Sally Beauty recently came under fire for featuring a black influencer in a TikTok post that has now been deleted. In a viral video, a Black influencer was seen straightening her seemingly untouched 4C hair with a flat iron. As soon as social media users learned of this, they responded by calling it a hate crime.
In the video, the influencer, who identifies her hair as textured and the 4Cs, talks about the beauty brand’s innovative approach. However, social media users did not share the same sentiments about the product, and the post received massive criticism online.
On Instagram, users voiced their displeasure, with one user saying:
“Goodbye, Sally!”
Criticism wasn’t just limited to the brand, with some users targeting the influencers in the videos. Social media users responded:
“You’re all mad at them, but you’re not mad at her for standing there like that clown. Girl, that hair is fried, dried, and put by the MF.”
The backlash also extended to the influencer’s technique, with comments such as “It sounds like it’s burning like you’ve been taken to a fajita.” Some stressed that the influencer should have done a “better job.”
Sally Beauty has not released an official statement regarding the situation.
Despite the uproar, the beauty brand has not released an official statement regarding the situation. The brand’s silence has only fueled the backlash, with users demanding formal action. Although the brand deleted the video after the initial wave of criticism, it was shared by Shade Room on Instagram, leading to a new round of backlash targeting both beauty brands and influencers.
Some social media users responded by slamming the beauty brand, while others said the black woman didn’t even comb her hair and was just trying to do something random.
Criticism also spilled over to Sally Beauty’s latest Instagram post, which spotlighted several Black beauty founders.
It’s also worth noting that the beauty company is the world’s largest distributor and retailer of professional beauty products, with more than 3,700 stores in 12 countries, according to the Sally Beauty website.
The brand’s website states it has locations in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Peru, United Kingdom, Belgium, Chile, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, and Germany. Sally Beauty serves both retail consumers and salon professionals.
Sally Beauty received criticism during Black History Month. For those who don’t know, Black History Month is held every February to spread awareness about the history and achievements of African Americans.