To ask you to consider buying your black hair products from black owned businesses?

kwikfitt · 2026-08-05T18:58:08+00:00

Another tale of an assault on a black woman shopping for hair products. This time, a woman from Peckham, shopping at Shaba Hair and Cosmetics (they also have a branch in Dalston, both places in London) was assaulted by men who posessed a hammer and physically ssaulted a woman and her teenage son. This is on top of repeated concerns about fake products being sold, and general everyday intimidation and rudeness towards their black customers. The men who own the shop, and worked at the shop, were not black.

fashionqueen0123 · 09/08/2026 22:42

TY78910 · 09/08/2026 20:21

Wait, can someone link to an article? Are you saying that the owner of Shaba encourages these assaults or that they do nothing about the assaults?

I can’t find anything except for one with the owner restraining someone who he said was shop lifting.
It would be good if the OP could post a link.

TY78910 · 09/08/2026 20:21

Wait, can someone link to an article? Are you saying that the owner of Shaba encourages these assaults or that they do nothing about the assaults?

emuloc · 09/08/2026 20:16

kwikfitt · 09/08/2026 20:13

There are numerous testimonies of the experiences of black women when visiting these hair shops, unfortunately

Show quote history

Unfortunately that was my own experience, on several occasions, back in the Day.

Yello24 · 09/08/2026 20:14

Just googled Shaba. Clearly one to be avoided and should be shut down for selling dangerous skin whitening creams. But why should other small businesses run by S Asians suffer?

Original poster

kwikfitt · 09/08/2026 20:13

Yello24 · 09/08/2026 20:11

Do you mean avoid South Asian owned? That’s who runs most of these shops. I don’t think it’s right to boycott or favour a business based on the race of its owners or staff. If there is evidence they are cheating or abusing their customers that’s different.

Sadly people like to say they will shop ethically and support small businesses but in reality everyone goes to the cheapest place or online

There are numerous testimonies of the experiences of black women when visiting these hair shops, unfortunately

OP posts:

MarmaladeorJam · 09/08/2026 20:12

MarmaladeorJam · 09/08/2026 20:03

Why would a shopkeeper attack their own customers?

What am I missing here?

Show quote history

I just looked it up.

What a sorry story.

Original poster

kwikfitt · 09/08/2026 20:12

VointofPiew · 05/08/2026 22:01

No, these are products designed specifically for afro hair.

They inspired the range of products you now see by mainstream brands for all types of European hair. Before we had "greasy" and "dry" and "normal". Now because they see there is a market for it by those of us curly haired white people who used to buy black products that werent quite right for us, they made stuff for curly hair and the like

Asian and ME people always had their own hair products like Amla.

Show quote history

I'm reminded of those videos showing the damage hair relaxer did to a coke can

OP posts:

Yello24 · 09/08/2026 20:11

Do you mean avoid South Asian owned? That’s who runs most of these shops. I don’t think it’s right to boycott or favour a business based on the race of its owners or staff. If there is evidence they are cheating or abusing their customers that’s different.

Sadly people like to say they will shop ethically and support small businesses but in reality everyone goes to the cheapest place or online

MarmaladeorJam · 09/08/2026 20:03

scoobysnaxx · 05/08/2026 20:11

Yes I now absolutely buy my products from black owned businesses or generic stores like boots. I avoid retailers like this. We know who they are and how we are treated.

Why would a shopkeeper attack their own customers?

What am I missing here?

MissCooCooMcgoo · 09/08/2026 20:03

How would I know if a business I go into is owned by a black person?

Original poster

kwikfitt · 09/08/2026 20:00

Working on a list and will post it when ive some time, later this month

OP posts:

Original poster

kwikfitt · 09/08/2026 20:00

TheNinkyNonkyIsATardis · 05/08/2026 22:01

Can I ask why posters say Boots or black owned only? I use products aimed at black hair, because I was recommended them by my hairdresser, but got them from Superdrug today, does it have to be Boots?

I try to only use POC hairdressers, because white hairdressers usually make horrible comments about my hair texture and cut it badly, or use products that don't suit my hair.

No i think just big companies that would have stringent checks on fake products! Superdrug, sainsburys, Boots

So sorry that youve had that experience - i love when other cultures use black hairdressers, its very London isnt it

OP posts:

Original poster

kwikfitt · 09/08/2026 19:58

hmmdunno · 07/08/2026 15:06

Jim Waterson

Show quote history

Thats it

Shows how long ive been on twitter that I was surprised when I looked him up - we're all getting old!

