NIRMV supporter Mary Jones shares her story of Dr. Austin W. Curtis, assistant to the renowned Dr. George Washington Carver:
Dr. Curtis learned many things from Dr. Carver, including how to formulate hair, health and beauty products using peanut oil. He made great contributions to the beauty care industry from 1944-2003. He founded A.W. Curtis Laboratory at 46 Selden, Detroit, Michigan in 1944. He was one of the original organizers of the AHBAI, a group dedicated to developing black hair care products,
Some of you may remember the Curtis line of products such as Sage and Sulphur, Roll and Set Cream, Soft and Silky, S and H Treatment, Curling Wax (green and red) Dandruff Treatment, Shampoo and Condtioners all formulated for his curly hair clients. Let us not forget Curtis Rubbing Oil formulated for many things including pain from arthritis.
"It is with great gratitude that I thank God for allowing me the opportunity to work side by side with this great chemist and become President of A.W. Laboratory until he retired in 2000," said Jones. "We also co-hosted a weekly radio show on 1440 AM (Martha Jean the Queen radio station) called the A W Curtis Show. I had the opportunity to travel around the United States and Canada with him educating cosmetologists on the Curtis Line of Products for 17 years.
"THANK YOU DR. AUSTIN WINGATE CURTIS FOR YOUR GREAT CONTRIBUTION TO OUR HAIR, HEALTH , AND BEAUTY INDUSTRY!!!!!!!!"
Mary Jones and Dr. Curtis at the celebration of his retirement given at The House of. Beauty Hair Mall in 2000. Dr. Curtis left Detroit in 2000 and moved to California with his daughter, residing there until his death in 2003.
