Madam Walker

Emblazoned on the front of the hockey puck-shaped tin were the words “Madam C. J. Walker’s Wonderful Hair Grower” and the image of a lovely African-American woman, her thick, shiny hair flowing freely.

It was that same motivated attitude that drove her to a life of giving.

Never one to sit quietly on the sidelines, Walker used her public presence to speak out on causes that were important to her, like funding a YMCA for the segregated black community and supporting the anti-lynch movement alongside the NAACP.

Women who followed these directions diligently began to see healthy hair growth—a windfall for those suffering from scalp disease, a condition that causes hair to thin, fall out, and even stop growing.

According to On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C. J. Walker, a biography written by the entrepreneur’s great-great-granddaughter, Madam Walker made just $1.50 a day when she began to look for products that would help her maintain a thick head of hair.

Because scalp disease was a common problem throughout the early 20th century, women clamored for Madam C. J. Walkers’ hair remedies.

The daughter of former slaves, she worked as a farmhand and laundress after being orphaned at the age of seven.

The formula Walker whipped up turned out to be a hit—a big hit.

On the back of the tin, simple directions recommended three applications to the scalp per week.

According to On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C. J. Walker, a biography written by the entrepreneur’s great-great-granddaughter, Madam Walker made just $1.50 a day when she began to look for products that would help her maintain a thick head of hair.

When reflecting on her business empire, Madam Walker often said, “I got my start by giving myself a start.”

When reflecting on her business empire, Madam Walker often said, “I got my start by giving myself a start.”

She was a motivated, highly successful change-maker—and a testament to never caving to perceived limitations.

Never one to sit quietly on the sidelines, Walker used her public presence to speak out on causes that were important to her, like funding a YMCA for the segregated black community and supporting the anti-lynch movement alongside the NAACP.

She was a motivated, highly successful change-maker—and a testament to never caving to perceived limitations.

Emblazoned on the front of the hockey puck-shaped tin were the words “Madam C. J. Walker’s Wonderful Hair Grower” and the image of a lovely African-American woman, her thick, shiny hair flowing freely.

It was that same motivated attitude that drove her to a life of giving.

Never one to sit quietly on the sidelines, Walker used her public presence to speak out on causes that were important to her, like funding a YMCA for the segregated black community and supporting the anti-lynch movement alongside the NAACP.

Because scalp disease was a common problem throughout the early 20th century, women clamored for Madam C. J. Walkers’ hair remedies.

The daughter of former slaves, she worked as a farmhand and laundress after being orphaned at the age of seven.