In the Madison Public Market, the smell of black castor oil, aloe vera, and rose hips wafts into the crowd of after-work shoppers.
The source of these fragrances is Unique Hair Accessories & More, a store selling just that. Their shelves are lined with shampoo bars, rinse-and-leave-in conditioners, body mists, body and hair oils, room sprays, soap bars, and more.
Their array of body oils is the business’s top seller, said owner of Unique Hair Accessories & More, Lakisha Johnson.
The business specializes in natural hair and body care products for differing hair and skin types, so everyone can get what they need. The local business aims to keep its products accessible by maintaining affordable prices.
Madison native Johnson has 26 years of experience as a business owner. Over the years, she has worked in sales and formulation of hair care products.
Their goal in creating the business was to personalize their products so customers can find options that work best for their individual needs. One body oil may work well for one person, while another may be a better fit for someone else, so they strive to offer something for everyone.
“We try to shape our products so they work not just for me or for you, but for everyone in some type of way,” she said. “So everyone feels included.”
Johnson and her family-oriented team started Unique Hair Accessories & More in 2021. They exclusively sold hair accessories in the beginning, and “before I knew it” they evolved into a hair and body care brand, said Johnson.
Since then, the small business has sold at Black community events spanning the greater Madison area, such as the annual Black Woman’s Wellness Day Summit, one of the largest of its kind for Black women in the country.
Beyond BWWDAY, Unique was present at multiple Urban League of Greater Madison events, the Monona Community Festival, Juneteenth at Penn Park, and Breese Stevens Field Bodega Night Market.
This summer, Unique Hair Accessories & More has found a new home at Madison Public Market.
They began their vending experience with the public market during their pre-grand opening weekly pop-up events. In this temporary setting, Unique set up on folding tables and introduced themselves to Madison residents in a half-finished building.
Now, finally established in the market, the business is enjoying its completed and permanent space.
“It’s very different,” said Johnson, “The pop-ups were fun, but having my own space that we designed, we can really see the hard work that we put into it ourselves.”
However, being hosted at the Madison Public Market is just the beginning of Unique Hair Accessories & More’s long-term plan.
Looking ahead, the local business hopes to expand into a full-sized beauty store in its own location, allowing it to compete with larger chain beauty stores. The owners also plan to structure the business in a way that creates more job opportunities in Madison.
“We already have ideas of when we are ready to hire people,” said Johnson. “We do have a team in place.”
Johnson and her family take pride in what their business can give back to the city.
Unique Hair Accessories & More can be found at stall 301 at the Madison Public Market, and you can keep up with the business on Johnson’s Instagram.
