Madam C.J. Walker made history when she became the first black woman to become a self-made millionaire in America, and now, Sephora and Sundial Brands are following in the visionary entrepreneur's footsteps and making history of their own by launching a line of hair care products that honor her legacy.
Walker built an empire around her hair by inventing a line of beauty and haircare products for black women in 1905, and this new prestige line, Madam C.J. Walker Beauty Culture, will mimic those products' specific hair texture solutions, according to Newsday. Sundial is a brand of natural skin and haircare products that is predominantly purchased by African Americans, and this will be the first time that the brand is sold at Sephora.
The line will feature four collections that will debut on March 4 and will be sold exclusively at Sephora, according to Essence. The four collections will focus on cleansing, treating and styling while nourishing, conditioning, detangling and moisturizing, as well as addressing scalp issues for your best hair life. The line is suitable for all hair textures and is created with the highest quality of natural ingredients. There is a Smoothing/Style Extending collection, a Frizz Fightng/Humidity-Blocking collection, a Curl-Defining/Moisture-Sealing collection and a treatment Scalp & Strand Nourishing collection.
"In partnering with Sephora, this launch represents another step forward in our rich history and continues Madam C.J. Walker's legacy to help every woman feel confident to embark on the life she desires," said Richelieu Dennis, CEO of Sundial Brands. "It's also a dream come true not just for us, but for the millions of women who have been touched by the legacy of Madam C.J. Walker and the millions more who will be inspired to reach their own levels of greatness by hearing her story. We aim to give this brand back to the world in the elevated, iconic manner deserving of a woman who defied the limitations of her time and accomplished what no American woman had done before-in haircare, beauty or business. The spirit, audacity, inspiration, empowerment and ingenuity still lives in women today and is reflected in every part of this brand."
"Hair continues to be a critical focus area for us, and a key piece of our category strategy is ensuring that we have the most innovative and unique brands to support our clients' hair concerns and needs," said Priya Venkatesh, Vice President of Merchandising at Sephora. "The launch of Madam C.J. Walker Beauty Culture is a celebrated moment at Sephora. We are thrilled to be the exclusive retail partner for such an all-encompassing brand with a rich and powerful history in haircare and exciting vision for the future. Madam C.J. Walker and Sephora share a common goal, giving women the power and resources to express their individuality through beauty."
Walker's great-great granddaughter A'Lelia Bundles, who is also a Madam C.J. Walker historian and biographer, is pleased with this decision and imagines that this is what Walker's vision might have looked like in the 21st century. "In one of her last speeches, Madam Walker emphasized the importance of hair-whether curly-kinky, straight, wavy or in-between-each style beautiful in its own uniqueness," she added. "With this line, every woman can have healthier hair while also confidently expressing beauty in the best possible way - hers."
