Ruka EdgeSlick

Historically, hair has always been a special part of Black women’s identity; it represents a source of pride, power, and creativity. Baby hairs—the thin, wispy, flyaway hairs around the hairline—are one of many outlets for the expression of individuality. Currently, the styling of baby hairs, otherwise known as ‘edge styling’, is achieved using a stiff boar brush, or more typically, a disposable toothbrush. Ruka, a business revolutionising the hair industry for black women, approached BLOND to design a new tool that answers the needs of the user and, importantly, celebrates the creativity involved. We first conducted a deep dive into the process to understand existing pain points and identify areas for innovation, which highlighted several opportunities. Firstly, it was clear that two types of brush were needed: a comb for separating and bristles for swooping & styling. Secondly, we observed that users often placed gel on the back of their wrists. Finally, it quickly became apparent that all existing edge styling tools, including the commonly used toothbrush, are cheap & disposable; paying very little attention to sustainability and with no desire to be a quality, long-lasting product.