Sarah Brown Opens The First Black Beauty Supply Store In Columbia, MO, With A Mission To Empower Black Women

Sarah Brown is empowering Black women through her beauty supply store.

According to the Columbia Missourian, Brown is the proud owner of Beauty Trap, reportedly the first Black beauty supply store in Columbia, MO. Outside of being a business owner, Brown has been in the beauty space for more than 26 years, using her cosmetology license to work as a hairstylist.

Her transition into business ownership would be inspired by her mentor, Mary Smith, f ounder of Mary Smith’s Beauty Salon, who encouraged her foray into the cosmetology business.

“I taught Sarah how to do hair for Black customers, something they don’t teach you at school,” Smith told the Columbia Missourian. “Sarah and I have both taken classes for hair over the years, and we teach each other what we have learned.”

Brown was emboldened to open two salon locations, though they both had to close for several months due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which negatively impacted many small business owners.

“While we were closed, I was able to save my money wisely, and it gave me the idea to start my own store and line of products,” Brown mentioned to the outlet. “Now my goal is to make this a family business.”

With that motivation, she later opened a new beauty salon named D’mmi-Stylez Beauty Bar, inspired by her 8-year-old daughter, D’mmi.

“When she told me she wanted to make her family business a reality, I told her to go for it,” explained Smith, per the Columbia Missourian. “You never know what you can or cannot accomplish if you don’t go out and do it.”

What’s more, Beauty Trap beauty supply is located nearby, just down the street, and sells products for hair, skin, and other cosmetic products.

Brown says the purpose of the beauty supply is to “mentor, uplift and encourage young African American girls.”

For those looking to support the shop, they can visit 3200 Penn Terrace, Suite 121.