The way one wears her hair can occasionally be more than just a matter of personal preference for black women. It frequently has social and political ramifications that can have a profound effect on every element of one’s life.
Black women have used hair straightening products for ages in an effort to blend in. However, according to The Conversation, research has shown that chemical hair relaxers, which are most frequently used by Black women, include potentially dangerous substances, such as endocrine disruptors and probable carcinogens, which can interfere with hormone function and increase the risk of breast cancer.
More and more black women are choosing to wear their natural hair rather than conforming to societies standards of what kind of hair in socially acceptable.
We have curated a list of local brands that create natural hair that are locally produced:
Love Kinks
Founded and owned by Sinovuyo Mondliwa, the Love Kinks haircare line launched late last year with three products,a hairline serum, hair oil and conditioning moisturiser. On the website, it says, “They have been carefully formulated and tested with ingredients that help to maintain healthy hair, the easy way.” Sinovuyo has been in the natural hair industry for about seven years and her audience trust her work.
Nilotiqa
Nilotiqa is the brain child of founder and owner, Thkozile Mangwiro. Thokozile found it difficult to find deeply moisturizing and nourishing hair care products. She spent a lot of time researching and experimenting with natural products, including Shea butter and marula oil, but was unable to find a solution for her excessively dry hair. The brand now has about 10 products on the market.
AfroBotanics
Ntombenhle Khathwane founded AfroBotanics in 2010 inspired by hair care methods of the 1930’s her grandmother passed onto her. The first products manufactured were for African hair and addressed the hair problems caused by naturally dry hair using hair care methods used by Nguni women. AfroBotanics caters to individuals with hair that is too dry, brittle, tangled, and hard to manage.
VanaNaturals
Stephanie Kituri, a clean beauty entrepreneur who is dedicated to using only natural, healthy ingredients in her products, founded VanaNaturals. The brand offers premium clean beauty solutions for afro-textured coily, curly hair types using only natural and organic botanical ingredients. The website states that “all the ingredients are carefully curated and rigorously sourced to formulate high-performance products that nourish, protect and grow healthy hair and are not tested on animals.”
Also see: How to recover your hairline after a protective hairstyle
