Beauty founders unite to celebrate Black women and raise health awareness
Black women are being invited to come along to the Glam Squad pop-ups where they can recieve free beauty treatments and health testing.
Beauty founders unite to celebrate Black women and raise health awareness
The One Voice Network, a collective of Black-led community organisations will be on hand to provide sexual health support in a “discreet and judgement‑free way”
Black beauty founders are uniting to celebrate Black women with complimentary makeup and wellness services to raise health awareness.
As part of a string of events by the HIV prevention programme, Do It London - Black women are being invited to come along to the organisation’s Glam Squad pop-ups where free makeup and nail appointments will be available, as well as personal styling consultations.
Alongside the beauty treatments, community nurses will offer “quick, friendly and simple” on‑the‑spot health checks including blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes screening and HIV testing.
The One Voice Network, a collective of Black-led community organisations aim to provide sexual health support in a “discreet and judgement‑free way” in response to data which shows that despite progress in HIV prevention, Black Londoners remain disproportionately affected by the virus.
In 2024, nearly 1,000 people were newly diagnosed with HIV in the capital, a significant proportion of whom were Black women.
Marc Thompson, Lead Commissioner for the London HIV Prevention Programme, said: “Too many women are still missing out on timely HIV testing simply because it isn’t available in the places they naturally spend time.
“By placing beauty, wellness and HIV testing side‑by‑side, we’re creating an environment where women feel comfortable, informed and empowered. When we normalise testing, we protect lives - and we move London closer to its goal of ending new HIV transmissions by 2030.”
The events will be held in north and south London where “Black women can step into their power.”
Stylist and founder of Potential U, Joy Odunsi who is lending her business’s services to the event said: “For me, styling has always been about helping Black women step into their power.
“When you sit in my chair, it’s not just about clothes or colours, it’s about confidence. The Glam Squad pop‑ups celebrate that.
“We’re creating spaces where women can feel fabulous, connect with community and take a moment to check in on their wellbeing too.”
As well as Joy, Rochelle from Zah_Nails and Founder of BeatbyFlo, Flo both say they believe that by giving women a chance to be pampered and have “open chats” about sexual health, it gives a “real purpose” to their work.
Flo said: “Makeup is my way of reminding Black women how radiant they already are.
“Being part of this campaign means I get to help women feel beautiful while encouraging them to look after themselves inside and out.
“The Glam Squad pop‑ups are such a powerful idea - a space filled with love, culture and good energy, where you can get glammed and feel supported in your wellbeing. That’s the kind of beauty community I’m proud to be part of.”
The pop-ups will bring be held at The Mall in Wood Green, Bernie Grant Arts Centre in Tottenham, Morley’s Department Store in Brixton, and Peckham Palms.
All Glam Squad pop‑ups will run from 11am to 4pm across the last two weekends in April.
Event Locations:
· The Mall Wood Green – Sat 18 April
· Bernie Grant Arts Centre, Tottenham – Sun 19 April
· Morley’s Department Store, Brixton – Sat 25 April
· Peckham Palms – Sun 26 April
For more information on HIV prevention in London, visit Do It London