I remember when Johnson & Johnson’s products were carrying the swing. Their marketing was so good that our parents would almost surely have at least one of their products on the dresser. That baby oil life! The thing is, as good as the marketing was, it wasn’t geared towards just black folks. In fact, there was always a rose cheeked white baby on it.
Regardless if this we patronized them anyway because there just weren’t many options on the market geared specifically at our black kinks and coils. Up to three years ago when I was seeking products for my daughter, their No Tears formula wasn’t “for us” in the true sense.
But yes, we trusted them because they have been around for a while and their tagline “Trusted by mom’s all around the world” had us believing in their products. Of course that’s before we found out their products were chucked full of toxins and they had to make a public statement promising to clean up their products.
Since then they have been trying to regain our trust and now with the growing awareness of Afro haircare and the growing demand for products that are specifically for us, the Johnson’s Baby Soft & Shiny Line was born.
I first became aware of it when I saw it in my news feed on Facebook after Trudy of 4CHairChics posted a video in her HairTalk. You know how these companies usually get when they’re just diversifying to get a piece of the black market; how they usually opt for a lighter toned or mixed colored person to be the face?
Well in this video there was no mistaking that mom and baby were black. I’m talking a rich dark chocolate tone and not the type with mixed hair either but the type with a mass of undefined curls.
The line was launched in South Africa recently after sending the products to bloggers like Tendayi of Africanhairblog in April of last year.
Since it is relatively new on the market there is hardly any information about it but after combing the web I was able to come up with a few morsels.
Diane C. Dejean says
Now?
Asha Jamia says
The original products didn’t work?
Tiffanie Malecha says
I know. I used Johnson and Johnson for my kids and it was just fine.
Tamyla Thomas says
Johnson Johnson regular one dried my babies hair out
Asha Jamia says
It works good for me and my nieces and nephews.
Erika Hetherington says
Exactly. Lol
Lolita Evans says
No they didn’t I felt it was too much water and perfume in it that shit break a new born baby out so fast..it gave my baby a week of baby acne I had to give her water baths.
Kamela M Oxner says
It depends upon the child’s hair texture.
Elizabeth Mendez says
Wait.. Huh?
Nicki Goodman says
Interesting
Maame Afia Sika-Doe says
No
Stanphney Marshall-Caldwell says
I didn’t realize the original didn’t cater to us. I sure used it and the Shea Butter baby oil gel did wonders on my babies’ heads
Courtney Gray says
Yall so extra. Its a GOOD THING PEOPLE! My gosh.
Raquel Jacquelyn Prescott says
They seriously need to relax
Antoinette Cole says
What’s good about it? The scary truth that they might add some extra chemicals/diseases knowing their product is aimed for the “African babies”?? What makes them want to think about us now? Instead of looking at it as people being negative just think of us as smart, aware, informative as it seems others are just gullible…
Tonya Johnson says
That’s what I don’t understand all of a sudden are we suppose to think ” Oh wow yay we’re included” no its about money honey
Dishauna Kirksey says
That stuff sucks anyway
Bibish Kazadi Dagbame says
Never been into their products. Shea moisture all day
Daphne Dantzler says
Have you seen the commercial?
Tiffany Roberts says
What’s wrong with the original products ? I’m just asking
Mrsdanaya Hudson Mspsy says
All their products dry my baby skin out… nice try tho
Tamyla Thomas says
This is a good the regular one is white babies it dried my babies hair out so bad I started using a little of my shampoo on my babies hair because it was taking all the moisture out of their hair
Ingira Miles says
To late!
Maya Woodall says
Ohhh ok….let’s double the amount of cancer causing bull crap in the African bottles than the normal bottles
Amiliyah Coles says
My thoughts also!
Sybil Harris-DeRoach says
My thoughts as well, yay more Parabens for us
Tanika Konyani says
So true. The original ones have loads in them but as you rightly say the one made for us will be full of it.
