George E. Johnson, the pioneering Chicago entrepreneur who transformed Black hair care in the U.S. with brands including Afro Sheen, Ultra Wave, and Classy Curl, died on Monday at age 99.
Johnson’s Legacy
Johnson’s company, Johnson Products Company, was founded in 1954 and grew to command nearly 80% of the Black hair care market by 1960. In 1971, it became the first Black-owned company listed on the American Stock Exchange, now known as NYSE American.
The company’s success was not without challenges. Johnson faced difficulties as a minority entrepreneur, including being rejected for a business loan by a bank. He eventually secured a $250 loan by telling a white loan officer he wanted to borrow the money for a family vacation.
Johnson’s company adapted to changing consumer preferences, introducing products such as the Afro Sheen Blow Out kit in the late 1960s. The company’s Classy Curl helped consumers achieve the ‘Jheri curl’ perm, a popular hairstyle at the time.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
