“I wanted to incorporate the Teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad which is to”accept your own and be yourself!” My intention was also to create a product that would make my customers feel BEA-U-tiful and with those aspirations in mind, Bea-u was born.” -Shimah Abdullah-Muhammad
Indicative of most young, black girls, I wanted long, beautiful hair. I began experimenting with teas, herbs, chemicals, pomades, protective styles and even a vibrating brush. Because I was obsessed! Naturally, my (S)hero then of course, was none other than Madame C.J. Walker! She was the first black, female, billionaire. I portrayed her in school plays and even won an essay contest at 8-years-old depicting her life. Little did I know the profound affect of this information I was retaining about this woman’s life was a seed that has blossomed into my own haircare business.
My hair would grow long and thick, but it was not healthy. It would break off and shed quite often. A close friend of mine suggested that I go to a local salon that’s specializes in natural hair care. Yet, once I visited their website and saw their prices, I said, “ummmm I can do this at home” and so I did! I considered the issues that I was having with my own hair and began extensive research.
I went to the grocery store and picked the fresh items I needed for my experiment. A male member of the family became my test subject. I didn’t know it at the time but he was very self conscious about his hair texture and had secretly started to use perm to achieve a “certain look”. After utilizing my Pre-Shampoo Deep Conditioning Mask, he threw the perm in the trash where it belonged. His hair became more manageable with each use, which prompted him to ask me the question, “have you thought about selling this?” A light bulb went off in my head! I immediately began researching packaging, shipping cost, promotion, pricing, shelf life etc.
I named my company Bea-u, pronounced Be You. I wanted to incorporate the Teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad which is to”accept your own and be yourself!” My intention was also to create a product that would make my customers feel BEA-U-tiful and with those aspirations in mind, Bea-u was born. I sold my first couple of bottles and through word of mouth, my little company began to grow.
I’m Excited and inspired, I proceeded to expand my line. Before I knew it, I had developed a whole line of products consisting of a Daily Oil/ Hot Oil Treatment, a Leave-In Conditioner Spray and a Herbal Healing Shampoo. Once I incorporated my website, etsy.com/shop/Hairamedic my business really started booming. Men and women from all over America were purchasing my products. Doors began opening, sacrifices were made and I was “doing for self”. My etsy store has been awarded with a 5 star rating. My goal is to add other products, so stay tuned…..
All praise is due to Allah (God) for the Teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad which has been the source of my foundation and inspiration. It is not easy being an entrepreneur, there are a lot of wins and losses. My advice to you all is just find something you love to do then do it. Follow your passion, I did.
Peace & Love,
Shimah A. Muhammad