Tiffanie Malecha says
It worked fine for my children. I always use a moisturizer after i shampoo them anyways. It left their skin super soft.
Jewelz Jew-Jew Saunders Cda says
As a gift why not? Johnson and Johnson has other black model campaigns too, for skin with mom and baby so I don’t see why this is shocking. I was almost certain the shea butter oatmeal and cocoa butter line was for our demographics.
Fatima Ross says
Vaseline does wonders ijs..
Shamrica Miller says
So was the regular one 4white only!!!!!
Keisha Renee R says
No, a lot of brands started making things for people of color. Pantene Pro-V, Aussie, plenty more. It was just time. Give them a break.
Kamela M Oxner says
It’s a good thing. Calm down.
Krystal Rogers says
I’ll try…my children are biracial, so they don’t require as much moisture or oil in their hair as mine, but I definitely can’t use their dad’s products either… way too drying! So we’re always open to trying new things until we find a balance!
Keisha Renee R says
Mixed chicks and Wen. My Neice is biracial and those two are awesome …oh Garnier Fructis
Katie Allbrooks says
Save your money – Johnson&Johnson is still formulated for Caucasian hair. My kids are biracial as well and Johnson&Johnson has too much alcohol in it and it causes too much drying. Shea Moisture from Target is really good, and since I’ve had my kids – they have a baby line of it too.
Katie Allbrooks says
Save your money – Johnson&Johnson is still formulated for Caucasian hair. My kids are biracial as well and Johnson&Johnson has too much alcohol in it and it causes too much drying. Shea Moisture from Target is really good, and since I’ve had my kids – they have a baby line of it too.
Chelsey Turientine says
The Shea butter does great.. Don’t be fooled by this new look lol
Kandace Kent says
Just because u stick a brown baby on it and brand it in “ethnic colors” doesn’t mean it’s for us! Lawd quit being so gullible …
Davida Braxton says
You are so right. I mentioned before knowing how these white folks her in America think and work, almost like a white devils potion to harm our nit just our black youth, but starting from infancy as well to destroy everything ftom the womb. Think about it very hard…they want you to use their poisonous stuff and knowing that in a few years you are Sitting in the doctors office with him or her telling you that your kid has cancer and a limited time to live. Its calked American genocide the legal white folks way. I, just saying…
Celeste Thomas says
Hello
Chanika Tian Xin Clarke says
Yup why not! Our hair is not the same!
Aaliyah Ingram-Jones says
“African babies”? My children were born in California so I guess this is not for them…
Keisha Renee R says
My FIRST thought
Melody Carter-Frye says
Really?? That would include children of African decent.
Blaque Diamondz says
Read the article the line began in South Africa
Aaliyah Ingram-Jones says
Once again the regular formula worked fine. BS.
Chelsey Turientine says
Yeh I don’t like how they put that…. At all.
Rivian Jones says
African babies? I immediately assumed this was sold in Africa when you said that.
Daina Derrett says
so did I.
Chelsey Turientine says
Right… Sounds a bit prejudice to me…
Alycia M. Ward says
Pretty baby
Keshia Tims says
No. We’re a Baby Magic family. Cute bag though
Ashley Elaine Plummer says
Mine too
Kelly Merriweather says
Lol I guess black babies just came out.lol
Daina Derrett says
dwl.
Diane Rodway says
Extremely funny !!! Lol
Celeste Thomas says
I know right
Morgan Reed-Hughey says
Obviously they did this bc they probably had people asking for them to cater to our babies… now people are complaining because we’re being catered to? Can’t win for losing.
And if thwy would have put “for black babies” instead of African American on the bottle yall would have something to say too smh
Hawa Camara says
Some people probably did. But as the leader int heir industry, they should have responded with ‘our products are for all babies, regardless of where they come from’… We are all human beings. Babies are not hair…
Morgan Reed-Hughey says
Lol they couldnt honestly say that bc everyone’s hair is different… Even within a single race you will find various textures. But even if they had of said for “coarser textures” or something along those lines people would still have something to say.
