The ShebaShea Story
Shari Lane Blackwell-Gamedze’s father, Lincoln Blackwell Sr, was the first African American barber to own his own barber shop in West Oak Lane, Philadelphia, in the mid 1960’s.
His own grandparents were slaves, and his family were cotton pickers, born and raised in South Carolina. The old Blackwell Barber Shop is still located on the corner of Champlost Ave and 17th Street, today. That is the house that Shari Lane Blackwell – Gamedze grew up in.
When Shari was born, she had no hair at all. She was often mistaken for a boy, until she was a toddler. As a result, her mother would tape bows and ribbons onto her bald scalp, so that people would know that she was in fact, a girl!
Until the age of three, Shari remained completely bald, until Mr Blackwell Sr decided to do something about it.
He created a hair formula with her in mind, and called it “Stuff”.
Soon, Shari’s hair grew and become strong and healthy. In less than a year she had a full head of healthy hair. She could no longer be mistaken for a boy!
From this success, in his own basement, Mr. Lincoln Blackwell Sr began making hair products for both men and women. They included an Afro Sheen, and a hair pomade. He grew the flourishing business for over
twelve years.
Mr Lincoln Blackwell Sr.
Shari never forgot about the “Stuff”. She told her husband about it after they were married in 1989. They would talk about getting the formula from Mr.
Blackwell Sr, but he was unwilling to share it with them, because he did not want his daughter and son-in-law to go through the traumas that he had experienced in the racist 1960’s and 1970’s as a younger man.
After Dad Blackwell passed on, from a worn, hand written record in her deceased father’s safety deposit box, Shari was finally able to find the secret formula for the successful hair product that helped her and many others grow healthy hair. This became the foundation of many years of further research that went into discovering why Dad Blackwell’s formulas were so effective.
The demand for “Stuff” grew until it drew the negative attention of major established competing brands. Slander and jealousy mounted, because his product was popular and available in Rite Aids and other local pharmacies. When this negative attention resulted in personal threats, in the interest of the safety of his family, Mr Blackwell stopped marketing it, but made it privately for family members only.
Shari and Bheki have invested over 20 years of personal research to discover the reasons for the potency of Dad Blackwell’s secret formulas. This in depth research also resulted in their discovery of many African natural oils and ancient natural remedies for healthy ethnic hair and skin.
Some of these natural African beauty recipes have been passed down by oral tradition from generation to generation, from antiquity. From this extensive research, all the products for hair, skin and body have been developed and personally tested by Shari and Bheki and very close friends, with great success.
As is the distressing experience of too many melanated women in particular, in 2014, Shari had one bad perm too many.
Between 2014 and 2015, her hair began to break drastically.
She developed bald patches on her scalp as her hair fell out, as a result of chemical damage.
Because of this, Shari decided to get her hair cut short to ear length.
She attempted braiding for periods of time and used protective styling, but it yielded very limited results.
Her own hair simply refused to grow to its original length for several years, much to her great frustration.
As a result of such conclusive results, in 2018, ShebaShea was born. Building on the heritage and legacy of Mr Blackwell Sr, the time finally came for Shari and Bheki to share ShebaShea with the world.
Shari is the Founder and President of ShebaShea Beauty Solutions (Pty) Ltd. She is the Senior brand Ambassador of the company.
This is when Bheki and Shari decided to make a fresh commitment to make and use their own all natural hair products, made in their own kitchen.
Within a short space of 18 months, Shari’s hair grew from just below her ear, to shoulder length, to the middle of her back. – A total of 12 inches! Instead of it being thin and brittle, with split ends, and constantly breaking, it became strong, healthy, with very little breaking, shedding, or other hair loss.
Her hair continues to be healthy and strong today, and it continues to grow and retain its length.
