When Macie Smith opened a hair supply store in Baton Rouge, she didn’t realize that she’d have to learn Mandarin. But such was the case when Smith, a senior finance major at Southern University, opened an account with a Chinese braiding hair vendor for her two stores, Luxurious Lookz and Mays Beauty Supply.
She learned how to say, “How are you?” (Nǐ hǎo ma), “beauty” (měilì) and “account” (zhànghù).
But when she met with the vendor in person, she was left with a sour interaction. After that, she was determined to build a brand that was rooted in respect and representation, especially for students at Southern University.
“The beauty supply store should be our safe space,” Smith said. “It should feel like home, where Black women can walk the aisles freely without feeling watched or uncomfortable.”…