The month of May brings forth a lot of exciting things–spring rain showers, the beautiful blooms of flowers, and the promise of a warm and sunny summer (and plenty of new summer trends) just around the corner. 

But it’s also an important month from a different perspective–it’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, too! This month is a celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander folks in the United States. This annual celebration is meant to highlight and honor the historical and cultural contributions that these groups bring to the U.S.

According to the U.S. Census in 2020, there are nearly 20.6 million people of Asian or Pacific Islander descent in America. And to us, that means there’s a lot of celebrating to do! 

And, of course, as beauty pros in a beauty pro world, we want to encourage you to take that support and celebration to the cosmetology industry. Not sure how? This blog has you covered with tips, ideas, and some inspo to spark your own celebrations!

Tips for Supporting Asian-American & Pacific Islander-Owned Beauty Businesses 

Not sure how you can honor the heritage of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders as well as support and uplift their communities? This list below is a great way to get started! But remember, this is just the start–if you’ve got other helpful tips and advice, share them with us below in the comment section. We’re all ears! 

Be Mindful & Intentional When Shopping

You’d be so surprised how just a little intentional effort can change the way you shop and which businesses you support.

Next time you’re on the hunt for a new product or need a new beauty service done, do a little digging to find a shop that aligns with your wants and also has Asian-American or Pacific Islander owners.

Not sure how to tell which businesses are owned by Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders? Check out their social media pages, look at online community forums, and check out apps like Nextdoor to find out more about the businesses in your community. 

Write Reviews About Successes 

Whether you’ve just found an Asian-American or Pacific Islander-owned business or you’ve been shopping with a particular business for a long time, leaving a review can be an incredibly powerful way to get the word out and support a business.

Consumers demand social proof and credibility. If there’s a wonderful shop out there that might be struggling in the review department, your review could make all the difference in the world. 

Share Your Favorite Shops & Products With Your Circle 

Found an Asian-American or Pacific Islander-owned business that you can’t get enough of? Tell the world!

Your inner circle, your friends, your loved ones, your fellow beauty pros–they all deserve to know about this epic business and how great they are. Don’t keep that secret to yourself–share it with everyone. 

And Don’t Forget to Share on Social Media, Too 

Word of mouth is great–but social media tends to have a larger impact during this day in age. All that good stuff you mentioned to your inner circle?

Share it with the world! Post on your personal or company Instagram and spotlight the companies you want to recognize and garner some awareness for. 

Don’t Just Shop–Build Relationships & Partnerships 

Buying something from an Asian-American or Pacific Islander-owned business is a fantastic way to support them.

But there’s a way you can maximize that support further than just your purchasing power. If you’re a colleague in the beauty world, explore how you can build relationships and partnerships with those companies you want to support. 

Could you have a guest artist spot in your own salon? Can you create a product partnership agreement with that company? Could you host community events with that salon or company?

Sit down with the company you want to team up with and brainstorm ways you can work together to create awareness for them and build a strong partnership.  

Invest in the Asian American & Pacific Islander Communities 

Ask yourself–how involved with these communities are you year-round?

While this month is a great way to honor the heritage and grow awareness, it’s certainly not the only month you should be making efforts to engage with and strengthen these communities. 

Make a committed effort to become a part of these communities, invest in them, and help them grow–in whatever way you’re capable. Whether that means donating money, time, or resources, there are plenty of ways you can support these communities.