Sydney Scott, a third-year psychological and brain science major at UC Santa Barbara, founded the Crown Collective, a pop-up beauty supply business aimed at promoting local hair services and selling Black haircare products on campus. Scott, who struggled to find stylists specializing in curly and textured hair, wanted to create a more accessible space for Black students to find products and services.
The pop-up, which will be held monthly at the Student Resource Building, offers a range of products, including braiding hair, body scrubs, wave caps, and bonnets. The business also aims to support local hairstylists by providing accessible haircare supplies, helping create a sense of community on campus. Scott’s initial idea of a vending machine evolved into the pop-up model after facing logistical challenges, allowing for financial sustainability and employment opportunities for students.
The Crown Collective, named after the 2019 C.R.O.W.N. Act, which prohibits hair discrimination, seeks to address the lack of accessible haircare for Black students at UCSB, especially those who may not have the means to travel off-campus for products and services. Scott has been working with the Office of Black Student Development and Healing Justice Santa Barbara for mentorship as she navigates starting her business. Her GoFundMe campaign exceeded its goal, and Scott plans to expand the pop-up to Santa Barbara City College.
The first pop-up event will take place in February, coinciding with Black History Month and campus tours for incoming students, with plans for future events to foster greater community engagement and support for Black-owned businesses on campus.
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