By: Tebogo Mokwena
Nokwanda Mngadi believes that stress, diet and mental health contribute to unhealthy hair, and her products are designed to address this. Her business, Afrotexture which also has a hair spa, focuses more on promoting healthy hair than styling, and she does not the usual equipment found in salons. Mngadi started the business in 2020 after she began helping her mother with her hair problems. Her mother struggled with hair growth, and when she conducted research prior to starting the business, Mngadi discovered that hair loss was a common problem among women.
She opened a salon and spa in Tshwane, but she did not have much luck in getting clients. When her grandmother passed away, she had to relocate to Newcastle where she was able to increase her client base. Mngadi told Vutivi News that started operating in her living room. The business grew in a short space of time, so she was able to build a structure in her yard.
She said that diet, lifestyle choices, stress, trauma, grief and a change in the environment were some of the factors that had an impact on hair health. For these reasons, Afrotexture manufactured organic products to treat scalps, natural hair and beards. The products are sold on their e-commerce platform and were couriered across the whole country.
Mngadi also gives clients prescriptions for products they can use which can be purchased at stores like Clicks and Dischem. “Before we assist a client, we run a test to determine their hair porosity and type,” she told Vutivi News. “After performing the tests we then advise the client on what products to use to treat their hair. “Our products are currently undergoing testing with the South African Bureau of Standards with the assistance of the Small Enterprise Development Agency.”
Mngadi said that she attended multiple exhibitions last year that helped put her business on the map and grow. But now she wanted more. “I believe that the time has come for my business to expand because I have reached the ceiling in Newcastle,” she said. “We are looking to venture out and hopefully in the near future open branches in other provinces and be able to export to African countries.”
