"Why I Created Healthy Roots Dolls" - Our Founder Story

April 11, 2022

Hey Curlfriend,

On behalf of the entire Healthy Roots Family, I want to welcome you to our curl revolution #PowerToThePuff personally.

@theyelitsa My dog won’t let me be great 🙃 Say hello to @healthyrootsdolls 💖 #healthyrootsdolls #smallbusinesscheck ♬ original sound - Yelitsa Jean-Charles

I created Healthy Roots because I never had a doll that looked like me growing up. Actually, the one time my parents tried to give me a black doll, I burst into tears because it wasn’t the “pretty one.” It took me until I was 20 years old to learn to finally love my hair just as it is: BEAUTIFUL.

As a children’s illustrator, I saw the lack of representation in our toys and the fact that only 4 out of 10 girls loved their curls as a huge problem. Toys influence how we think, act, and see ourselves, so when young black girls can’t find dolls that make them feel beautiful, it impacts their self-esteem.

That’s why I created Zoe. The first Healthy Roots Doll and the FIRST doll that teaches natural hair care.

She is so much more than a doll. She helps girls learn to love their hair with all the right tools and styleable hair.

We would love to have you join our Facebook group, where we learn about caring for our little one's hair by sharing tips and tricks. We also share cute pics with Zoe.

My mom helped me learn to love my hair every time I sat down between her legs, and she made me the most beautiful braid patterns. I felt like a princess. I hope your little one feels like a princess with Zoe too.

With love,

Yelitsa Jean-Charles

CEO & Founder

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