Detroit-based Healthy Roots Dolls addressing need for diverse representation in toys

When you don’t have hair that is seen as beautiful by the mainstream, it’s often hard to see the beauty in yourself. That’s exactly what inspired Detroiter Yelitsa Jean-Charles to create a brand of dolls with kinky, coily, curly hair for children of color.

The Healthy Roots Dolls CEO joined The Metro on Monday to talk about her inspiration behind the brand.

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Jean-Charles said that growing up, she never had a doll with features that resembled her own. Healthy Roots Dolls represent a blend of Jean-Charles’ creative aspirations and entrepreneur spirit, and aim to promote self love among young people.

According to the Children’s Defense Fund, roughly 50% of young people in the U.S. are children of color, but Jean-Charles says those demographics are not reflected in most toy aisles. 

“(T)he industry only knows what the industry already does. And so I’m forcing them to learn how to mimic something different, something that hasn’t been represented,” Jean-Charles said. “And I spent a lot of time watching little wigs dry, like washing them with shampoo, using the conditioner, doing box braids, Bantu knots. So I spent a lot of time manually working with the hair myself, until I found the fiber that mimicked the experience I wanted kids to have the best.”

For more information about Healthy Roots Dolls, visit healthyrootsdolls.com.

Listen to the full conversation with Jean-Charles below, or wherever you get your podcasts.