The popular natural hair-care line Shea Moisture has received a bit of harsh criticism over it’s latest advertisement. Many product loyalists were taken aback when the company launched a social media campaign, featuring the image of a young white child rather than a child of color.
The company has issued a response via their Twitter account (@sheamoisture) saying:
We came across an image of a little girl with a puzzled expression that we imagine our #SheaFamily has when they run out of product, so we shared it with you. No ad. No agenda. As a certified minority-owned business, we are so proud of our heritage, our community and how far we’ve come — from a village market in Sierra Leone, to the streets of Harlem, to retailers throughout the U.S. With your support, we’ve been able to bring change, diversity and variety to retail. We hope you continue to join us in celebrating how the versatility of our products can help people everywhere.
Since the release of their statement, some followers were a little more forgiving, while other were not in support of the brand’s decision to expand their marketing base.
In 1991 by Richelieu Dennis, Shea Moisture was created in an effort to keep his grandmother’s recipes for hair and skin care products alive. Since then, the company has bloomed, with more women of color opting to wear natural hairstyles and using more natural products to care for their tresses.