Whisper Whip Is First Black Woman-Owned Haircare Brand In A U.S. Hotel

Most women with textured hair know all too well the struggles of finding haircare products while traveling. Of course, we have mastered on-the-go kits with miniature versions of our haircare must-haves. But, wouldn’t it be nice if that luxury hotel with an amazing view had more than watered-down, over-perfumed shampoo and conditioner?

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Tendai Morris, licensed haircare expert, is working to make that possible, one hotel a time. She just started with a new deal with The Last Hotel St. Louis to secure placement for her Whisper Whip hair collection. That means you can now find toiletries that actually work on textured hair in a hotel.

Whisper Whip is part of Morris’ Healthy Hair Solutions brand, which offers more than 60 different hair and body products, offering up wash-day, styling, and skincare essentials.

“I am really happy that I was blessed with the opportunity, and I understood the assignment,” Morrison told Sadiaa, in an exclusive interview, about expanding her brand’s reach. Her collections are already available on Amazon and in 75 salons and retailers nationwide.

As an official vendor for the hotel, travel-size versions of Whisper Whip shampoo and conditioner are now stocked in all of the rooms. You can also find a shower gel and body lotion in the lineup. This mane move isn’t just for Black folks, either. An estimated 65% of the U.S. population has curly, coily or wavy hair.

She may also be making history. “I believe I am the first female Black-owned supplier for a hotel in the U.S.,” she said in a social media post.

We caught up with Morris to learn more about her newest boss move and what it means to see products for natural hair in a hotel.

SADIAA: Congratulations on getting hotel placement! What made you say, “I need to be on shelves here“?
TENDAI: I’ve traveled a lot throughout the years. And in my travels, I’ve always remixed the haircare products that were in the hotel bathroom to fit my needs or just bring my own hair care products. One day, I started thinking, “Hey there are so many people with textured hair from every walk of life that travel, and curly hair people co-wash their hair more than shampoo.” There is co-wash on the shelves at the stores, so these haircare products need to be in the hotels, too!  I mean it’s all about convenience.  Sometimes people leave their co-wash at home.    

SADIAA: What was the process like to have your brand considered?
TENDAI: The process for getting my products in the hotels was really all about being in the right place at the right time. I met the senior hotel manager and I mentioned that I would like to figure out how to provide products in hotels. She introduced me to the buyer for that department and the buyer loved my samples. She then pitched it to her boss who was the ultimate decision-maker, and it was a waiting game after that. I met with them again and a year later, I got a call. I was ready and I delivered!

SADIAA: How long can we expect to find the product there?
TENDAI: I am now the official haircare vendor for The Last Hotel St. Louis and I expect to be the vendor long-term. I know things change, but for now, we have an agreement that will continue for many years to come.

SADIAA: What does it mean to you to see haircare products for textured hair in a hotel?
TENDAI: For me, seeing products for textured hair women in the hotels means growth in the right direction. There is a lot in the world that needs to change, but every win is a win as far as I am concerned.

SADIAA: What’s next on your wish list?
TENDAI: I’m ready for the next hotel! Next on my wish list is to provide textured hair products for even more hotels […] and to expand naturally and organically. I would love to see more natural haircare product representation for travelers all over the world. I want to be that supplier.

For more information on Healthy Hair Solutions and Whisper Whip, visit healthyhair.solutions.