EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


     AGREEMENT,dated as of July 14, 1997 by and between Carson Products Company,
a Georgia Corporation (the "Company"), and Richard A. Bozzell ("Executive").

                                   WITNESSETH:
     WHEREAS,  the Company  wishes to retain the services of Executive  from and
after the date of the execution of this Agreement (the  "Execution  Date"),  and
Executive wishes to be eployed in the services of the Company from and after the
Execution Date, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;

     NOW, THEREFORE,  in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein,
the parties hereto agree as follows:

     1. Term of Covered Employment.  The term of Executive's  employment covered
under this  Agreement (the "Term of Covered  Employment")  shall commence on the
Execution Date and shall end on the third anniversary of the Execution Date (the
"Expiration Date"), unless terminated earlier under Section 4.

     2. Employment and Duties.  Subject to the terms and conditions  hereinafter
set forth,  during the Term of Covered  Employment,  the  Company  shall  employ
Executive and Executive shall serve, as Senior Vice President-Finance.

     In such capacity,  Executive shall perform the duties and  responsibilities
assigned by the Company,  and such  performance  shall be Executive's  principal
activity to which he shall devote substantially all his working hours. Executive
shall report the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

     3. Compensation and Benefits.

     3.1 Compensation. For all srvices to be rendered during the Term of Covered
Employment, the Company shall pay Executive a salary ("Base Salary") of $150,000
per annum,  payable  bi-weekly in arrears.  The  executive  shall also receive a
one-time  signing  bonus in the amount of $25,000.  In addition,  the  Executive
shall receive stock options to acquikre 50,000 shares of Class A Common Stock of
Carson, Inc. At the per share price equal to the closing price on July 11, 1997,
as reported on the consolidated  traqnsaction  reporting system for the New York
Stock  Exchange.  The options,  which shall be granted at the  execution of this
employment agreement,  shall be exercisable one-third (1/3) on each of the first
three  anniversaries of the date of the execution of this agreement if Executive
is empoyed by the Company on such dates.  In  addition,  for each fiscal year of
the  Company  ending  within the Term of  Covered  Employment,  Executive  shall
receive a  (pro-rated  for 1997) bonus (the  "Bonus") in an amount  equal to (i)
thirty  percent (30%) of Bae Salary if the "base case"  objectives  (but not the
"anticipated  case"  objectives) for such fiscal year as specified by the Board,
or a committee thereof are achieved,  or (ii) fifty percent (50%) of Base Salary
if the  "anticipated  case"  objectives for such fiscal year as specified by the
Board, or a committee thereof are met The objectives utilized in determining the
Bonus shall be net revenue growth,  net income,  earnings per share and/or stock
price growth,  suh as defined by the board (or a committee  thereof) in its sole
discretion.  A lesser  percentage of Base Salary may be paid hereunder if one or
more, but not all, of the targeted objectives are met.The value of the Bonus, if
any, shall be paid seventy-five  percent (75%) in a single lump sum cash payment
and twenty-five  percent (25%) in shares of restricted stock of Carson,  Inc. If
the "anticipated case" objectives are met, the value of the Bonus, if any, shall
be paid fifty  percent (50%) in a single lump sum cash payment and fifty percent
(50%) in shares of restricted stock of Carson,  Inc. Such restricted stock shall
vest aS to  one-third  (1/3) of the  aggregate  number  of shares  delivered  to
Executive on each of he first three  anniversaries of the date of payment of the
Bonus if Executive is employed by the Company on such dates.  The Bonus shall be
paid no later  than  120 days  ater the end of the  fiscal  year for  which  the
applicable objectives have been met.

     3.2  Pension  and  Welfare  Plans.  During the Term of Covered  Employment,
Executive shall also be eligible to participate in any pension and welfare plans
maintained  by the  Company for its  employees,  except  profit-sharing  and the
Christmas bonus plan, subject to the requirements of applicable law.

     3.3 Fringe Benefits.

     (a) Automobile. Executive shall be entitled to an automobile allowance from
the  Company  of $250 for each  month  during  the Term of  Covered  Employment.
Executive  shall be solely  responsible  for all  maintenance,  repair and other
expenss with respect to such automobile.

     (b) Relocation  Expenses/Allowance.  The Company shall reimburse  Executive
for all  expenses  incurred by him in  relocating  to  Savannah,  Georgia ro its
vicinity.  The company  shall  reimburse  Executive for all travel and temporary
lodging  expenses  incurred,  including  spouse-accompanied  trips to  Savannah,
Georgia to secure his permanent residence in Savannah,  Georgia or its vicinity.
In  addition,  the  Company  shall pay  Executive  100% of final  closing  costs
associated  with  purchase of  residence  in Savannah or its  vicinity,  100% of
moving expenses,  and up to $15,000 of closing costs associated with the sale of
residence in Memphis, Tennessee.

     (c)Other Fringe Benefits. During the Term of covered Employment,  Executive
shall receive any other fringe benefits generally provided by the Company to its
employees.

