The recent Click's debacle brought the natural hair conversation to the front again. Here are 5 local brands to support that celebrate natural hair.
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1. Actress Shonisani Masutha on her own braid collection, Shonisani Braid
From being the first African actress to feature in a Bollywood series, to now becoming the first South African actress to launch her own hair extensions, the Shonisani Braid.
Speaking to DRUM about her hair extensions, the actress revealed that when she was approached by hair company, Afrotex SA, to become a brand ambassador for their hair, she wanted to be more than just the face of the hair.
“The fibre is extremely light and not heavy to wear at all. It is quite unique since there is currently no 31-inch-long braid in the market. It comes in 17 colours and is itch-free. Consumers also have the option to order the hair online and have it delivered to their doorstep”.
Read | Actress Shonisani Masutha launches a braid collection: 'I wanted to be more than just the face'
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2. Liz Letsoalo, founder of Masodi Organics
Perfection – that’s what she strives for. Which is why businesswoman Liz Letsoalo opened her popular Masodi Organics beauty brand.
She describes it as a proudly African beauty brand that is aimed at transforming the industry.
Born in Lephephane in Tzaneen in Limpopo, she describes herself as a politician who speaks her heart and mind, sometimes through action. And part of that action was opening a business aimed at black and brown women.
“The name Masodi, is my mother’s name. It felt like a very fitting name for this brand.”
Read | Founder of Masodi Organics on how she started a successful local beauty brand
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3. Sonto Pooe, founder of plant-based hair and body products, Native Child
She remembers telling her mother she wanted a career that excited her, like fashion or haircare. “But after sacrificing so much for my schooling, my mother said, ‘Not on my money’. So, fast-forward a few years and I was a quantity surveyor.”
But Sonto Pooe wasn’t passionate about the work. “I enjoyed the studies but once I was in the field, I didn’t find the fulfilment I thought I would get. I believe you should do something you are passionate about to get the best of yourself.”
So, she decided to dedicate her time to turning this passion into a career and now she’s the proud owner of natural hair- and bodycare brand NativeChild, now sold and distributed nation-wide.
Read | Sonto Pooe’s plant-based hair and body products have taken South Africa by storm
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4. Khanyisa Monqo, founder of the innovative and luxurious heat caps from Afroamare
She’s always loved natural hair and understands that it comes in different forms. Khanyisa Monqo grew up in Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape, where she was raised by several different women who had different hair textures.
The University of the Western Cape BCom law graduate recently launched her natural hair business, Afroamare, after noticing a gap in the market. They produce heat caps that are used while deep-conditioning or treating hair.
“If you nurture it, believe in it and go for it completely – it will succeed.”
Read | This is why I decided to start my own natural hair brand – and how I’m succeeding
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5. Sinovuyo Mondliwa, natural hair enthusiast and founder of LoveKinks
Before Instagram allowed lengthy videos and introduced IGTV to the world, Sinovuyo Mondliwa only had a minute to showcase how she took care of her natural hair. She took her Instagram videos, moved them to a YouTube channel and now has over 30 thousand subscribers.
DRUM spoke to the businesswoman about how she has gone about cementing herself as a natural hair enthusiast. Sinovuyo has a business named Love Kinks which started as an idea of a natural hair masterclass in 2016.
“I want to create a holistic approach to natural hair care. The first and most important step is a mind shift".
