Grail™ aims to make DIY beauty and personal care simpler for Black folks by offering modern, step-by-step video tutorials that break down essential techniques in nails, hair, and skincare.  

When they download the Grail app, users will have access to a digital destination for aesthetic grooming tutorials, DIY spa treatments, and skin-friendly product recipes, sourced from a community of industry pros and novices they can relate to.

:: The Dilemma :: 

Data shows that aesthetics and personal care are high priorities to Black consumers, not just for the sake of appearance, but also as part of a holistic self-care practice. Even as we have been historically underserved in the grooming industry and underrepresented among professional aestheticians, we continue to lead the market with our spending in these areas.

When COVID-19 put an indefinite halt on the service industry, and salons and barbershops closed their doors, we were forced to adapt our modes of personal maintenance, which prompted many to explore DIY solutions. For me, this exposed an opportunity.

Currently, there is no scalable solution to share and learn common Black aesthetic routines, which causes us to become co-dependent on service providers and spend excessively on níche products.

:: The Utopia ::

Grail imagines a future where melanated folks can find pride and joy in taking our personal care into our own hands. Our solution is a skill-sharing platform that centers the needs of Black audiences. Our content will feature talent across the gender, skin tone, and body spectrum with the hopes of inspiring inclusivity and visibility in self-care culture.

App users gain a fun, judgment-free environment to discover how-to's for self-care and cosmetic upkeep. No more sifting through beauty tutorials on YouTube, or winging it on your own and butchering your brows (like I did 😉).

Grooming industry professionals and content creators gain the platform, marketing tools, and captive audience to share and monetize their know-how. Grail will provide audience insights, video formatting tips, and drag-and-drop templates to ensure you're creating tutorials that are optimized for viewer enjoyment. Plus, the Grail Creator Program will allow you to accept payment for your premium content, such as long-form tutorials or masterclasses, directly through the platform.

:: The Market ::

According to Nielsen, "African Americans are not only top content consumers, [we] are also becoming a major force in content creation." 74% of African Americans use our smartphones to view video content at least once a week. Consider this data alongside the increasing popularity of beauty-related content on platforms like YouTube and the growth of other mobile-first video tutorial brands like Tasty by Buzzfeed. It indicates that modern consumers aren't just looking for innovative products, they're looking for better product knowledge and personal skill-building. 

:: The Founder ::

My name is Briaan L. Barron

:: Personal Website :: Creative Firm ::

I'm a purpose-driven brand strategist, designer, and entrepreneur. I'm passionate about elevating the stories of those who are traditionally undervalued but highly influential in the culture and lifestyle industry. 

As a kid, I grew up in white-dominant environments where my peers either marveled at my hair or made fun of it. There was no in-between. It wasn't until I moved to New York for college in 2009 that I started to see diverse examples of Black women confidently sporting their natural texture, both in person and on the Internet. By my junior year, I'd finally mustered up the "courage" to abandon chemical relaxers and ignite a healthy relationship with my hair in its original state. But I may not have taken the leap without the guidance of the Hair Rules team, a New York City salon that specialized in kinky and curly textures.

My personal care journey taught me 2 things: 1) Seeing other people like me normalize their natural selves inspired me to normalize mine. 2) Having the right products is a win, but learning from the right people is a game-changer. With Grail™, I want to bring the same visibility and communal support that transformed my lifestyle to the fingertips of other folks like me. We deserve to treat ourselves, better. 

With your help, I can take Grail™ from idea to prototype. 

I'm raising $35,000.00 to produce the first batch of original video content for the platform, and to build a prototype of the web app. Your support directly contributes to the costs of:

• Professional Web App Developer
• Content Production
• Talent Stipends
• Digital Advertising 
• Legal & Business Administration Fees

I'm incredibly grateful for any and all contributions to the Grail™ crowdfunding campaign. This is only the beginning, but it doesn't start without YOU. Thank you for being an early believer, and please follow along on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @gotograil. 

- Wholeheartedly, Bri