OP posts:

hmmdunno · 07/08/2026 15:06

kwikfitt · 05/08/2026 21:37

Yes! Will see if i can tag the owner(?) On twitter

Jim something

Have actually followed him for maybe a decade. I dont have a following but maybe an email as well. Hopefully others will have the same idea

Show quote history

Jim Waterson

TheNinkyNonkyIsATardis · 05/08/2026 22:01

Can I ask why posters say Boots or black owned only? I use products aimed at black hair, because I was recommended them by my hairdresser, but got them from Superdrug today, does it have to be Boots?

I try to only use POC hairdressers, because white hairdressers usually make horrible comments about my hair texture and cut it badly, or use products that don't suit my hair.

VointofPiew · 05/08/2026 22:01

Ivygarland · 05/08/2026 21:51

I think I'm going to out myself as being extremely naive here.
When you say black hair products this is essentially products for curly hair?
Which isn't just black hair right? It's a huge demographic. And although it started as black hair products (many many years ago when you had to get them from inner city little supermarkets that catered for curly hair) now it's a massive industry.
It might be really helpful to just give the recent history here. So people understand the background more. And also maybe some links to products for people.
I would prefer to buy from a black owned business where I know where the ingredients come from. (Actually I prefer to buy from any small business but I would especially prefer to buy from a black owned business for anything because I realise how hard it is.)

No, these are products designed specifically for afro hair.

They inspired the range of products you now see by mainstream brands for all types of European hair. Before we had "greasy" and "dry" and "normal". Now because they see there is a market for it by those of us curly haired white people who used to buy black products that werent quite right for us, they made stuff for curly hair and the like

Asian and ME people always had their own hair products like Amla.

Ivygarland · 05/08/2026 21:51

I think I'm going to out myself as being extremely naive here.
When you say black hair products this is essentially products for curly hair?
Which isn't just black hair right? It's a huge demographic. And although it started as black hair products (many many years ago when you had to get them from inner city little supermarkets that catered for curly hair) now it's a massive industry.
It might be really helpful to just give the recent history here. So people understand the background more. And also maybe some links to products for people.
I would prefer to buy from a black owned business where I know where the ingredients come from. (Actually I prefer to buy from any small business but I would especially prefer to buy from a black owned business for anything because I realise how hard it is.)

Potooooooooes · 05/08/2026 21:46

How awful, what a horrible man, that poor woman.

emuloc · 05/08/2026 21:41

Burningbud1981 · 05/08/2026 20:13

You’re not being unreasonable. I’m a black women and would love to buy my hair products from a black owned business. But there are few and the ones I’ve used in the past have been 2x more expensive and the customer service hasn’t been great

Edited

Show quote history

I make my own hair creams, with shea butter and oils that I buy from Akoma Skincare, which is black owned. There are countless videos on Youtube, on making hair butters, and creams. I have not gone into a store, and purchased any hair products for years now. A massive plus when making my own hair products, is that they are all natural, and have no nasty chemicals that will mess up my hormones, which are in a lot of hair products aimed at black Women.

fashionqueen0123 · 05/08/2026 21:38

Sorry I’m being stupid here- do you mean it was the shop owner who attacked their own customer?! With a hammer? wtf!
And they’ve previously tried to strangle someone?

Original poster

kwikfitt · 05/08/2026 21:37

hmmdunno · 05/08/2026 21:33

Is this the sort of issue Londoncentric would investigate?

Show quote history

Yes! Will see if i can tag the owner(?) On twitter

Jim something

Have actually followed him for maybe a decade. I dont have a following but maybe an email as well. Hopefully others will have the same idea

OP posts:

Spiffingdarling88 · 05/08/2026 21:37

Absolutely shocking, I hope they go out of business!

hmmdunno · 05/08/2026 21:33

kwikfitt · 05/08/2026 20:58

Will do

I find that, even though the newspapers can report on clear violations of the law, so much of the abuse is not reported

A dedicated journalist could really do wonders here

Show quote history

Is this the sort of issue Londoncentric would investigate?

Original poster

kwikfitt · 05/08/2026 21:29

VointofPiew · 05/08/2026 20:57

Would it be fair to say that most Black owned shops like this will have at least one Black employee on staff most of the time?

Show quote history

Yes, or perhaps a diverse range of staff

OP posts:

BMW58 · 05/08/2026 21:28

Bigcat25 · 05/08/2026 20:59

Sounds like you want to sweep it under the carpet or avoid race issues.

Show quote history

No, not at all!

I was only thinking of the target audience. Its an important Message isn't it.