Quick answer
- The essentials: a satin bonnet (Curly Twirly Girl), a detangling brush (Felicia Leatherwood) and a wide tooth comb (Curly Twirly Girl)
- For styling: an afro pick (AfroPick), an edge styler (Baby Tress), and hair ties (Swirly Curly)
- For wash day and braids: a hair dryer (Pattern Beauty) and The Braid Releaser for taking down braids
- For extra protection: a satin pillowcase (Sassy Hair Cap), satin lined hats (Grace Eleyae), and a rain hat (Hairbrella)
- Every brand on this list is Black owned and sells online
The right accessories make caring for curly and natural hair so much easier. Whether you're protecting your curls overnight, working through wash day or keeping a fresh style looking its best, a few good tools go a long way.
And there are plenty of Black owned hair accessory brands and businesses making them. Many were started by founders who simply couldn't find what their own hair needed, so they created it. From satin bonnets roomy enough for big hair to combs made for coils, here are 11 Black owned hair accessories worth adding to your routine.
Jump to an accessory
1. Satin Bonnet: Curly Twirly Girl
Instagram: @curlytwirlygirl_
A satin bonnet is one of the simplest ways to look after your hair overnight. Satin is smooth, so it helps reduce friction against your pillow, which means less frizz, fewer tangles and more moisture left in your curls by the morning.
Curly Twirly Girl's satin bonnets are designed with plenty of room for big hair, locs, braids and twists. They're reversible, so you get two colours in one, double layered, 100% vegan and made by a Black and female founded brand that ships worldwide.
If you'd like to compare a few more options, take a look at the Curly Twirly Girl guide to the best Black owned bonnet brands or the best satin bonnets for curly hair.
Ready to shop black-owned?
Shop Satin Bonnets
2. Satin Pillowcase: Sassy Hair Cap
Instagram: @sassyhaircap
A satin pillowcase is a lovely backup for nights when your bonnet slips off, and it's gentle on your skin too.
Sassy Hair Cap was founded by Bianca Rush in Atlanta, who wanted a head covering that actually stayed in place overnight. Alongside their expandable satin caps, the brand makes satin pillowcases in the same soft material.
You might also like the Curly Twirly Girl satin pillowcase, which pairs nicely with its bonnets.
3. Afro Pick: AfroPick
An afro pick lifts your hair at the root for extra volume while keeping your curl pattern intact. It's also one of the oldest hair tools there is, with a history going back thousands of years in Africa.
AfroPick is a Black and family owned brand that celebrates culture through design. Its salon grade picks come in anti static plastic, metal and wood, with artist designed handles, and the brand has been featured in Essence and Glamour.
You might also like the HydroPick from Textura Hair, a newer Black owned brand that has reimagined the afro pick to hydrate hair as you style.
4. Detangling Brush: Felicia Leatherwood
Instagram: @felicialeatherwood
A detangling brush can help you work through knots a little faster, especially on wash day when your hair is wet and conditioned.
The Felicia Leatherwood Detangler Brush was created by the celebrity natural hair stylist of the same name, and it's been a favourite in the natural hair community for years.
5. Wide Tooth Comb: Curly Twirly Girl
Instagram: @curlytwirlygirl_
A wide tooth comb is a staple for detangling curly and coily hair. The wider spacing helps it move through conditioned hair more gently, which can help reduce breakage.
The Curly Twirly Girl wide tooth comb is one of the brand's bestsellers. It's easy to use in the shower with conditioner, gliding through curls and coils as you detangle section by section.
You might also like the Kazmaleje KurlsPlus Comb, which has a curved handle and prongs shaped to mimic your fingers. For more options, see this guide to the best wide tooth combs for 4C hair.
6. Hair Dryer: Pattern Beauty
Instagram: @patternbeauty
Air drying thick or long hair can take a while, so a dryer designed with textured hair in mind can be a real time saver.
Pattern Beauty is Tracee Ellis Ross's brand for curly, coily and tight textured hair. Its Heat Collection includes a blow dryer and heat protectant, designed to help you style your curls while keeping heat damage in mind.
7. Edge Styler: Baby Tress
Instagram: @shopbabytress
For a long time, many people used a toothbrush to lay their edges. The Baby Tress Edge Styler brings everything you need into one tool, with a comb, a boar bristle brush and a pointed tip for detailing. It's small enough to keep in your bag for touch ups.
8. Braid Takedown Tool: The Braid Releaser
Taking down braids can take time, and it's easy to pull on your hair when you're rushing. The Braid Releaser has a fine point and a wider end, so you can unravel braids of different sizes more comfortably.
