Madam C. J. Walker - An Inspiring Story About Natural Products for Afro Hair

For years, many people with Afro/coily/curly hair were left out of the beauty industry in Germany - there was a huge gap in hair care and even body care products. Many people, including me (Nana), had to either buy overpriced products or, even worse, travel abroad to stock up.

Those products then had to be "stretched" until the next trip - which, for many people (myself included), led to a surprising stop in hair growth.

This month, Black History Month, which honors Black greats and achievements, we want to introduce you to Madam Walker's life and share our passion and philosophy for Afrolocke.

In the 1890s, Madam C. J. Walker - originally Sarah Breedlove - began to lose her hair, largely due to the harsh lye she was constantly exposed to as a laundress. Other African American women faced the same problem and hid their bald patches with headscarves - which ultimately inspired Sarah to develop her own hair care line. Her products contained coconut oil, beeswax, and other healthy ingredients that supported healing and eventually cured her hair loss.

Afrolocke is now four years old, vegan, certified, and has been available in Germany and neighboring countries since 2017. With a product range that grows every year, Afrolocke wants to bust the myth that "natural hair is difficult," among other things. Every ingredient in our products is carefully chosen, and our packaging is eco-friendly too. Our products aren't just for natural hair - they work for every curl type and for dry, thick hair.

Madam Walker was an African American entrepreneur, philanthropist, politician, and social activist. She was recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as the first self-made female millionaire in America.

Her original brand still exists. In 2013, Sundial Brands - which owns popular hair care brands like Shea Moisture - bought the company. Madam Walker Beauty Culture sold products like shampoos, conditioners, and hair masks.

In our version, our founder Anna was so frustrated by the lack of diversity and accessibility of hair products that nourish rather than dry out her hair, she started making them herself on her kitchen table - which led to her own hair care line, Afrolocke.

Many of the products Black women used at that time were made from beef tallow, which damaged the hair and the scalp.

Her creation was called "Madam Walker's Wonderful Hair Grower."

Her use of hot combs in combination with her "hair grower" is viewed critically. Although she popularized hot combs that straightened the hair, it wasn't Walker's goal to change the look of Black women's hair.

"Let me correct the false impression some have that I claim to straighten the hair," Walker once said. "I regret such an impression, because I have always called myself a hair culturist. I grow hair."

Afrolocke is made by us and for us - something it took Anna years and a lot of courage to start. Afrolocke is more than a hair care brand. For many people, Afrolocke means healthy hair growth and easy access to care products. Afrolocke stands for a movement that's creating change in the German beauty industry.