Black population growth rate in America has been steadily positive. Since 2000, over the twenty something years, Black population grew by about 10 millions, or by 29%. According to 2021 Population Estimates by the US Census Bureau released in June 2022, the Black population in the United States totaled 49,586,352 in 2021, which constituted 14.9% of the total population. The US Census Bureau forecast that the Black population would grow into over 60 millions, exceeding 15% of the total population by 2060. (Source: Demographic Turning Points for the United States: Population Projections for 2020 to 2060 Population)

Also shifting is the regional distribution of Black population. The following report about Black demographic trend of regional distribution over approximately twenty years shows that Black population grew across the country since 1990 with the most growth in the South. The Northeast and the Midwest had seen a decrease in the percentage of Black residents from 19% in 1990 to 17% in 2019. According to the most recent data in 2020, more than half of the Black population in America, namely 58%, lives in the South.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010, 2000, 1990 Census and 2019 American Community Survey

By state, the state with the highest Black population was Texas. Texas had seen an explosive growth of population, nearing 40 millions, over the past decade, and it had risen to the second most populous state in the U.S. But half the growth accounts to the Hispanic population, and it has relatively a low proportion, 12%, of Black population compared to other Southern states. Georgia has the second most Black population, and the Black population exceeds 30% of the total population. On the other hand, over the last decade, Black residents in America’s biggest cities, New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago moved out of their home state by tens of thousands. According to 2020 US Census data, the states and cities with the most Black population and rate of change were as follows.

SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census Redistricting Data

Source: US Census Bureau ©Statista

Household income for Black households rapidly increased from early 1990 to 2000. Global financial crisis through 2007-2009 caused the income to plummet by 38%, and the impact was felt until 2010, but around 2018 it was back to the previous high levels and is still on the rise. The median income for Black households in 2020 was $45,870 in 2020, which was slightly below the prior year’s due to the pandemic.

However, when compared to other races’, Black household income is still below the average. The median household income in America was $67,521 in 2020. The median income for Asian and White households was higher than the average while Hispanic and Black household income below. Black household income falls $20,000 short when it comes to yearly income.

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 1-Year Estimates selected Population Profiles 2019 ©Black Demographics

Black households are less likely to receive pension or social security benefits. On the other hand, more Black households are beneficiaries of the SNAP(food stamp) or other government aid programs. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program(SNAP) helps low income households with money for food purchase, and the recipient must have income less than 130% of the federal poverty level or $2,379 a month as of 2022 for a family of three. Poverty rate among Black fell from 40% in the 1960s to 19% in 2020, but still it is considerably higher than other populations.

3) Family property

Home ownership

Home ownership can be a measure of financial stability and generational wealth accumulation, and it constitutes one of the most important asset for the working class and the middle class. A 2022 survey on Black American’s opinions and attitudes found that more Black Americans consider the home ownership’s importance  essential to their rise to the middle class than White Americans.

Source: The Pulse of Black America(2022) ©National Urban League

Nonetheless, the home ownership rate among Black households stayed more or less the same from 41.6% in 1970 to 43.4% in 2020, and it fell behind the White households’ 72.1%, deepening the already existing gap to nearly 30 percentage points. According to the National Association of Realtors, Black Americans are over twice more likely to withdraw from their 401(k) or IRAs to make down payments for house purchase compared to White Americans.

Source: US Census Bureau ©2022 The Pew Charitable Trusts

Vehicle ownership

Unless you live in a big city with an adequate public transportation system, you will need a vehicle to live in America. Other than personal use, it is an essential prerequisite to access education and employment opportunities. Nonetheless, low income and non-White households fall short in vehicle ownership. The following graphs show the percentage of households without a vehicle by race/ethnicity in 2019 and 2020.

©National Equity Atlas

White households were least likely to be without access to a vehicle(8%) whereas 30% of Black households owned no vehicle. In 2019, a still higher percentage of Black households are without a vehicle although the number has decreased to 18%.

Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2000 decennial census (5% IPUMS) and American Community Survey data for 2006-2019(IPUMS)

The number of Black adult Americans who received college degrees more than doubled since 2000. In 2000, 3 million Black adults who were 25-year-old or older had college degrees(15%), and the number increased to 6.7 million(23%) in 2019. Around a million Black adults(or 5% the Black adults) had graduate or higher degrees in 2000, and 2.6 million(9%) in 2019. It is even more surprising when compared to the data gathered 50 years ago. In 1968, less than 1 out of 10 Black Americans held a college degree, but now it has increased to approximately 1 out of 4(23%).

