Have you ever walked into a store searching for some shampoo and conditioner? Whatever the circumstance may be, you are searching for hair products. Depending on your hair type and how you wish to style it, you may choose certain products since they work best with your hair. For some people, it’s as easy as picking up a bottle, grabbing everything else you need and then leaving. However, for most people with black or curly hair who need a certain type of hair product, it can be a little more of a hassle.
Photos have been shown online of products for girls with curly hair being hidden away by a barrier of plastic and locked up. They are only available if you call an employee to open it for you. Various videos have been released recently highlighting people being accused of stealing by just grabbing items off a shelf and carrying it with them
Here is an article about the experiences people have had while shopping in places such as CVS and Walmart. Various individuals have stated that they would change the placement of where these items are located. However, while this did happen, it was like a backhanded compliment. The items were placed behind cashiers and you still needed to request assistance to look through products. This led to people who were seeking these products being rushed and unable to spend time looking for what would work best for their hair.
Another topic that I have seen is pricing. When you go to the store, you typically see normal hair products being at the maximum price of 4 to 5 dollars. On the other hand, products for girls with curly hair or hair products for black girls can be up to 12 dollars for one bottle of shampoo. This makes it much more difficult for people with thicker and dry hair to gain access to the products they need due to pricing since the total can add up fast. Just recently, a Twitter user made a statement saying “it’s more than just the police,” inferring that it is also companies that present signs of racism. This statement can be reversed if more stores keep more expensive ethnic hair products out in the open instead of locking them away behind a glass or plastic screen in aisles or behind the cash registers. This has led many to question whether or not companies such as Walmart will actually fix this issue and when will other companies make these items more accessible to people when it relates to both price and location within the store.