Beautiful Lessons Learned From Those We Hold Dear, in Honor of Women’s History Month
By Shayna Gonsalves
Our earliest memories and lessons tend to come from those who helped raise us. The strength of the matrilineal bend in most Black families means it is our mothers, aunts, and grandmothers who become our earliest definers of self care. From wash day ceremonies and DIY products to repurposing household staples and, above all else, learning confidence in our own skin, our families have undeniably informed how we approach our beauty - and bodies - in our adult lives.
My grandmother, Naomi, was the youngest of five girls, Cape Verdean in an impossibly small and predominantly white town in coastal Massachusetts. Despite having come from so little, she developed impeccable taste over the course of her life. My dad recalls that though her taste was simple, if she really liked something, it was almost guaranteed to be the most expensive (a trait that seemed to rub off on me).
When I think of my Nana, it’s icy pink manicures contrasting her dark skin, her nails long and natural and somehow never broken. The smell of Jergens mixed with a jasmine flush of Dior J’adore, diamonds flashing in my periphery because that was her preferred method of adornment, to the point of encouraging more piercings for increased earring real estate. Standing appointments with her stylist to get her hair set. If she could see me today, I think she might be confused why I don’t own a set of hot rollers. Taking pride in my crown, my love of sparkle, little luxuries, and a good gin and tonic are direct beauty and self-care influences from my grandmother.
In honor of Women’s History Month, some of our favorite founders and creative directors recall beauty lessons learned from the women closest to them.
Like My Grandmother Taught Me
Tracee Ellis Ross, CEO + Founder of PATTERN Beauty
When I was young, my grandmother would line all of us siblings up outside of the fancy bathroom and she would deep condition our hair with mayonnaise. Each of us would lay on the sink, she would wash our hair and use mayonnaise to fortify and strengthen. Now I can't stop using the Treatment Mask, which is infused with rice water ferment and moringa seed, which deliver hydration and curl elongation to the hair.
If I would have had these products growing up, my grandmother would have used them instead of slathering mayonnaise on my hair. Sure, the mayonnaise worked, it was hydrating, but these products are even more nourishing. The thing that excites me most about it is how the mask modernizes historic home remedies to honor the secret exchange between family and hair, and the way it connects us to our legacy.
My mother taught me that beauty care should not be confused with vanity. 
Like My Mother Taught Me
Charlotte Mensah, Founder of Charlotte Mensah
What I did learn is that self-respect is actually the driving factor behind presenting oneself in the best possible way. My mother always looked beautiful. I personally think that when I dedicate time to taking care of my appearance, it communicates the level of respect I have for myself and, in turn, the level of respect I require from those around me. My mother always respected herself, even when she was faced with difficulties; financially, emotionally, and even spiritually.
She always stood tall, always presented herself with appropriate pride, she rarely gave into doubt and, most importantly, she taught me to do the same. Never once did she tell me that being good-looking was a result of cosmetics. In fact, just the opposite - she always said that I was born beautiful and I will die beautiful. What she did tell me is that I will always remind myself of my beauty by caring for myself, and a fun way to do that is to use hair care and skin care. The products are just the tools with which to access the already existing truth.
Like My Mum Taught Me
Abi Oyepitan, Co-Founder of Liha Beauty
My mum taught me that beauty doesn’t have to be a long, convoluted process. She is the true definition of natural beauty. I’ve never known her to have hair, she rocks a bald scalp like no other.
My abiding beauty memory of my mum is when she would get ready to go out. Her routine would consist of slathering shea butter literally from head to toe, into all the crevasses. She would use a black kohl pencil to line her eyes, her lips, and would then give herself a beauty spot just above her dimples. That was the makeup kit and she always looked stunning.
My mum is a simple chick and taught me there is beauty in minimalism, in rocking to the beat of your own drum.
Like My Mom Taught Me
Nancy Twine, Founder + CEO of Briogeo
Growing up, I struggled with my hair because the products on the market weren’t hydrating and nourishing enough for my hair texture. My mom and I began making our own homemade natural beauty products in our kitchen, using natural oils, butters, and extracts from our local health food store.
Fast-forward a few years, I began my professional career working at a large financial firm in New York City. Almost halfway through my finance career, my world changed after I suddenly lost my mother. This tremendous loss was incredibly difficult and it made me see that life is short, and that I needed to fill my life with work that ignited passion and positivity. I went on a soul-searching journey and I kept revisiting my childhood memories of mixing clean beauty treatments alongside my mother - it was then I realized I had a deep desire to make a larger impact on the natural beauty world.
From there, my idea for Briogeo came to life: a line of carefully crafted, clean hair care that offers solutions for every hair type, hair texture, hair need, ethnicity, background, and person.
