How the African Beauty trend is creating opportunities for market players

Seeing the gap in the market, several entrepreneurial brands are contributing to the African Beauty trend. They are doing so by creating specific customised solutions that not only address African skin tones and hair types, but promote indigenous beauty practices that utilise natural ingredients and techniques, reflecting the cultural importance and buoyancy of the African heritage.  

This is an opportunity that all our region’s beauty players should not miss! 

Despite increasing intra-African trade and cultural ties – as well as growing ties with the rest of the world – the continent is too often still regarded as a monolithic entity when it comes to the selling and marketing of beauty and personal care products.  

The reality, of course, is that ethnicities, perceptions of beauty, beauty traditions, and cultural norms vary widely and constantly evolve. Each of the 54 countries has its own practices and preferences. As such, ‘African Beauty’ innovation must not only address the specific characteristics of skin tones and hair types, but embrace the traditions of the various countries as well.   

Utilising natural ingredients that have been used for centuries 

One of the ways in which beauty players are doing this is by utilising natural ingredients that have been used for centuries by African woman as part of their beauty regime. Examples include shea butter in West Africa and argan oil in North Africa.   

Shea Moisture, a brand which was founded by a Sierra Leonean refugee in the early 1900s, has capitalised on this by creating a line of hair and skin care products using shea butter and black castor oil.  

These natural ingredients – still sourced from women’s co-operatives in northern Ghana – are gaining global attention as they are considered sustainable, ethical and effective in everyday use. 

Similarly, Kui Care is an emerging Kenyan brand that has a strong focus on formulating products specific to African hair.  

A key priority for the brand is utilising natural ingredients such as tea tree oil and cinnamon, while at the same time celebrating African culture and heritage through their brand and packaging.   

You will find this story, and much more, in Issue 1 2024 of Strategic Marketing for Africa – the voice of African marketing and the official publication of the African Marketing Confederation (AMC). 

Read it online or download it here. A print edition of the magazine is also available.