Carmen Martinez says
No,sweetheart. The government is trying to kill us off! They killing all the black men by police shooting them,they forcing black women into getting abortions, now they TARGETING black babies! Damn shame! But that’s America for you! Through out history and even up to today,I’ve never heard off AMERICA catering to blacks……….I’m happy you think in a positive way,but reality is they trying terminate us!
Sonja Gonzalez says
Used Johnson &Johnson products on my children cause they were allergic to baby magic . I never knew it could have been drying their hair instead of moisturizing it
Natasha McDowall says
I think it’s really cute…you rarely see a a non bi racial black child on American tv …there will be marketing like this because Africa is the only continent that the population will double by 2050.. more babies means more money for them… they are just going where the money is…smart buisness move
Hawa Camara says
So African babies are not regular babies??!!!
Carmen Martinez says
Apparently not…..I will not be using it….
Kiela Griffin says
Nope!!!! to much junk chemical ( their products been linked to ovarian cancer) in their products. ….good ol castile baby soap by dr.bonners
Tasheen Lockridge says
let me guess
it has the same ingredients & some “natural oils” in it? puhlease!
Carmen Martinez says
Hell no,probably got even more chemicals, that’s why it’s for black babies.
Dabrina E. Norwood says
It’s probably the same ish in different packaging. They know how to fool us!
Donna Myre says
African babies !!!!!!
Melody Carter-Frye says
This includes African-Americans people!
Blaque Diamondz says
Because the line started in South Africa-_-
Jessica Casey says
I’d rather continue using Shea moisture and Honest .
Michelle Smith-valentine says
Im sorry but where on the bottle does it say for african babies? Just because you see a black baby on there doesnt mean it is for african babies!!
Maya Woodall says
Yall better buy Shea moisture at least it’s black owned, better for you, plus you end up saving more money because it goes on sale frequently
Jamie Lewis says
No
Darlene Waller says
nope. stopped using them back in the 90’s with my second baby. They had every opportunity to cater to the “African” American babies for over 40 years… now they see it makes money and they wanna jump on the bandwagon? #byeJohnsons ha!
Kendra Kendra says
its been working just fine for our babies without racial promotion..smh
Hindala Jones says
No
Gi Gi says
I guess better late then never…idk
Sharisha Wallace Espino says
I like there stuff. The lotion my favorite. It for babies any race I thought
DayDay Hold'nherown Mckee says
Been using it and gone keep using it
Vedejah Scroggins says
i don’t see anything wrong with it but i think ill still like the purple one lol i bathe with that when i get good and ready i love it and the oil too is amazing
Antoinette Cole says
No! As long as they’ve been making products they’re just now catering to “African babies”??
HaTiona Insolent Thompson says
White owned company catering to black babies? NAH.
I don’t trust it.
Lauren Ralph says
Nope
Charity Hubbard says
Yes because I was raised on it and so will my baby
Toi Freeman says
No, the now market to African babies, that is far from cater to.
Carmen Martinez says
Wtf? Cater to African babies? I wouldn’t buy they shit….full of chemicals!!!!
Brenda Matthews says
HELL NAW! They poison everyone!
Davida Braxton says
No DSMN way…read the chemicals and preservatives. To cautious of deceptive labeling. And with everything that’s going on now, hum..I wonder if another sneaky attempt of Amercian genocide of our black youth. Just saying how these white folks work…wise up peopke. Stick with your black soap and Shea butter if you want to live long and pray daily.
Sybil Harris-DeRoach says
Yay more cancer causing Parabens for us
Blaque Diamondz says
Read the article the line began in South Africa!
