Hair & Skin Care
Is SheaMoisture Black-Owned?
No — SheaMoisture is no longer Black-owned. It was founded by the Black-owned Sundial Brands, which was acquired by Unilever in 2017.
- Founded
- 1991 (as Sundial Brands)
- Headquarters
- Amityville, NY
- Parent Company
- Unilever (since 2017)
Ownership
SheaMoisture is owned by Unilever, a multinational consumer goods corporation. Founder Richelieu Dennis remains involved in adjacent ventures (including the New Voices Fund) but the brand itself is owned and operated under Unilever.
History
SheaMoisture started as Sundial Brands, founded by Richelieu Dennis with his mother and a family friend, using a Liberian family shea butter recipe. Sundial was acquired by Unilever in November 2017 in a landmark deal for a Black-founded beauty company.
What it means for the community
Although the brand's founding story is rooted in the Black community, the post-acquisition ownership structure means SheaMoisture purchases primarily benefit Unilever shareholders, not Black founders.
Black-Owned Alternatives
- Camille Rose — Black-owned, founder-led textured hair care.
- Adwoa Beauty — Black woman-founded clean hair care.
- Bread Beauty Supply — Black-owned, Sephora-distributed wash-day basics.
Sources
Last updated: 2026-06-19