Annie Minerva Turnbo Malone: Pioneer in Black Hair Care and Entrepreneurship

Annie Minerva Turnbo Malone (1877–1957) was an American businesswoman, inventor, and philanthropist who revolutionized hair care for African-American women in the early 20th century. Born in Metropolis, Illinois, she was orphaned at a young age and later moved to Peoria, where she developed an interest in chemistry and hairdressing.

Turnbo Malone created her own line of non-damaging hair straighteners and hair-care products, launching "Wonderful Hair Grower" and selling it door-to-door. Demand for her products led her to open a shop in St. Louis in 1902 and establish a nationwide network of sales agents. One of her early employees was Sarah Breedlove Davis, later known as Madam C.J. Walker, who went on to build her own hair-care empire.

To protect her brand, Turnbo Malone copyrighted her products under the name "Poro" and, in 1918, founded Poro College, a cosmetology school and business training center for African-American women. The college provided jobs for nearly 75,000 women worldwide and served as a hub for education and social functions.

Despite legal battles, including a divorce settlement in 1927 and financial struggles during the Great Depression, Turnbo Malone relocated her business to Chicago, where she continued her work in beauty and philanthropy. Though her company eventually downsized, her impact on Black entrepreneurship and beauty culture remains profound.

Source: Wikipedia, "Annie Malone"