Shareka Ballard Cathey says
Tore my baby skin up! I’ll pass
Brenda Rowe says
Yes Johnson and Johnson been around for years
Brenda Rowe says
These is a scare with no evidence
Adriane Washington says
I didn’t know it wasn’t ok for us to use Johnson and Johnson products? Now there’s African products ,what about African American?
Ladyt Cameron says
I have always use there product…no biggie for me
Carmen Martinez says
They really trying to kill all the black people!!! First the black men with shooting them to death,then forcing black women to get abortions, now they TARGETING the black babies too!!! Damn
Marsha MissLadii Joseph says
What type of bulls**t is this? How long has J & J been out? I had no problem with the Shea infused line. Segregation. I’ll stick to Aveeno.
Dana ItGirl Jeanmarie says
When are we going to invest in ourselves?
Mickoel La Mudanza Russell says
Lmao it’s the same ingredients just different bottles
Tanika Konyani says
Can’t get us to buy the original johnson’s so they are trying to target black people now. Laughable. Good luck to them! Not for us thanks
Pheap Mey says
Too much fragrance it them.. which means too much alcohol.. it drys out their hair.
Marvina Bell says
I think they’re seeing the success of SheaMoisture Baby lines and others like it and decided to jump on it
Latisha Monique Griffin says
J&J is no good
Latisha Monique Griffin says
The shampoo and so called conditioner drys out my baby’s hair to the point that it looks and feels like Brillo! Smh
Katie Allbrooks says
It did for my children as well! After they couldn’t use it, I tried to finish the bottle on my hair – STILL too drying and im Caucasian. This is probably the same stuff in a different bottle…they aren’t slick. ✋
Latisha Monique Griffin says
It probably is. Shea moisture is much better! Try it
Sheila Sanders says
Hell no….I use 100% virgin coconut oil! (Farmers Market or Whole Foods)
Katie Allbrooks says
NOPE! I tried using their ‘curly’ line almost 8 years ago and it’s horrible. All they did was stick a brown baby on the labels…the formula is still going to be the same and it’s not healthy for anyone with textured hair.
Thedra Renee White says
What is the difference between a white baby.and a black baby..besides color it’s still a baby just a tactic for black folks to buy
Candis Williams says
Ok then……
Tsebo Kobbina says
They want to kill us Africans who knows why only now. So their products assumed we don’t exist I am worried
Yolanda Hill says
WTH has this world become
Milady Louis says
Noooo
Ni-Ni Patterson says
I don’t care what anyone says…My mother used the No Tears shampoo on me and my siblings without any issues. And that baby oil gel works wonders on my skin. Been using it since 2000-2001 and it’s still awesome! There are products some label as “white” that some black people swear by. All in all, just because it didn’t work for you, doesn’t me it won’t work me too.
#JustDoWhatWorksForYou
#ItAintThatDeep
#ItsNotJustForBabies
Gail Dargan says
Babies are babies right?
Tiara Diaconescu says
African babies? My children didn’t come from an anfrican mother, so their not African. Smh get some better makerting skills Johnson&Johnson! I’ve stopped buying these products many many years ago. P.s thank for reassuring me y’all Never Catered to us from jump… Lol smh #FOH
Lakiasha Wilson says
True. But to them they see it as all the same anyway
Rosetta Omo Ahmed says
No. Not after causing babies n mums so much worry over skin irritation from using their products
Montoya TrutoMe says
I just bought like 80.00 worth of there product for my baby ..but I ain’t know about the ” African baby ” part wow …I don’t like that I’ll be taking it all back that’s offensive to me
Eunice Stover says
Their products have gone down hill, I still like the baby oil, but read what’s in their products..over the years they have added more ingredients that are not good for our babies…
Chelsey Turientine says
Sooooo what’s the difference? The color of the bottle an the fact that their is a brown baby on it??? Does it even have the right ingredients? That’s my question…… And I don’t like how they put that..”now caters to African babies” it’s not like the regular kind says for “Caucasian babies”…. Wtf Johnson & Johnson…. I’ll stick with Shea an cocoa butter….
