Years of recommending DIY hair care recipes and styling tips led Whitney White to start Melanin Haircare: “Hair care as a consumer product is a need, not a ‘nice to have,’” she said. White said the business has seen success despite challenges like price hikes for raw materials and shipping delays due to supply-chain shortages.

Formulated with cocoa and shea butter, argan and vitamin B5, Melanin says this clarifying shampoo conditions and promotes hair’s elasticity and flexibility. Other ingredients like tea tree, black cumin seed, rosemary and peppermint oils have anti-inflammatory properties, according to the brand. And the charcoal powder in the shampoo helps detoxify the scalp and gently exfoliate.