Stylist and entrepreneur Sherrie Williams has become the first African American to sell a hair care line to a major hospital. Williams’ company Simplistic BSC recently secured a deal with Froedtert’s network of hospitals and clinics throughout Wisconsin, TMJ4 News reported.
“What that means is Froedtert Health will now carry my shampoos and conditioners for all the patients and for all their hospitals,” the founder and CEO told the news outlet, adding that she had started shipping out products to the hospital.
Diagnosed at an early age with several learning disabilities, Williams did not let those challenges stop her from pursuing her goal of helping women of color be comfortable with their natural hair. Right from a young age, she wanted to help women look beautiful in all areas, including their hair. She came to realize that it is a challenge among women of color to maintain healthy hair as they lack products to cater to their hair, which comes in so many different textures.
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That inspired her to create a line of hair care products that would simplify the healthy hair journey for women of color, she said.
“I am a cosmetologist and when I first started mixing my own products it was because I went into stores and there were really no products that worked for me, me being an African American,” she told TMJ4 News.
As she mixed her products and applied them to her clients’ hair, they loved them, and that led to the unveiling of Simplistic BSC in 2018. Five years down the line, the company has expanded to include 28 products, including hydrating shampoo, purifying conditioner and alopecia hair growth and thickening treatment. The other good news is that customers can soon buy her products through Piggly Wiggly and Fresh Thyme Market, and on Walmart’s online store.
Indeed, it’s not all about money for Williams as she also offers free classes to mothers and children on how to manage and maintain their healthy hair.
Per figures, more than 11 percent of all beauty customers are Black, however, Black brands account for only 2.5 percent of the $60 billion beauty industry. Williams is among the few Black beauty brand owners hoping to make a difference. She advised her fellow Black entrepreneurs to push hard and pursue their dreams but not without doing a lot of research in the fields they find themselves in.