High school graduation rate has improved as well. In 1968, about half(54.4%) of Black adults from 25 to 29 years old graduated from high school, but today, more than 9 out of 10(92.3%) of Black Americans have a high school diploma. The increase in high school graduation rate significantly helped narrow the gap with the White Americans. Compared to the 20 percentage point gap between Black and White high school graduation rates 50 years ago, the most recent data shows only a 3.3 point difference between Black(92.3%) and White(95.6%).

Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted 2005-2021 ©Pew Research Center

As shown, the number of social media users have increased gradually. By race, Hispanic and Black are leading by a small margin. However, you should more carefully look at the participation in activism on social media. According to a survey of American adults in June 2020 conducted by Pew Research Center, social and political activism on social media varies substantially among race/ethnic groups.

Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted June 16-22, 2020 ©Pew Research Center

The extensive use of social media among Black Americans stands out. 48% of Black users of social media posted photos to support their cause, and 45% encouraged others on major issues. Black users were twice more likely than White users to say that they had used hashtags on social or political issues. As an example, following the death of George Floyd, #BlackLivesMatter was used 47,800,000 times during the period from May 26, 2020 to June 7, 2020 according to the Pew Research Center’s Twitter analysis.

2. How should beauty supplies respond?

While big chains like Ulta and Sally primarily target White and Hispanic consumers, beauty supplies have a thicker Black customer base and more than 70% of the businesses are run by Koreans. Although more than 90% of beauty supply customers were Black in the past, the percentage is declining. Hence, many beauty supplies aim to expand the customer base to Hispanic, White and Asian consumers. Also, they started to carry a wider range of products to target different ethnic groups. Nevertheless, this does not mean reducing or neglecting Black customers.

Black population is still growing in America, and their buying power is increasing along with their education and income level. The beauty supply market prospect relies on them. Accordingly, the beauty supply market growth should have a firm foundation with Black customers.

Selig Center has estimated Black buying power at 1.3 trillion dollars in 2017, which, from 2000 to 2017, grew by 108% and surpassed the 97% growth rate of the total population in the same period.    ©2018 The Nielsen Company(US), The Digital Lives of Black Consumers

1) Black population and home ownership: Back to the Southern roots

Although the total population growth is meaningful, you should have a keen eye on the Black population in the area where your store is located. Home ownership can tell a lot about the financial status of your customers and also provide perspectives as to the future. It is easy to notice that most states with higher Black home ownership are in the South.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 1-year Estimates 2019 ©Black Demographics

The sheer number of Black population in the South surpasses all other regions, the Northeast, the Midwest, and the West, combined. From 1910 to 1970, Black Americans who left the South to avoid financial hardship and racial discrimination to the North, the Midwest, and the West are flocking back to the South. Some say that it is the reversal of the Great Migration that happened 100 years ago. Many analyses agree that Black retirees and young professionals are making a comeback for the comfort of Southern living, moderate climate, and spiritual bond due to many relatives residing in the South.

If your area is considered a stable Black community with a large Black population and home ownership, you can plan for business expansion in the long run. On the other hand, if you see a low Black home ownership and stagnant or declining population, you should find ways to do business without stretching it unnecessarily.

2) Black household income: change is slow but there is hope

Beauty supplies are by nature sensitive to Black household income level. The increase in income level of the primary customer base would mean the increase in revenue for beauty supply products. Black household income is continuously rising and accompanying higher buying power although it might not be as much as others’. Another notable point is the growing number of upper and wealthy class Black Americans.

Source: US Census Bureau, Current Population Survey 2019 Annual Social and Economic ©Black Demographics

Black population with over $200,000 yearly income has increased by 138% from 2005 to 2013. The number of upper class Black Americans in “Black Mecca” cities like Atlanta, New York (Harlem), Houston, Los Angeles, and Chicago have doubled over the past 25 years. In contrast, the poverty rate has not changed significantly. In 2020, Black poverty rate was 19.5%, about twice more than White poverty rate of 8.2%.

