Shea Moisture Wants To Get Rid OF The Ethnic Aisle With Ad Campaign #Breakthewalls

I must admit the segregation of black hair care in general at our local grocery and beauty stores has always made the hairs on the back of my neck stand straight up.

Although I personally never thought seriously about it to make some noise and bring about change, we never evolve and grow by staying silent or by watering down the truth.

Shea Moisture*’s recent and new call to action campaign ad #BreaktheWalls is not only needed but profoundly genius! I applaud all of us for the many changes and growth there has been regarding black hair care and it’s appropriate fit into main society. However, I am inspired and eternally thankful by those who chose not to settle there, here is why:

We are one

I love the beauty in which I was raised. All races all ages, all shapes, and all sizes were in my direct view. We all have hair don’t we? It all needs to be washed and maintained, right? So what is the problem and why has it taken so long to bring black hair care out of the corner of aisle out of the witness protection program?

I think it’s beautiful to see the many changes that have already taken place with black hair care and this unique and simple movement set to unify us.

I love the idea that although it’s just hair care some may say the movement is much bigger than that. This ad makes me feel like I don’t have to be limited by the small ethnic section we have learned to be placed in. As a matter of fact, I think some of the women and men of other ethnicities could benefit from exposure to other types of products.

A little exotic oil and some shea butter* can’t hurt anyone, right?

At the end of the day we are all human and desire to take care of what God has blessed us with just like the next person. Not to mention I think that men and women of other races can benefit from ‘ethnic’ products as well.

Demand for natural hair care products and information

Let’s be honest, as black hair care continues to soar in numbers as a billion-dollar industry quite naturally that would equal a boat load of opportunity and rich demand. Now that many of us are wearing our hair natural that industry alone is in extremely high demand.

Now that we have added additional layers to black hair care there is really no stopping us now, and our companies deserve a chance at exposing their products to everyone including people of color. As many try to navigate through the many hair products, be mindful of all the hard work and sweat it took to get those products on the shelf and in it’s rightful aisle.

Beauty aisle

The entire reason behind Shea Moisture*’s #BreaktheWalls ad is that we belong in the big beauty aisle too! I applaud them and others who have made it part of their mission to help bring awareness to the gaps in our society.

As beauty continues to evolve and progress I find it comforting to know that you and I are a part of that.

Of course re-positioning our hair care products doesn’t define us individually it does, however, bring us into a sense of unity and it’s a wonderful start to the many changes I am sure are yet to come.

As companies strive to make sure our products aren’t left off the main sections in the beauty aisle let’s not also forget that we each possess a unique beauty that no aisle or person can take away from us. If we think, be, act beautifully then we will start to feel beautiful every day and not settle for small boxes we do not belong in.

I hope you feel inspired to let your natural beauty resonate every day! I find it absolutely amazing what Shea Moisture is doing and hope that other companies feel just as inspired to do the same. I think it’s funny how some things seem to not be that big of an issue until someone else moves and stands up for change.

Sometimes we are conditioned to accept what we have been labeled instead of helping educate others and ourselves by redefining beauty.

As a consumer and a black woman who shops in the “Ethnic” aisle herself nothing makes me prouder than to see this ad come to life.

The commercial is set to air on television tomorrow but for now, Shea Moisture* has given us all a sneak peak of the behind the scenes production featuring a few beauty and hair gurus we know and love. Check it out below:

How do you feel about the “Ethnic” aisle possibly being a thing of the past? Have you ever felt ashamed of shopping in that aisle?