Her pivot into the business ownership was inspired by her mentor, Mary Smith, founder of Mary Smith’s Beauty Salon. Smith spoke about how the two hairstylists worked together to progess in their ventures.
“I taught Sarah how to do hair for Black customers, something they don’t teach you at school,” Smith said. “Sarah and I have both taken classes for hair over the years and we teach each other what we have learned.”
Brown was motivated to open two new salons, but both were forced to close for several months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which adversely affected many small business owners.
“While we were closed, I was able to save my money wisely and it gave me the idea to start my own store and line of products,” Brown told the local news outlet. “Now my goal is to make this a family business.”
Black women are major players in the beauty industry, particularly when it comes to haircare. They spend approximately $2.5 billion annually on haircare products alone, significantly outpacing other demographics in this sector. This spending power underscores their influence and importance in the beauty market. Additionally, Black women are known for their trendsetting and brand loyalty, often driving market trends and preferences through their purchasing choices.
Besides Beauty Trap, Brown owns D’mmi-Stylez Beauty Bar, a salon situated a few doors down. She named D’mmi-Stylez after her 8-year-old daughter, D’mmi.