Chelsey Turientine says
Exactly
Briana Vazquez says
People are so damn annoying and petty.. Don’t know what the hell you want.
Nesha Smith says
Nope…took too long
Laquita Sharmaine says
Did you see that commercial??? “Naughty hair” “no more knots and tangles???”
Lakiasha Wilson says
Sounds legit
Lakiasha Wilson says
Sounds legit
Lakiasha Wilson says
Yeah sure. Let’s add bs in there for African and black babies. No respect for young children. Buy (organic) products made specifically for your children with the best interest please.
Tashie Rose says
no they create skin complaints ive known babies develop exczema from johnsons products…sorry its not all its made out to be
Nyshell Mason says
Ignorant
Delvita Brumfield says
Yes yes yes
Felicia McDaniel says
African American babies!? And who developed it?
Fatima Womack says
This is not new
Dayna Johnson says
African babies?????
Really!?
Brock A Whittington Sr. says
I can only speak for a white guy. I don’t remember using anything as a baby. But after puberty I used so much baby oil it’s stock went up 4%.
C Alexis Ross-Le says
It’s poison
Sharee Brinson says
I been buying hell
Robin Burton says
OMG… you mean to tell me I’ve been buying products that are made for white babies and not just “BABIES”!!!? Now they’ve come up with a formula that is tailor made for black babies, I mean African American babies!!?
SHAME ON YOU J&J. I never looked at your products in this way. I honestly thought they were catered to the delicate skin of babies across the board… but now that you’ve put a label on it, this clears things up for me!
Sylvie Hatiana Ya Luana says
For black americans Who gets mad because u think They called ur babies africans maybe They made those products for black africans babies and not for black americans think
Kerimah Rogers says
Black Americans, Black Africans, Carribbean Blacks…….what’s the difference when it comes to the hair type and skin??? Sure some of us have different types of hair, but for the most part, our hair tends to be drier than those of other races. Why do Black Americans get so mad when we are referred to as having African ancestry??? If you did your research and family history and found out that your ancestors came from Africa, would you still be mad???
Sylvie Hatiana Ya Luana says
One I’m African 2 I was talking to black Americans tho think calling their kids african is an insult maybe u need to give ur info to ur ppl they the one that need it thank u
Chelsea Sheree says
The original stuff worked fine for my “African Baby” were jamaican and Polynesian but ok
Trina Trowell says
You can tell by some of these comments who read the article. Smfh
Winky Johnson says
African babies born in America???? No and I will boycott all other Johnson & Johnson products.
Erica Chocolatephantastic Willis says
I don’t have African babies so nope, won’t be using it.
Marilyn Rmsb says
Why, that stuff is not good for your baby from back when they was making it for white and black babies! I suggest young mothers you make your own!
Johnson and Johnson you sad!
C Angel Handley says
Johnson and Johnson has help find plenty of wars dictators and project to end the african child. Cut them off your list completely.
Vee Von Wong says
Johnson and Johnson uses harmful chemicals.
Sandra Brooks says
Hell no
Lisa Watts says
At least it’s a baby step in the right direction
Carol Mcs says
Oh that explains the white powder
Miranda Rightz says
Huh?
LTanya Lewis says
That’s a pass for me smh
Kierra Rice says
OMG I F*****G HATE HOW BLACK PEOPLE CRITICIZE LIKE THIS IS A GOOD THING THEY NOT MAKING IT JUST FOR WHITE BABIES
Amelia Renee says
Too little too late. There are so many amazing NATURAL products that cater to healthy black hair. Unfortunately some folks are unaware. I have to admit I was very unaware of the fantastic products that are natural and chemical free for years and thought that the brown Pantene bottle was as close as I’d get. Bless their hearts for trying though
Connie Raameen Husain Steward says
No thank you
Shyanne Bambino says
African babies what
Baby products are for all babies