Brown Beauty Co-op is the Black Girl Headquarters
Hey Cuties,
I had such an incredible Thursday night out, I can show you better than I can tell you. The Brown Beauty Co-op had a soft opening for DC Media and Influencers. This is a for us, by us establishment, if for no other reason, support them because they have products that are made exactly for your brown skin. We all know our melanin is magical AF, so use products that only enhance and take care of the natural beauty you already have. It is amazing to see businesswomen like these setting up online and getting their products out for the world to see, it means so much and to see their businesses consistently growing in this online world. The online platforms they use are highly important for what they are selling, so implementing resources like AWS security monitoring services is a key factor in making sure that they are protected and can keep doing what they are doing. Good for them and good for us to be able to use them!
L to R Co-Founders: Guest + Kimberly Smith + Amaya Smith + Nikki Osei
The Brown Beauty Co-op. The Brown Beauty Co-op, aka “the brown girl’s beauty playground” is a joint venture that aims to take the mantra “Black Girl Magic” to the next level. The Brown Beauty Co-op is designed to be a safe space where the beauty of women of color is celebrated while also providing mentorship and creating exposure for emerging entrepreneurs. In a world where diversity mentoring and similar sorts of initiatives are so important, this is a brilliant idea. As part of this unique cooperative, aspiring beauty business owners are able to learn about everything from the perks of Private Label manufacturing to the latest techniques for marketing skin care products. Needless to say, if you want to be a big name on the beauty scene, this group is perfect for you.
Location: The cute brown building in Dupont Circle at 1365 Connecticut Ave, NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20036. Hours of Operation: Weekdays 10 AM to 8 PM and Weekends 11 AM – 8 PM.
About Kimberly Smith [Middle Left]
As seen on WWD, InStyle, Refinery 29, Cosmopolitan, BET, Hello Giggles, Huffington Post and more, Marjani is the pioneering beauty and cosmetics e-commerce destination created for ALL women of color featuring products from around the world. Marjani was founded by Kimberly Smith is an Ivy League-trained attorney that advises companies navigating the complex regulatory world of the healthcare industry and beauty enthusiast.
About Amaya Smith [Middle Right]
With over a decade of experience as a Communications and PR professional, Amaya Smith is an expert in models of fair and just employment, former Obama for America Communications staff and now Founder & CEO of The Product Junkie.
Brown Beauty Co-op features both indie and established skincare, makeup and hair care products & accessories that cater primarily to women of color. Taking care of your skin is very important, including using the correct supplements to get the best from your body in general. Investing in Private Label Supplements will get your skin looking prepped and ready for our amazing make up!
The Brown Beauty Co-op will also feature a makeup lab and serve as a hosting space for community events, pop-up activations featuring emerging business owners, tutorial sessions with makeup artists, natural hair stylists, and DIYers. Not to mention Marjani’s signature event, the “Perfect Match Experience” where guests can get personal foundation match consultations to evaluate shades that work for their skin tones.
DOMO of GIRLAAAAA set the mood all night long. She had us chatting, shopping and two-stepping until the end y’all. Then it got wild and crazy and maybe a bit of twerking. We grown!
Bougie Balloons gave use the cutest backdrop. It was cute in person but looked even better in our pictures. This is is officially my new favorite photo.
My look was festively comfy yet cute. The details: Jacket + Target : Top + Target : Pants + H&M : Shoes + J. Crew
I am a sucker for the details, and these carrot cake cupcakes with pink frosting by Delectable Cakery were delicious.
We washed those delicious cupcakes down with BABE Rosé. They had me before I even took a sip. Their branding is impeccable. Did you peep the napkin? It says “Official wine of questionable decisions.” That is hilarious. The straws said BABE and Wine + Me = Yes. There was a funny quirky message on the back of the can that says
Hey You Guys, You look great. Love your face. Have you lost weight? Let’s be honest, someone had to create a sparkling rose that was delicious, and most of all, so us. You’re welcome.
Love You, Miss You, Hate You, Love You, Mean It.
So cute right? It wasn’t just cute, it was delicious and I need more of it in my life. Babe, do you hear me?
After chatting and looking at myself in this massive mirror within the Brown Beauty Co-op space I had an idea. The lighting was too good to not utilize it, so I took a picture of myself with my big camera. Then I was grabbed the ladies standing nearest to me and told them to pose. Some of the ladies I knew and others I did not. I know them now though. The picture was so dope.
Then my boo Simona took my above idea and suggested we recreate it with Brown Beauty Co-op Products and then I snapped this picture. This is black girl magic personified. We supported the brand and shopped, but we actually celebrated one another. It was pure, it was love it was fun, and it was magical AF. Not everything in life is complicated, some are effortless. Black women have been riding for one another for centuries. Nobody celebrates us like us!
