The world lost one of the top Beauty Entrepreneurs of our time, Mr. Joe L Dudley Sr., Co-founder of Dudley Q Products, Thursday, February 8th, 2024.
You may or may not know, that during Black History Month, each year for the last several years, I’ve done tribute to Black Beauty Artists and Entrepreneurs who’ve excelled in the Beauty Industry. It’s called ‘I am Black Hair History’, and of course, Mr. Dudley was included.
I think this is a great day to share it with you. Feel free to leave your favorite memories of Mr. Dudley, Dudley Products, DCU or what his mentorship meant to you in the comments. And feel free to share or tag others.
Let’s make this a love 💙 letter for his family.
I also had the pleasure of interviewing this great man and entrepreneur a few years ago. The link to watch the full interview is below.
My tribute:
Shortly before I was set to interview on my Beauty SuperStars Talk podcast in 2020, I was asked, “With everything that’s going on, is there hope?” My response, when I look at stories like Mr. Dudley’s, where seemingly every odd was stacked against him and he still prevailed, I know that there is hope.
If you’re in the Beauty Industry or one of the many Dudley family – Sales people, Graduates, Salons who use the Dudley Products or employees, you’ve likely heard his story. He was one of 11 kids born to parents who were poor, lived in a 3 room house, yet believed that all of their children would graduate college. And they did.
Despite being labeled mentally retarded as a child, Mr. Dudley went on to build one of the largest Black owned beauty empires in the world and to become one of the world’s most sought after entrepreneurial minds.
In 1957, Mr. Dudley invested $10 for a Fuller sales kit and ended up turning that $10 into millions. He and Eunice Dudley co-founded Dudley Products, where they manufactured hair care products for Black Stylists and consumers.
He built one of the finest national sales teams; trained countless Hairdressers how to create their own success; created the Style Q hairstyle book, with only Black models. They opened Cosmetology Schools and then went on to start an advanced training center, Dudley Cosmetology University (DCU)! Shoutout to all the DCU grads. 🙌🏽🙌🏽🤩
I can’t remember a Hair Show where the Dudley presence wasn’t felt. Mr. Dudley remained committed to making, a difference in the lives Hairstylists and the Beauty Industry til the end!
His book, Walking by Faith, shares his story and steps to creating success in your own life. After 40 years, he and Eunice turned over the business to their daughter, Ursula Dudley Oglesby. It remains one of the few Black Owned Hair Care Companies in the world.
We are forever grateful to Mr. Dudley and he and Mrs. Dudley’s contribution to Black Hair History!
Sending my deepest condolences to the Dudley family. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Miki Wright
Please share your stories and photos!
P.S. Click here to watch his full interview, or click here order his book.
P.S.S. Details of his funeral arrangements are below. All are welcome to attend.
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Miki Wright is a Salon Growth Strategist and Business Funding Expert, as well as a long time Leader in the Beauty Industry. She trains talented Hairstylists and Beauty Business Owners how to accelerate their profits and charge what they’re worth! Helping them confidently set and raise their prices, without fear or guilt. She also offers business funding (up to $10K within 10 minutes). Wright has a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by Entrepreneurs with regards to pricing and accessing funding. Be sure to follow her on YouTube!
Wright’s former Salon and Spa has been featured in Essence Magazine, The Washington Post, and qualified as one of the 200 fastest growing Salons in the country with SalonToday.com, for three consecutive years. Wright is known for her ability to innovate, inspire and offer actionable steps that get results and is the Founder of the 6-figure Breakthrough Mastermind. Apply now at https://Profitplan.as.me/10K
Ready to take your business to the next level? Wright will help you set and raise your prices with confidence, and scale, build and fund the business of your dreams. Contact her at MikiWright.com or for business funding, visit bizfunds4u.com