9. Satin Lined Hats: Grace Eleyae
Instagram: @graceeleyae
Wool and cotton hats can cause friction during the day, much like a cotton pillowcase does at night. Grace Eleyae makes satin lined beanies and caps, as well as the Slap, a satin lined cap for sleeping and lounging, so your hair stays protected when you're out and about too.
10. Hair Ties: Swirly Curly
Instagram: @swirlycurlyhair
Swirly Curly is a UK Black owned business built around afro hair. Its Snappee hair ties were designed to make high puffs and buns easier and more comfortable, and the range has since grown to include scarves, towels and more.
11. Rain Hat: Hairbrella
Instagram: @hairbrella
Rain and humidity can undo a fresh style quickly. Hairbrella was founded by Trackey Pickett after one too many salon visits were spoiled by the weather. The satin lined, waterproof hats have plenty of room for curls, coils, blowouts and locs.
Black Owned Hair Accessories at a Glance
| Accessory | What it does | Black owned brand | Great for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Satin bonnet | Helps reduce overnight friction, frizz and moisture loss | Curly Twirly Girl | Curly and natural hair, locs, braids |
| Satin pillowcase | Extra protection if your bonnet slips | Sassy Hair Cap | Every hair type |
| Afro pick | Root lift and volume | AfroPick | Afros, twist outs, dry styles |
| Detangling brush | Quicker detangling | Felicia Leatherwood | Wash day |
| Wide tooth comb | Gentle detangling | Curly Twirly Girl | Wet, conditioned curls and coils |
| Hair dryer | Faster drying for textured hair | Pattern Beauty | Thick, long or coily hair |
| Edge styler | Smooths and defines edges | Baby Tress | Edges and baby hairs |
| Braid takedown tool | Makes unravelling braids easier | The Braid Releaser | Box braids, micros, twists |
| Satin lined hat | Daytime protection from wool and cotton | Grace Eleyae | Colder months, everyday wear |
| Hair ties | Comfortable hold for puffs and buns | Swirly Curly | Puffs, buns, ponytails |
| Rain hat | Keeps styles dry in wet weather | Hairbrella | Silk presses, blowouts, fresh styles |
Why Support Black Owned Hair Accessory Businesses?
Many Black owned hair accessory companies started because their founders had first hand experience of what curly, coily and natural hair needs. That often shows in the details, like roomier sizing, designs made with 4C textures in mind and products tested on hair like theirs.
Shopping with these brands is also a lovely way to support the businesses and communities that have shaped natural hair care over the years.
Building Your Hair Accessory Kit
There's no need to buy everything at once. A simple way to start is to think about when you'll use each piece:
- At night: a satin bonnet and satin pillowcase
- On wash day: a wide tooth comb, detangling brush, hair clips and hair dryer
- For styling: an afro pick, edge styler and hair ties
- When you're out: a satin lined hat, head wrap or rain hat
Not sure where to begin? This curl type guide can help you get to know your hair, and this post on how to care for 4C hair walks through a full routine.
FAQs
What are the best Black owned hair accessories?
Some of the best Black owned hair accessories include a satin bonnet, satin pillowcase, wide tooth comb, detangling brush, afro pick, hair dryer, edge styler, braid takedown tool, satin lined hat, hair ties, hair clips, head wrap and rain hat. Popular brands include Curly Twirly Girl, Pattern Beauty, Grace Eleyae, Baby Tress, Kazmaleje and Hairbrella.
Which hair accessory brands are Black owned?
Black owned hair accessory brands include Curly Twirly Girl (satin bonnets, wide tooth combs), Sassy Hair Cap (satin caps, pillowcases), Kazmaleje (combs), AfroPick (afro picks), Felicia Leatherwood (detangler brush), Pattern Beauty (hair dryers), Baby Tress (edge stylers), The Braid Releaser, Grace Eleyae (satin lined hats), Swirly Curly (hair ties), Mocha Mane (hair clips), The Wrap Life (head wraps) and Hairbrella (rain hats).
Where can I buy from Black owned hair accessory companies?
Shopping directly on a brand's own website is a great option, as more of your money goes to the business and you'll usually find the full range. All of the companies on this list sell online, and several, including Curly Twirly Girl, ship worldwide.
What hair accessories does a natural hair routine need?
A satin bonnet for overnight protection and a wide tooth comb for detangling are a great place to start. From there, you might add a detangling brush, a satin pillowcase and some gentle hair ties.
