15 British Black Beauty Brands to Have on Your Radar

“I wanted to create an inclusive Afro hair range that celebrates natural hair and teaches you about maintaining your hair as well as defining your curls,” Clean Curls founder Sarah Jane Crawford told PS UK as her brand launched earlier this year.

At Clean Curls, you find complex curl products and your basics with a twist. You can shop Clean Curls online or at Superdrug, online or in store.

In 2022, fresh out of the UK lockdown and ready to properly look after my hair, I fell in love with Holy Curls. The brand was founded by Badria Ahmed and had one mission; to create holistic and personalised hair care routines for their customers. This made getting to know and love my curls easier than I thought it ever could be.

Currently, their award-winning Oil Serum (£34) is a staple in my hair care routine and multitasks as a primer, refresher, sealant and non-greasy scalp treatment.

Paying homage to their Yoruba and British heritage, best friends and Liha Beauty founders Abi and Liha embrace the healing alchemy of nature by creating products that are 100% cruelty-free and untouched by harmful petrochemicals or unsafe toxins.

Loved by singer FKA Twigs, you can shop Liha Beauty online or at Sephora UK.

Here We Flo was created by best friends Tara and Susan during a classic bathroom chat in their university toilets about being unable to find any organic tampons. In 2017, they launched Flo, a brand which provides everything you need for your period, from OEKO-Tex Natural Bamboo Ultra Thin Day and Night Pads (£4) to 100% Organic Eco-applicator Tampons (£4), free of any dyes, chemicals and nasties and absorbent, eco-friendly and silky soft.

Founded by mother, Ade, and daughter, Antonia, in 2016, Okiki Skincare creates beautiful, handcrafted and natural personal and home care products – including candles, soaps and lotions – paying homage to their rich Nigerian and Ghanaian heritage through high quality, natural products.

In 2017, Roshanne Dorsett left her law career and founded her vegan, cold-pressed and natural skincare brand The Glowcery, where you’ll find products like the Blue Dew Fruit Enzyme Oil to Milk Cleanser (£27), the Superfood Sweet Orange Lip Balm (£12) and my favourite the Clean Greens Superfood Face Serum (£33).

Head into your local Boots store and you’ll find Bouclème, quality products, powered by plant extracts and essential oils with no drying sulphates or heavy silicones – and most importantly, for all curl types.

A standout product from their curl range is the Super Hold Styler (£16, originally £20), which I love for the flake-free hold it gives my curls, ensuring I have long-lasting definition, minus the white-cast.

Nala’s Baby quickly became a sell-out baby care range among parents for its gentle, non-toxic skincare for little ones. But, as you’ll probably find on TikTok, the Night Time Oil (£9) and Body Butter (£7) are viral favourites thanks to the vanilla scent.

Plus, the brand has a list of celebrity investors including boxer Antony Joshua, model Jourdan Dunn and footballers Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho.

Rose Ovenshi had suffered from a dry scalp and extremely brittle hair and after experimenting with raw, botanical ingredients, she was able to nourish her highly dry, textured hair. In turn, she launched Flora & Curl to make textured hair care easy and simple, adopting a minimalist approach to curl care with plant-powered essentials.

Looking for a new wig? Fancy some braiding hair that’s free from harmful chemicals? Or just want to buy some styling products? Whether you’re shopping online or heading to its Selfridges storefront, at Ruka Hair, you’ll find protein-based, earth-friendly synthetics, hair extensions that’ll offer a seamless blend and hair care essentials.

Psst! I highly recommend the Braid-it: Textured Straight (£11) for a yaki braiding texture that doesn’t itch and looks fresh for weeks.

To add some luxury to your hair care routines, look no further than Charlotte Mensah. Made with organic, ethically, and sustainably sourced oils, award-winning hair stylist Charlotte Mensah has created a premium hair care brand boasting products that not only deliver remarkable results but also feature divine scents.

Pat McGrath Labs Labs needs little introduction, as it was created by the world’s most celebrated editorial and runway makeup artist Pat McGrath.

From creating the iconic Maison Margiela Glass Skin look earlier this year, to formulating blushers, powders, foundations and other makeup products loved by MUAs and influencers alike, Pat McGrath Labs is the brand to know and love.

Shyne founder Alvin Mills felt stuck when, during his time at university in rural England, he was unable to find products that catered to his textured hair in local stores. So he created his own.

Practical and luxurious, Shyne is your go-to for grooming tools, self-care kits, or beauty essentials, combining wellbeing with personal care. Shop their Silky Durags (4pc) (£25, originally £28) for yourself or your partner to help to protect hair, lock in moisture, and maintain waves or braids, or indulge in their Curl Defining Creme (£21), designed to define, moisturise, and enhance natural curls.

As the first beauty product I ever reviewed, Kiya Cosmetics will always hold a special place in my heart, and the products are pretty groundbreaking too. The Lavender Whip (£15) in particular helped with an eczema flare up I experienced by soothing the skin, reducing inflammation and providing a nourishing layer of beautifully smelling body butter.

Founded by Kay Amoah, who was looking for effective dry skin solutions for herself and her children, Kiya Cosmetics is created with high-quality Ayurvedic and botanical ingredients.

You may know Patricia Bright for her wise and impactful money and career advice, or maybe you love her YouTube channel, but have you ever been introduced to her skincare brand?

Uwa World strives to emphasise the importance of natural active ingredients and a supportive community and, on TikTok, shares content where women give honest advice about the misconceptions of the beauty industry.

Lauren Gordon is the editorial coordinator at PS UK, where she creates lifestyle and identity content. Lauren has a degree in journalism from University of the Arts London and previously worked as a showbiz and TV reporter at The Mirror US. Lauren specialises in pop culture, hair and beauty, focusing on trends, sharing in-depth tutorials, and highlighting hidden gems in the beauty industry.