Hair products were not created equal. In Fort Worth, many drive to find what they need

Tiffani Jackson
·2 min read

When Gladys Whitfield moved from Chicago to Fort Worth in 2018, she struggled to find a beauty supply store that carried multicultural hair products.

As an African American woman, her hair required specific items for health and maintenance, but to get them she had to drive. Apparently a good distance in her case.

“I had to make the drive to Wedgewood because I stay in Lakewood, which is about [an hour] away,” Whitfield told the Star-Telegram. “They have stores there but they’re smaller, have less of a selection, and if you do find what you need it’s gonna cost a lot more.”

⚡ More trending stories:

→ There’s no ‘better place’ to see April 8 total solar eclipse than in this tiny Texas town.

→In Texas, set your thermostat at 80 when it's 100 degrees, expert says.

→Groceries at this national chain are the cheapest, study finds.

According to a study by experts at All Things Hair, women with coily hair — a type of curly hair that is super voluminous — face more difficulty finding products that cater to them. It also found that African American women spend more money searching for products and traveling the furthest to shop.

“A lot of our customers come from areas like Como, Crowley, Burleson, and Benbrook,” an employee at Super Beauty supply in Wedgewood said. “We get so many calls a day because people can’t find what they need in a store close to them and if they do find one in the suburbs, what they’d buy here for $4 would cost $10 there.”

African American women in hair care deserts around the nation, such as those in Chicago, New Hampshire, and Washington, reported struggles similar to Whitfield’s experience. In addition the study found that 19.8% of Black women have to travel more than an hour to get their hair styled, followed by 15.2% of Hispanic women, 12.2% of Asian women, and 8.7% of women who are Biracial.

An estimated $2.51 billion is spent on black hair care products. Here are some of the products that Black consumers in Fort Worth have to travel for:

  • Bonnet

  • Edge control

  • Extensions

  • Growth oils

  • Lock and Twist Gel

  • Make up (foundation, lip stick)

  • Braid beads

  • Scalp treatments

  • African Shea Butter

  • Curling custard