Embrace natural

Natural Hair Co team captain Nyaki Tshabangu and communications captain Lindiwe van Staden are in the business of normalising natural hair. The duo tells us more about their breakthrough brand.

- JESÉ-CHÉ LILLIENFELDT

What inspired your business idea?

The idea behind Natural Hair Co stems from a desire to create a central access point for natural hair in South Africa. We started hosting live events and creating content on our website that gave entrepreneurs access to a market of women and men who want to learn about their natural hair and buy products – which, back in 2016, weren’t available at traditional retailers.

How do you choose brands to showcase on your platform?

Our company has always been driven to empower local South African brands and create an ecosystem that includes product manufacturers, service providers and content creators. We work with brands that offer quality services and products and prioritise those that put education and inclusion first. Each month, we feature and collaborate with a brand, giving them exposure to our community through our Wash Day boxes – affordable box sets of products from brands that, we feel, our audience may want to try themselves.

Were there challenges?