Alright, so let’s talk about how Trump’s trade war is hitting places like Pink Noire, a cute little beauty supply store in Memphis. Chasity Monroe, the boss lady behind this joint, is feeling the heat. The tariffs on her imported hair goodies from China have shot up like crazy — we’re talking a whopping 145% increase. That’s no joke for a small business like hers that’s just getting started, you know?
For a lot of us Black girls, those local beauty supply shops are where the magic happens. From our first lip gloss to our natural hair care essentials, these spots are like a second home. Sure, most of these places are owned by Korean Americans, but it’s cool to see more Black-owned spots popping up.
Black hair care is big business in the U.S. — we’re talking billions of dollars here. And a big chunk of that comes from overseas, bringing in everything from hair extensions to shea butter straight from Ghana. These shops are like treasure troves, stocking up on all the latest hair and makeup trends.
But guess what? This trade war mess is hitting close to home. Chasity, for example, is already seeing her suppliers bumping up their prices. So, she might have to charge more for stuff like braiding hair. And let’s be real, nobody wants to pay double for their fave hair products.
Some folks are telling store owners to stock up while they can, taking advantage of a temporary tariff break for countries like India and Malaysia. But not everyone can swing that, especially small businesses like Chasity’s. It’s a tough spot to be in, no doubt about it.
Chasity is all about giving her customers a top-notch experience, offering up makeup and skincare services on top of her hair goodies. She’s even got Wine Day Wednesdays and Champagne Saturdays going on. Talk about a party at the beauty shop!
She hasn’t raised her prices yet, but she’s feeling the pressure. And shifting production to the U.S.? Not gonna happen with those crazy high minimum order requirements. Over in Nashville, LaWanda is already seeing her prices go up. Times are tough for these small business owners, y’all.
Customers are feeling the pinch too, with TikTok buzzing about those rising prices. And for many Black women, hair isn’t just hair — it’s a whole journey. It’s about empowerment, confidence, and self-expression. So, when those beauty shop prices start climbing, it hits hard.
But Chasity is staying positive, hoping her customers will stick around even if she has to jack up her prices. People still treat themselves to a little pampering during tough times, right? When eggs get pricey, folks might joke about getting chickens, but the beauty industry? That’s a whole different ball game.
In the end, it’s all about supporting these small businesses, showing them some love when times get tough. So, next time you swing by your local beauty shop, remember the faces behind the counter. They’re doing their best to keep the beauty magic alive, even when the trade war tries to mess things up.
