National Black Beauty Week Is Here To Change The Way We See, Celebrate And Experience Black Beauty

For far too long, Black women have been the blueprint for beauty. We set trends, redefine standards, and influence the global industry in ways that often go uncredited. Yet, for all that cultural impact, Black beauty is still the least funded, represented, valued and support. That’s why Sadiaa Black Beauty Guide launched National Black Beauty Week in 2022.

[SEE ALSO: 11 Ways To Celebrate ‘National Black Beauty Week’]

Held during the third full week of August, this year’s celebration runs August 17–23, 2025 and centers a bold mission: transforming how the world sees, celebrates, and experiences Black beauty — and a call to the industry to do better.

“Black beauty is more than what we see in the mirror—it’s our history, our culture, and our power,” says Stephenetta (isis) Harmon, founder of Sadiaa. “When Black beauty brands win, we all win—because their success fuels more than just business growth. It creates jobs in our communities, circulates wealth, delivers products that reflect our beauty authentically, and shapes narratives that affirm who we are.”

And, the focus goes beyond brands to honor the people and stories that move Black beauty culture. National Black Beauty Week invites brands, influencers, and everyday consumers to call on an industry shift from symbolic gestures to tangible action—whether that’s investing in Black-owned businesses, diversifying campaign casts, or dismantling discriminatory policies in schools and workplaces.

And it’s also about facing hard truths. “When Black beauty brands close, we don’t just lose products—we lose pieces of our culture,” Harmon said. “With visible support for Black-owned brands seemingly disappearing, the responsibility to protect and grow our legacy falls even more on us. This is our moment to take ownership—whether through making our businesses bankable, building communal support, or creating our own spaces—so that our stories, innovations, and beauty are not only preserved, but positioned to thrive.”

The week also puts a spotlight on the urgent need for investment and structural support in the Black beauty space. “Even before the public shrinking of DEI and inclusion efforts, support for Black beauty brands was already waning,” Harmon notes. “In 2022, it dropped 45%—a decline 25% greater than the overall venture capital market—even as Black beauty entrepreneurship was skyrocketing. Today, we’re seeing beloved brands close up shop even after securing funding, as rising costs, supply chain challenges, and new tariffs eat into already thin margins, making it harder for them to survive—let alone scale.”

This year’s National Black Beauty Week runs from August 17–23, 2025, but its mission extends far beyond seven days. Support can be as simple as buying from a Black-owned beauty brand, sharing the work of a Black artist, or starting conversations that challenge beauty norms in your own circles.

Sadiaa will also be hosting a Black Beauty Mixer in Dallas, where founders, creatives, and beauty lovers can connect and collaborate, along with virtual Black Beauty Chats diving into the state of Black beauty, cultural influence, and the economic power of Black consumers and entrepreneurs.

Because when the way we see, celebrate, and experience Black beauty changes, the beauty industry changes with it. And that’s the kind of glow-up everyone benefits from.