🧴 From Sticky Situation to Scalp-Care Spotlight: How Tessica Brown Rose Above the Gorilla Glue Scandal

If you were on the internet in 2021, chances are you remember the name Tessica Brown—though you might know her better as “Gorilla Glue Girl.” What started as a TikTok SOS quickly spiraled into a global headline, a meme, a cautionary tale, and, surprisingly, an inspiring journey of redemption.

Let’s rewind.

😬 The Incident: When Laid Edges Go Way Left

Tessica, a woman from Louisiana with a sleek ponytail and an even sleeker sense of humor, posted a TikTok explaining that she’d run out of her usual Got2B Glued hair spray. In a pinch, she reached for a can of Gorilla Glue Spray Adhesive—yes, the kind from the hardware aisle—and used it to lock down her hairstyle.

The result? Her hair was immovable. For over a month.

No amount of washing, oiling, or praying to the hair gods could fix it. Her scalp was literally sealed under a shell of industrial-strength glue. The video went viral, and the internet did what it does: gasped, laughed, judged, speculated, and eventually rallied behind her.

🤔 Beyond the Clicks: Why This Blew Up (And What It Really Said)

At first glance, it was a bizarre beauty fail. But beneath the viral moment were bigger truths—especially for Black women.

💇🏾♀️ Pressure to Be “Perfectly Polished”

For many Black women, hair isn't just hair. It’s culture, identity, expression—and sometimes, survival. Whether it’s slick baby hairs or a laid lace front, there’s a silent expectation to have every strand in place. Tessica’s mishap highlighted the extreme lengths women sometimes go to just to maintain that polished look in a world that often doesn’t offer suitable options.

🧴 Lack of Access to Safe Products

Why did she even consider using Gorilla Glue in the first place? Because the shelves aren’t always stocked with what textured hair actually needs. Access to effective, affordable, and safe products—especially in certain areas—can be incredibly limited. The incident sparked a necessary convo about the gaps in the beauty industry for people of color.

⚠️ Labeling & Product Safety

The Gorilla Glue can did say not for use on skin or hair—but in small print. Her story prompted questions about how clearly product warnings are communicated, and how everyday people understand (or misunderstand) them when desperate or misinformed.

💪🏾 The Comeback: From Viral Scandal to Haircare Entrepreneur

Tessica could’ve faded into meme history—but she didn’t. Instead, she owned her story, laughed at herself with grace, and used her platform to create something meaningful.

She launched “Forever Hair,” a line of haircare products designed to support healthy hair and scalp recovery. Her first product? A growth-stimulating oil aimed at people suffering from hair loss or damage—something she experienced firsthand.

Tessica also teamed up with a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon who helped safely remove the glue from her scalp free of charge. After months of damage control (literally and figuratively), she began to advocate for safer styling choices and realistic beauty expectations.

Her journey from internet infamy to self-made business owner showed the power of resilience, humor, and using your voice to educate others—even when the spotlight wasn’t kind at first.

✨ The Lesson: Beauty Shouldn’t Hurt (or Stick)

Tessica’s story might’ve started as a sticky situation, but it ended with strength. It shined a light on real issues Black women face in the beauty space—issues that are often overlooked until something extreme happens.

So, let’s take a note from her journey:

• Normalize asking questions about what’s safe for your scalp.

• Support brands that prioritize Black hair health, not just aesthetics.

• And for goodness’ sake—if it belongs in the toolbox, it doesn’t belong on your head. 🛠️

#BlackHairMatters #ScalpCare #ForeverHair #FromGlueToGrowth #GorillaGlueGirlGlowUp