Madam C.J. Walker

America's first self-made female millionaire creating haircare for Black women

Madam C.J. Walker: Beauty Revolutionary

Born Sarah Breedlove to former slaves in 1867, Madam C.J. Walker invented specialized haircare for African-American women after suffering scalp disease. Her "Walker System" of pomades and hot combs (1905) combatted hygiene issues from inadequate plumbing in Black neighborhoods.

Building a $500K/year empire (≈$13M today), she trained 40,000 "beauty culturalists" - mostly Black women. Walker mandated franchisees become politically active, funding NAACP anti-lynching campaigns and Harlem Renaissance artists.

Her legacy includes Villa Lewaro, a Hudson Valley mansion proving Black wealth. Netflix's Self Made dramatized her rivalry with haircare competitor Annie Malone. The Madam C.J Walker Beauty Culture line relaunched in 2023 with Sephora.