As such, you need to find out the income level of Black consumers in your area and figure out when they would receive their paycheck. If the demographic consists of more professionals and middle class, you should carry higher end items such as human hair and salon-grade chemicals. If you find more people in poverty, you should have affordable items and have your inventory and staffing flexible to respond to the timing of payments of government aid.

3) Vehicle ownership: the neighborhood store is no more.

Many considered that Black consumers prefer smaller neighborhood stores opposed to larger retailers in the past, which might be partly due to the low vehicle ownership.

However, eight out of ten Black Americans own a vehicle now. Many Black consumers are driving distance to visit newly-opened stores, specialty stores, and so on. Some post their own retail store expedition stories on social media. If the retail store is cozy and delightful enough, they often make the store a place for fun or meeting friends.

The time when “neighborhood stores” had the advantage of proximity has ended. You should expand your marketing strategy to make your store “the store I want to go” instead of “the store closest to my place.” Stocking trend-setting products and savvy price marketing can attract customers from a long distance, and you might need to compete with a beauty supply chain located far away.

4) Education: Pay attention to the search for Black identity

How does higher education of Black consumers affect your business? Higher employment rate and rising income level may be the most visible impact, but the establishment of Black identity through education must also be taken into account.

Beyoncé became the first Black female headliner for Coachella in 2018, and she showed “what is Black culture” to the audience with a performance accompanying 200 Black college student dancers, instrument players, and choruses. In a documentary Homecoming, which filmed the preparation and behind stories of the performance, she emphasized the meaning of education in Black culture. “Do not deny the past but live the present, but do not forget that you can make a better country with your own hands. For me, Black people are the most beautiful things,” said Beyoncé.

Beyoncé’s Coachella performance was closely followed in documentary Homecoming: A film by Beyoncé (2019)

The population growth, educational advancement, and civil rights movement are emboldening calls for Black identity. The Natural Hair Movement is receiving attention and enthusiasm for the same reason. Finding a Black’s own beauty instead of hiding natural hair with wigs or extensions is the backbone of the movement. Hair care brand Pantene has launched Pantene Gold Series to meet the needs of Black female customers saying, “We believe that all strong hair is beautiful, whether it’s straight, or curly, natural or in a protective style.”

Pantene Gold Series ©amazon

Beauty supplies should take note of the current trend. Starting with the Black Lives Matter, or BLM, movement In 2020 and the passage of “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act of 2022” or the “CROWN Act of 2022” in the Congress, more is coming for the natural hair movement. Thin and kinky Black hair needs a specially tuned product and care to grow long and healthy. Previously in August 2021, BNB Magazine covered the natural hair care products for your read.

BNB Magazine_Aug. 2021_Page 26-

5) Social media activity: for beauty supplies to survive, a necessity rather than a tip!

Black population is relatively young. In 2019, more than half of the Black American were under 35. (Median age for White American was 43, and Asian American 38.) The majority of the population have enjoyed the digital life, and their lifestyle is geared to the digital environment.

Source: Pew Research Center tabulations of 2019 American Community Survey (1% IPLUMS)

The internet provided a level playground for every race and color of skin, and the Black community embraced it wholeheartedly. So Beauty supply industry needs to engage in social media marketing wholeheartedly. Most social media users use one or more platforms every day. The popular platforms by gender and race are as follows.

Source: Social Media Use in 2021 ©Pew Research center

• Facebook: a high percentage of users across the races; 7 out of 10 Facebook users access the platform every day, and 49% makes multiple visits throughout a day.
• Instagram: almost half of Hispanic Americans(52%) and Black Americans(49%) are on it. It is relatively unpopular among White Americans(35%).
• WhatsApp: Hispanic Americans(46%) and Black Americans(23%) have higher usage rates than White Americans(16%).
• Pinterest: A lot more women use it than men, roughly by 30 percentage point difference.

Among younger business owners, Facebook and Instagram marketing is already an established tool to promote their business and inform customers about sales events. If you tend to say, “I’m more into analog instead of digital”, change your mind today. From your kids, younger employees, second generation business owners, or even online posts, you can easily learn as long as you’re willing. This is not just about having common sense but surviving. Beauty industry is highly sensitive to trends, which means you will be left behind unless you keep changing.