The 103 Collection is Target’s first Black woman-owned beard care company.

By Eartha A. Hopkins

You would be gravely wrong if you believed that women were the only ones using the increase in green personal care goods. According to recent estimates, the market for men’s care, which was estimated to be worth $55 billion in 2021, will surpass $81.2 billion by 2024.

As demand grows, companies are increasing the quantity and quality of goods catering to men’s hygiene and personal care requirements. Melinda Herron, founder of 103 Collection, is one of the few Black female trailblazers establishing a name for herself in this burgeoning business.

She resolved to start a healthy lifestyle after personal battles with skin conditions she links to toxic substances in many skincare products. Herron began creating clean products at home using her expertise as a certified cosmetologist, and 103 Collection was formed. Her company has been providing inexpensive, high-quality vegan and plant-based skin and haircare goods since 2015.

The company also offers “transparency with a full ingredient list,” according to Herron. “If we replace any ingredients with more sustainable options, we will notify our customers.”

Getting Started in Male Grooming

As the company grew in popularity, Herron saw a need to investigate beard care with her spouse and business partner, Delfondo Herron. “I looked at it from the same standpoint as why women want thick, healthy hair,” Melinda Herron explained. “Everyone wants to appear and feel nice. “Having a healthy beard gives you confidence on the inside and out.”

103 Collection, in particular, is at the epicenter of a previously untapped customer group, working to cover the void with science-backed ingredients and solutions that meet their issues. “My focus…was not only to develop a product that smelled great, but also to focus on… sensitive skin, soothing, and moisture sealing,” Herron added. “Men require a product that addresses all of these issues while also ticking all of the clean beauty boxes.”

The company now sells beard washes and oils that are packed with nutrient-rich components and essential oils like juniper berry, tea tree, and jojoba to purify, feed, and moisturize the skin. With the strong conviction that “women can do anything if they just believe in themselves,” Herron has developed 103 Collection from a mere vision to one of the industry’s main contenders today.

And her ideas are bearing fruit. This year, 103 Collection made beauty history by becoming the first Black women-owned vegan beard care brand to hit Target stores. As Herron expands her reach, she admits that breaking into a male-dominated business was not simple. She, on the other hand, takes her difficulties in equanimity and has managed to forge her own path.

“My ambition requires me to walk into a room confident in who I am and what this means to women in an industry dominated by men,” Herron said. “I’m not daunted by the fact that I’m the only woman in the men’s grooming business. When I think about it, it gives me a sense of empowerment.”

Learn more about 103 Collection at 103collection.com.