     4.Termination  of Employment.  Notwithstanding  any other provision of this
Agreement, but subject to the notice provisions contained in this Section 4, the
Company  retains the right to terminate  Executive's  employment,  and Executive
retains the right to resign from  employment  with the Company,  at any time and
for any reason.

     4.1 Termination for Cause. The Company may terminate Executive's employment
with the Company for "Cause" (as hereinafter defined) in the manner specified in
this Section 4.1. In the event that on or after the Execution  Date and prior to
the Expiration  Date, the Company  terminates  Executive's  employment  with the
Company for Cause, the Term of Covered  Employment shall end on the date of such
termination  (which shall be the date specified in the notice  described in this
Section 4.1) and  Executive  shall be entitled only to any unpaid amount of Base
Salary for his employment with the Company  throughout and including the date of
such termination.  In any event,  Executive shall not be entitled to receive any
amount of Base  Salary  with  respect to any period  following  the date of such
termination,  or any  portion of the Bonus for the fiscal year of the Company in
which such date of termination occurs.

     For purposes of this Agreement,  termination for "Cause" means  termination
by the Company due to  Executive's  gross  dereliction  of his duties under this
Agreement, including, without limitation, his refusal to follow or gross neglect
of the  directions  of the Chief  Executive  Officer of the Company or any other
executive  of the Company  senior to  Executive,  or any willful  misconduct  by
Executive  that is  materially  injurious to the Company,  or the  indictment of
Executive for a felony involving moral turpitude.

     To terminate  Executive for Cause,  the Company shall give a written notice
of such termination to Executive  ("Notice of  Termination"),  and shall specify
the date of such termination,  which shall not be earlier than the date on which
such notice is given to  Executive.  Such notice  shall be given to Executive no
later than 10 days after actual knowledge of the events or  circumstances  which
purportedly  constitute  Cause  for such  termination,  and  shall  specify  the
particular  act or acts,  or failure to act,  or other  events or  circumstances
constituting   Cause  for  such  termination.   Executive  shall  be  given  the
opportunity  within 30 days after receiving such notice to explain why Cause for
such  termination  does not exist.  Within 15 days  after any such  explanation,
Executive will be given the final decision  regarding  whether Cause exists.  If
the final decision is that Cause exists, Executive's employment with the Company
shall be terminated under this Section4.1  pursuant to the notice of Termination
as of the date of termination specified in such Notice. If the final decision is
that Cause does not exist,  Executive's employment with the Company shall not be
terminated under this

     Section 4.1.

     4.2  Resignation.  Executive may resign from employment with the Company by
giving the  Company  written  notice of such  resignation,  which  notice  shall
specify the date of  resignation,  which shall not be earlier than 30 days after
the  date  such  written  notice  is  given  to the  Company.  In the  event  of
Executive's  resignation  on or after the Execution and prior to the  Expiration
Date, the Term of Covered  Employment shall end on the date of resignation which
shall be the date specified in Executive's notice of resignation), and Executive
shall be entitled  only to any unpaid  amount of Base Salary for his  employment
with the Company through and including such date of resignation. Executive shall
not be entitled to receive any amount of Base Salary with  respect to any period
following such date of  resignation,  or any portion of the bonus for the fiscal
year of the Company in which such date of resignation occurs.


     4.3 Termination Other Than For Cause. The Company may terminate Executive's
employment  with the Company  other than for Cause by giving  Executive  written
notice  of  such  termination,  which  notice  shall  specify  the  date of such
termination,  which shall not be earlier than 30 days after such written  notice
is given to  Executive.  In the event  that on or after the  Execution  Date and
prior  to the  Expiration  Date  Executive's  employment  with  the  Company  is
terminated by the Company other than for Cause,  the Term of Covered  Employment
shall end upon such  specified  date of  termination  and the Company  shall pay
Executive, within 30 days after such date of termination, an additional lump sum
amount equal to any unpaid amount of Base Salary for his term of employment with
the Companythrough  and including such date of termination.  Executive shall not
be  eligible to  participate  in any of the  Company's  employee  benefit  plans
following such date of  termination of employment,  except as may be required by
applicable law.

     4.4  Termination  Due to Death or  Disability.  The Company  may  terminate
Executive's  employment  with the Company due to  "Disability",  as  hereinafter
defined,  by giving Executive written notice of such  termination,  which notice
shall specify the date of such  termination,  which shall not be earlier than 30
days  after  such  written  notice  is given to  Executive.  If on or after  the
Execution Date and prior to the Expiration Date Executive's  employment with the
Company is  terminated  due to  Disability,  or if during such period  Executive
dies,  the Term of  Covered  Employment  shall end upon such  specified  date of
termination  or  date  of  death,  as  applicable,  and the  Company  shall  pay
Executive,  or his  beneficiary  of estate,  as the case may be,  within 15 days
after such date of termination or death,  an additional lump sum amount equal to
150% of one year's Base Salary.