Run, don’t walk to the Brown Beauty Co-op and support these ladies. Continue to build upon the legacy they are creating. They are standing on the shoulders of others, and we have to continue to lift them up so others can come and stand on their shoulders.
Location: The cute brown building in Dupont Circle at 1365 Connecticut Ave, NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20036.
Hours of Operation: Weekdays 10 AM to 8 PM and Weekends 11 AM – 8 PM.
What is your favorite hair/beauty product? Chat with me in the comments below or FB, IG, and Twitter.
I so love this. This place looks amazing. I am always in the DMV and this will be my first stop next time. Our skin needs special care beauty products so I look forward to checking it out and supporting.
Yay! Leslie, go in and check it out. Shop a bit and chat with the ladies.
That looked like a lot of fun! I love the balloon decoration. I have to go check this place out! I don’t have a must have beauty product right now, so I need to go by there and find one!
It was way more fun than I expected. The balloon decoration was the perfect photo op.
I saw your snaps and a few other of these lovely ladies’ snaps of this on the gram. Everyone looks so fab and it looks like fun, pure black girl magic times! I will have to check out the co-op!
It was magical AF, and a true celebration. Do go by and shop.
There is so much beauty all up and through this post! I love this. It looked like such a great event. I’m all for anything for us and by us. #rootingforeverybodyblack
Yes!!!! I too am #RootingForEveryoneBlack
This seems like it was a great experience! I need to check it out next time I am in DC.
It was so incredible, I am looking forward to going back.
All this black girl magic just made me smile so hard!!! This event looked and sounded dope. I love that it’s for us. Our melaninis magical and it needs nothing but the best beauty products to bring it out even more. I need to check out that rose too.
I love to constantly shatter stereotypes that say women don’t, and black women can’t. Bih we can we do every single day. That Rose was so good.
Ok!! I’m gonna nag you now!! Take me with you to some of these events!!!
For sure, I am always on the go. I share a lot of them in my blog newsletter.
I have only one question after reading. Are they opening one in Toronto? Because this black girl could really use a headquarters here at home. Looks like an amazing beauty shop.
Sorry I don’t have the answer to that Nadalie. I imagine they would love to expand, but I don’t know if that takes them to Canada. It is super cute.
I saw this on my IG explore page and it made me so happy to learn about a black owned beauty supply store! I definitely will be making my way there when I visit DC
Yes!!!!! I’m happy to know it hit the IG explore page. The more eyes, the more customers, the better for the brand. Check them out.
Omg!!! This looks awesome. I live in NYC but the next time I’m in DC I have to come through. I have some friends in the NOVA area, so I’m sharing this information of wealth. Kudos, keep this kind of Black Girl Magic up!!
You are just right up the road. Yes, that would be awesome for the locals. Tell them to come check it out and report back.
Whaaat?! I hadn’t even heard of The Brown Beauty Co-op opening until this post, thank you!! I get so happy when WE open businesses in markets that we dominate as consumers. Also, these shots are amazing.. all that melanin 🙂
Yes! We dominate the hair and beauty industry. We should have a ton of these shops and they should be making a ton of money.
Yassss to all of this. We have a few down here in Atlanta but it doesn’t get that much business and sadly one is on the brink of closing but I support this 100%
That is the hard part, is maintaining after the grand opening. We have to remain loyal.
I am here for all the black owned beauty products. Just sent this article to my sister in law since she lives in the DMV area and loves buying from black owned stores. Thank you for reviewing this company.
Thanks for sharing. She would love this place.
Oh what fun!!! I loved seeing all the lively photos too. Unfortunately, I’m not in the DC area, but I do believe there is a similar concept that just opened in my area. This makes me want to take a closer look.
That is awesome, we need brown girl shops in all parts of the world.
I wish I would have known about this location when I was visiting this summer. I love the creative photos with you and the ladies and her pouring and catching the wine is hilarious.
They just opened up Tiffany, so they weren’t quite ready when you came to visit. Be sure to check them out during your next visit.
My cousin went to the opening, she’s Nikki’s friend and had a great time. I know I’d love to go because I find it hard to find my shade of brown in foundation.
Nice! They had all the shades of brown and several different brands. Not only can you find your color, you also have options.
Wow the event seems like it turned out to be a lot of fun. I need that lip gloss.
It was so much fun. The lip is a Milani Lip paint called Devotion.
This store is like a living, breathing Instagram moment. The next time I’m near DC, I’m going.
Yes!!! One that you can’t pass up.
Love love love this concept! I wish there was one in every city, but I hope to make it there when I’m in DC. This event looked like such a great time with great people.
It was a good time, it is such a perfect fit for you. Next time you are in the DMV check it out.