Black Beauty Voices We Should All Follow

Ateh Jewel is a journalist, columnist, film producer and soon-to-be brand owner, having created her own range of foundations for darker skin tones called Ateh Jewel Beauty. Her Instagram feed speaks of equality as much as aesthetics, tackling everything from Trump to takeaway make-up tips. Her not-to-be-missed 'Wednesday Chat Club' sees Jewel share her platform with a diverse range of voices in beauty (from Ruby Hammer MBE to Charlotte Mensah and Terry Barber). Make a date with it for consistent inspiration.

Sharon Chuter, the Nigerian-born, LA and London-based former beauty executive, is the founder of Uoma Beauty. The first ‘Afropolitan’ make-up brand has a cult following of beauty shoppers regardless of skin colour. But Chuter is much more than a brand founder; one of the '50 most forward-thinking executives shaping the future of the beauty industry' – according to WWD – the visionary is intent on re-writing the rules of inclusivity and diversity in beauty both via her products and platforms. This week she launched #PullUpOrShutUp on Instagram to raise awareness about the lack of black beauty executives. Here's how you can get involved.

Beauty and tech entrepreneur Sharmadean Reid MBE founded WAH Nails and more recently Beautystack, a platform allowing professionals to run their own beauty service business – and enabling customers to book in with them. The inspiring business boss is also an executive board member of the British Beauty Council, whose ambition is to ensure that the beauty industry is recognised and valued at all levels of government. In addition, Reid's online platform FutureGirlCorp supports the next generation of future female business leaders with advice shared via virtual content and live events.

Aesthetician Dija Ayodele is the woman behind the award-winning Black Skin Directory, a platform connecting women of colour with professionals that understand the unique demands of darker skin, and providing access to advice on conditions that commonly affect black and ethnic skin - from hyperpigmentation to keloids. She's also behind boutique London skin health destination West Room Aesthetics, specialising in skin of colour. Always sharing her expertise, Ayodele hosts workshops and webinars, speaks at conferences, and puts out regular IGTV videos on skin topics to further service her community.

Vernon François is a pioneering hairstylist and educator, known for creating and sculpturing unique, moment-defining styles on A-listers such as Lupita Nyong'o – as much as for championing equality in the fashion and beauty industry and beyond. The artist and activist talks openly about the racist underpinnings of the categorisation of Afro hair, while actively inspiring the next generation to embrace theirs. François is also the founder of his namesake haircare brand, which excellently caters to textured and damaged hair.

E-commerce expert Winnie Awa is the founder of Antidote Street, a one-stop-shop for the best brands servicing Afro and curly-textured hair, and educational platform connecting readers with high quality professionals – from mobile stylists to salons. Awa's personal platform is a thing of beauty and inspiration, blending positivity and politics with pops of her fabulous pink hair.

Beauty director at the Observer Magazine, and author of 'Palette: The beauty bible for women of colour', journalist Funmi Fetto is a key voice in black beauty. Known and loved for including those who are too often left out of beauty coverage in mainstream media, she shares excellent product recommendations suitable for all skin tones – across skincare, haircare and make-up – while challenging outdated notions of women in beauty and business.

Award-winning stylist and afro hair authority Charlotte Mensah is the founder of her eponymous Manketti Oil Haircare Range and London salon Hair Lounge. As well as sourcing her expert advice there – and on her platforms – she also has a book on the way. The culmination of the last three decades spent working with curly hair types, 'Good Hair', Mensah says, "is an education, a call to empowerment and a lesson in looking after- and therefore loving our hair".

Stylist Ursula Stephen is influential for both her incredible hair artistry and her voice, speaking out about the importance of understanding different hair textures and the critical context of black styles. Between working with the likes of Zendaya and Rihanna, Stephen runs her own Brooklyn salon, and educates younger stylists to inspire a generation of those in the industry and others looking on.

The beauty director of Cosmopolitan in the US, and formerly global beauty director at Essence (the lifestyle magazine for African-American and black women everywhere), Julee Wilson not only knows all there is about beauty but is intent on making a significant change in the industry she loves. Follow her for refreshing ideas – from the political to the pretty, plus product picks and tips.

YouTuber-turned-beauty entrepreneur Whitney White is central to the natural hair movement. Having documented her hair transition from relaxed to natural via vlogs, White has helped inspire a generation of women to embrace their natural hair texture. Meanwhile, she's also founded the award-winning Melanin Haircare, an award-winning brand of products available worldwide. Follow her for natural hair inspiration and advice, plus inspiring political perspectives on all things black beauty.

Mega make-up artist Kay Montano's mixed-race heritage (her father is Trinidadian) has influenced her approach of trying to connect women rather than polarise them. Together with actress Thandie Newton she launched the (currently dormant) ThandieKay.com, an inclusive beauty platform that's against the shallow representation of women of colour. Her Instagram platform is a treasure trove of her curations with celebrity clients, from Julianne Moore to Gugu Mbatha-Raw, plus beautiful archive photography alongside inspiring quotes. Your average MUA-on-Instagram she is not.