Grail | Virtual Spa, Curated for the Melanated

Grail is a Black-owned streaming and social network connecting the experts and enthusiasts of melanin-friendly beauty and personal care through on-demand videos. We're building a go-to digital channel for Black and Brown folx to source and share simple how-to's for hair, skin, nail, & body care as well as honest product reviews of inclusive care & beauty brands.

:: The Dilemma :: 

Mainstream beauty culture has shoved melanin to the margins for a minute. But that hasn’t stopped brown-skinned beauties from being trendsetters and big spenders on cosmetics, aesthetics, and personal care. Today, we’re seeing more melanin-friendly products and professionals breaking the barriers of the old “ethnic beauty” aisle and changing the hue of self-care culture as we know it.

With rapid innovation in products & services, a growing consumer community, and the emergence of star-powered brands like Fenty Beauty, Pattern, and Bevel, there's no denying that inclusive personal care is the new standard. That’s why I'm creating Grail, a new media network connecting the people, products, and practices that keep our melanin poppin’.

:: 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 video skill-sharing platform that centers the needs of users of color. Our content is hosted by talent across the gender, skin tone, and body spectrum with the hopes of inspiring visibility and authentic representation in self-care culture.

Mockup Designs

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 crowded social media platforms with biased, ever-changing algorithms.

Grooming industry professionals and content creators gain the virtual stage, marketing tools, and captive audience to share and monetize their know-how. More than just a streaming platform, Grail is a community that will provide pro subscribers with

✺ their own video uploading dashboard

✺ a personal channel where they can house their videos, share their brand story, and link to their other social profiles

✺ a membership portal where they can access marketing resources and industry advice

✺ the opportunity to connect and collaborate with a network of emerging influencers and experts in their field

:: 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 MVP. 

I'm raising $35,000.00 to produce the first batch of original video content for the platform, and to build a minimum viable product to launch in the market by Summer 2021. Your support directly contributes to the costs of:

• Professional Software Development Team
• 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