An estimated 8% of Americans, roughly 26 million people, are living with autoimmune disease. For many, it shows up on the skin: persistent redness, sensitivity, flares, and hair shedding. For Black women in particular, the impact is often more severe and more overlooked in both healthcare and beauty.
Jaime Masters, a Black-female founder is working to change that with the launch of 826 & Co., a plant-powered skincare and hair care brand created for reactive, stressed, and compromised skin and scalp. These are all concerns often experienced by those navigating autoimmune conditions. Her brand was born from personal necessity. During a season marked by profound grief, including the loss of two parents, one to suicide, she began formulating products in her home while navigating her own diagnoses, including Hashimoto's disease and Rosacea.
What began as an urgent attempt to calm her inflamed, reactive scalp, eventually grew into a deeper exploration of how to support skin that exists in a constant state of reactivity, and how to serve a community long underrepresented in both healthcare and beauty. “For many of us, our skin and scalp tell the story of what we’re battling internally, often before we’re ready to talk about it, or before we even know what we’re facing. I created 826 & Co. for people who need high-performance care without the irritation, and a brand that finally sees them. I am the customer.”
The brand’s formulations focus on balancing efficacy with tolerance, using plant-derived ingredients designed to calm, hydrate, and support compromised skin. Beyond skincare, it is rooted in purpose: a portion of proceeds supports suicide prevention efforts, extending the brand’s mission beyond the surface.
About
826 & Co. is a plant-powered skincare and hair care brand created for reactive, stressed and compromised skin—often experienced by those living with autoimmune conditions. Founded by Jaime Masters, a Black-female entrepreneur and therapist-turned-formulator, the brand blends botanical ingredients with performance-driven formulations to support the skin barrier without overwhelming it.
Each product is crafted in small batches and designed to deliver visible results while honoring the connection between emotional well-being and skin health. The brand’s name reflects a date of deep personal significance to its founder. A portion of proceeds supports suicide prevention—reflecting 826 & Co.’s belief that care should extend beyond the surface. Learn more at 826andco.com
For press inquiries, contact jaime@826andco.com or 913-738-7546