     For purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" means Executive's inability to
perform his duties under this Agreement for a period of at least six consecutive
months  because of  medically  determinable  physical or mental  impairment,  as
determined by a physician  mutually  agreeable to Executive and the Company.  If
Executive  and the Company are unable to agree on such a  physician,  each shall
appoint one physician and those two physicians  shall appoint a third  physician
who shall make such a determination.

     5.  Non-Competition;  Non-Solicitation.  While Executive is employed by the
Company (including any period of such employment following the expiration of the
Term of  Covered  Employment),  and  during  the  period in which  Executive  is
receiving payments of Base Salary from the Company (regardless of whether or not
Executive  is then  employed by the  Company),  Executive  shall not directly or
indirectly (i) own, manage, operate, represent, promote, consult for, control or
participate in the ownership, operation,  acquisition or management of any other
business  which  manufactures  and/or  distributes  ethnic hair care products or
cosmetics,  (ii)  solicit  (other  than on behalf of the  Company  or any of its
affiliates), divert or take away the business of any customers of the Company or
any of its affiliates, or any prospective customers of the Company or any of its
affiliates  whose  business  the  Company or any of its  affiliates  is actively
soliciting,  or has actively solicited,  during Executive's  employment with the
Company with whom Executive had any material personal contact,  or (iii) solicit
or induce any employee of the Company or any of its affiliates to terminate such
employee's  employment  with the  Company  or such  affiliate.  It is  expressly
acknowledged  that a breach of this covenant may result in  irreparable  harm to
the Company for which there is no adequate remedy at law and that, therefore, in
the event of such a breach,  the Company shall be entitled to obtain  injunctive
relief  restraining  Executive  from engaging in  activities  prohibited by this
Section 5 or any other  relief as may be required to  specifically  enforce this
covenant.

     6.  Confidentiality.  While  employed  by the  Company  and  at  all  times
thereafter,  Executive shall maintain the  confidentiality of all information of
and relating to, and all material of, the Company and its  affiliates  that have
not been  made  available  to the  public  (other  than by reason of a breach by
Executive of his  obligations  under this Section 6) and shall not,  without the
Company's  prior  written  permission,  disclose  to any  person  outside of the
Company and its affiliates any such  information or material.  Without  limiting
the foregoing  sentence,  such  information  and material shall include  pricing
plans  and  price  policies,  business  plans,  sales  forecasts,  research  and
development,  formulas,  procedures  and the identity of customers and suppliers
and the terms upon which the Company or any of its  affiliates  deals with them.
Upon  termination of employment with the Company,  Executive shall return to the
Company all property in his possession,  whether or not containing  confidential
information,  including  but not limited to originals  and copies of any written
documents, drawings and reports, diskettes and other storage media, belonging to
the Company or any of its  affiliates or received from the Company or any of its
affiliates.  It is  expressly  acknowledged  that a breach of this  covenant may
result in irreparable  harm to the Company for which there is no adequate remedy
at law and that, therefore,  in the event of such a breach, the Company shall be
entitled to obtain  injunctive  relief  restraining  Executive  from engaging in
activities  prohibited  by this Section 6 or any other relief as may be required
to specifically enforce this covenant.

     7. Notices. All notices and other communications under this Agreement shall
be in writing and shall be given by hand  delivery to the party  receiving  such
notice  or  by  certified  mail,  return  receipt  requested,  postage  prepaid,
addressed as follows:

             If to Executive:                   Mr. Richard A. Bozzell



           If to the Company:                 Carson Products Company
                                              64 Ross Road
                                              Savannah, Georgia 31405
                                         Attention: Chairman and Chief Executive
   Officer

     or to such other address as either party shall have  furnished to the other
party in writing as the address to send future  notices  and  communications  in
accordance  herewith.  Any notice or  communication  shall be deemed  given when
actually received by the party who is its intended recipient.

     8.  Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid
under  applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of
such  invalidity,  and the  remaining  provisions  of this  Agreement  shall  be
unimpaired.

     9. Waivers. The waiver by either party of a breach of any provision of this
Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach
of such provision, or as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement.

     10.  Assignability.  The  Company  may assign  its  rights and  obligations
hereunder  to  any of  its  affiliates,  or to  any  successor  of the  Company.
Executive  may not assign any of his rights,  duties,  obligations  or interests
hereunder to any other person without the prior express  written  consent of the
Board of Directors of the Company.

     11. Entire Agreement.  This instrument contains the entire agreement of the
parties  with  respect to, and  supersedes  all prior  agreements  relating  to,
Executive's employment with the Company.

     12.  Governing Law. This Agreement  shall be governed by, and construed and
enforced under, the laws of the State of Georgia.

     13.  Effectiveness  of  Agreement.  This  Agreement  shall  be  and  become
effective as of the Execution Date.


     IN WITNESS WHREOF,  the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first written above.

                             Carson Products Company

                          By:__________________________
                                   Leroy Keith
                                Chairman and CEO

                         _______________________________
                             Mr. Richard A. Bozzell