For sisters Danielle Solomons and Jacqueline Cupido from Manenberg in the Cape Flats, the journey to healthier hair began with a shared frustration: the struggle to find products that worked for their natural hair texture. Now they own a thriving natural haircare brand and plan to take it to the world.
After years of dealing with dry, brittle hair, they took matters into their own hands. They started their own agribusiness, creating a solution with a blend of oils enriched with extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, and other natural ingredients. This led to the launch of their natural haircare brand, Melanin Influence.
Their products not only transformed their own hair but also empowered others with similar hair types to embrace healthier, stronger strands.
The idea of starting a haircare line first came to Solomons in 2015, though it took years to bring it to life.
“It started out of frustration. At the time, there were only two locally made products I knew of on the market,” she explains.
Solomons found it disheartening that Africa supplied most of the natural ingredients used in expensive, premium products overseas. “Let’s not even get started on the carbon footprint,” she adds, underscoring the unfairness of it all.
After years of struggling to find the right product for her hair, Solomons and Cupido decided to create their own solution. That’s how Melanin Influence was born.
A sisterhood of struggle
Cupido remembers her childhood disappointment every time she tried a new product. It would either leave her hair dry, or her natural curls would lose their shape.
“I have natural curls, so I often just used any conditioner that seemed to work for me,” she says. However, most products left her hair dry, brittle, and stripped of its natural oils.
The hair journey for these sisters has been a long one, filled with trials and perseverance. It wasn’t easy, but creating products that truly suited their hair texture took time, effort, and passion.
“There were moments when ideas seemed endless, but the real breakthrough came only when we put our vision into action,” says Cupido.
Crafting the perfect solution
Solomon’s passion for discovering ingredients that nourish and heal hair deepened as she experimented.
“I became really passionate about finding ingredients that could truly nourish the hair, heal it, soothe the scalp, and make it stronger.”
Danielle Solomons
The most challenging part of her journey was walking into stores and finding no products that represented her hair. “That struggle is not a small thing. It is a pain that has cost me my beauty and confidence.”
Despite having no formal education in haircare or qualifications in cosmetology, Solomon taught herself by taking online courses and watching detailed tutorials.
“I trusted my instincts and what I call a God-given talent,” she says.
Melanin Influence’s haircare range now features a blend of oils enriched with extra virgin olive oil, Jamaican black castor oil, avocado oil, and other natural ingredients. Cupido explains that this range nourishes the scalp, opens hair follicles, and ensures even oil distribution throughout the hair strands.
She alternates between using a clay mask, deep conditioning treatments, and oil treatments based on her hair’s needs.
“The clay mask helps absorb dead skin cells and cleanse the scalp of excess oils that block pores, leading to breakage and stunted hair growth.”
Jacqueline Cupido
Solomons reflects on the societal challenges of managing 4C hair, which is often unfairly stereotyped as unkempt or untidy.
“I have melanin-rich hair, and if you don’t have the right product, it can seem like your hair is difficult to manage.”
She explains that Melanin Influence is working to challenge these stereotypes by creating products that cater to natural hair textures. “When you know your hair type, strands, and texture, it makes all the difference.”
Today, Melanin Influence offers five products: conditioner, shampoo, leave-in conditioner, curling cream, strengthening oil, and hair food. It’s a significant evolution from the single product Solomons started with, and the business has grown through social media and word of mouth.
“During the pandemic, I was unemployed, so I had the time to work on this craft,” says Solomons. “I borrowed money from a good friend, bought a few oils, infused them with herbs, and bottled it. Now, it’s considered liquid gold.”
A vision for the future
Looking ahead, Solomons is eager to expand Melanin Influence into international markets, motivated by her passion for addressing the challenge of finding suitable products for 4C hair.
“If given the opportunity to study the science of hair, I would take it in a heartbeat,” she says.
Solomon’s tips for aspiring entrepreneurs:
- If you think about something every day, it means you truly want it – start working on how to make it happen.
- Don’t get cold feet; even big businesses started small.
- Network as much as possible and attend other people’s business presentations – there’s always something to learn.
- Let your products speak for themselves. Focus on producing quality items that resonate with your target market.
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