Ruka Hair Becomes First Braiding Brand at Sephora in 20 Years

The Sephora partnership follows a $4.5 million funding round that Ruka Hair announced in May, bringing total funding to approximately $10 million. Freedom Trail Capital and Henkel Ventures co-led the round, with participation from Big Issue Invest and Backed VC, as well as angel investors.

"The funding will help us continue scaling Synths 2, our collagen protein fiber-braiding hair, and the wider fiber platform behind it," Moyo told Black Enterprise. "The right investors have understood that Ruka is not just a beauty brand. It is a science, community, and culture-led business tackling a huge global market."

Moyo, who was born in Zimbabwe, launched Ruka Hair after recognizing the lack of innovative, high-quality products created specifically for Black women with textured hair. The company has built its reputation by combining biotechnology with beauty to address longstanding concerns around the sourcing of human hair and the chemicals commonly found in synthetic alternatives.

"We are trying to change the quality, safety, and experience of hair extensions for a community that has historically been underserved," she told Black Enterprise.

For Sephora, the addition of Ruka Hair reflects a broader shift toward expanding offerings for consumers with textured hair. For Ruka, it represents another step toward making innovative hair solutions more accessible to Black women globally.