On this 25th day of Black History Month, we shine a powerful light on the extraordinary life and legacy of Willie Lee Morrow – a global icon, visionary inventor, chemist, publisher, educator, and community activist who transformed the landscape of Black hair care forever.
Dr. Morrow built a thriving business empire centered on hair care products created specifically for African American consumers — at a time when textured hair was largely underserved by mainstream beauty industries. Among his most revolutionary innovations was a comb designed to work with the natural styles that surged in popularity during the 1960s cultural movement of pride and self-expression. That tool became known worldwide as the Afro pick — an enduring symbol of identity and empowerment.
He established a laboratory dedicated to the research, formation, and creation of Black hair care products, including the groundbreaking California Curl and the iconic Afro pick. His work fused science with culture, creating products that honored natural texture rather than altering it.
Dr. Morrow is also widely celebrated as the author of 400 Years Without A Comb, a landmark publication that documented the history, science, and cultural significance of textured hair. Through this work, he preserved knowledge that had long been ignored and empowered generations to better understand and care for their natural hair.
Beyond invention, he developed barbering tools and educational materials that helped professionals better understand hair structure and styling techniques. His work elevated barbering as both an art and a science — raising standards across the industry.
He was more than a barber who popularized the Afro pick.
He was more than a businessman.
He was:
- An inventor
- An entrepreneur
- A media pioneer
- An educator
- A teacher
- A mentor
A Black hair giant who helped pioneer the Jheri Curl movement.
A champion of textured hair science.
A builder of economic empowerment within the community.
Incomparable.
Because of Dr. Willie Lee Morrow’s vision, Black hair care became more than maintenance — it became a movement rooted in pride, culture, innovation, and self-determination.
