Michigan State University alumna LaTya Wells, owner of the recently launched hair accessory business, Roots & Reign, released a Juneteenth Capsule collection on June 10. Offering accessories like bows, scrunchies, and headbands of protective materials and various styles, her products not only appeal to women and girls of all hair types and preferences, but honor and empower their cultural identities.
In the collection, available until July 7, Wells uses colors from the Pan-African flag, including black and red, which serves to unify people of African descent and promotes Black cultural identity and remembrance of ancestors.
Her Versa Scrunchies, for example, come in these colors and have layered, removable satin ties that allow for mixing and matching, while protecting the hair in any state.
The handcrafted satin Charm Bow is also available in several colors, and each one includes one of the six Juneteenth charms they offer, which include a raised fist, the African continent, an afro silhouette, and more, to represent Black pride, power, and legacy. “It gives women and girls a way to express themselves and carry meaningful reminders in their hair,” Wells said.
Another product, the soft-touch and non-slip Urban Roots headband, mixes modern street-style edge with symbols of ancestry, with pops of green distributed throughout the pattern, adding a nice touch of color to the design.
There’s also the satin Snap & Slay Deluxe set, featuring two scrunchies and three reversible bows colored black and white, allowing those of differing preferences and hair styles to experiment with countless bold looks.
In addition to the meaningful visuals Wells’ products conveys, she also takes into consideration the wide range of hair types of her client base, using primarily stretch satin blends to reduce breakage, friction, and help preserve styles of textured hair. The material is derived from U.S.-based sellers, with specialty materials occasionally obtained from Turkey and Taiwan.
When Wells, a resident of Texas since 2023, became a mother of two, she noticed that one issue remained prevalent: the lack of hair accessory options for girls with hair texture, locs, and various protective styles. “I began developing the concept in September 2024 after years of embracing my natural hair and teaching my Black daughters to love theirs,” Wells says. “It started as a personal journey and creative outlet, eventually evolving into a brand focused on cultural pride and confidence through hair expression.”
As a mother of two toddlers with a full-time career and new business, finding a balance has been her “greatest struggle.” However, that won’t stop her from building “a legacy that redefines hair accessories.”
Wells intends to feed rain to her roots further, with goals of expanding her business into retail spaces that align with her values and becoming the “go-to brand for elevated, textured-hair inclusive accessories that merge identity, wellness, and beauty.”
To learn more, visit rootsandreignhair.com.
