Johannesburg – Since the COVID-19 pandemic started over a year ago, the beauty industry has been affected immensely.
Many people have been avoiding going to beauty spas, hair salons, and nail bars for the usual grooming.
But 32-year-old Gontse Kgokolo’s natural hair business has remained functional and she still fulfills her dream of making women feel beautiful in their natural hair.
Gontse is passionate about embracing natural hair.
She started Kwanele SA in 2019 after going through her own natural hair journey.
“I gave birth to my son in 2021 and I cut my hair then and pursued the natural hair journey,” she says.
“I was not aware that maintaining natural hair was so difficult.”
For over seven years she struggled with detangling, washing, combing, and finding products that were suitable for her hair type,” Gontse says.
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“My scalp was always painful, I struggled with just finding affordable products that could soften and moisturise my hair. The types of combs and hair brushed that were available then were damaging to for the afro.”
It was then she decided to start her own business to focusing on maintaining good healthy natural African hair.
“I had just left my job and had some money saved up. I took my pension fund and invested in research and purchasing 100 hairbrushes to help me find the right formula,” Gontse says.
She partnered with a friend, Tebogo Ramurundu (28) and they created the Kwanele Wide Comb Afro Hair Straightening Brush.
“I describe it as a combination between a hot iron, hairdryer, and a hairbrush but without the damage caused by a regular hairdryer and hot iron,” she says.
“It helps to painlessly detangle African, kinky hair. It is quick and easy to use.” This became the foundation of Kwanele SA.
“People love the brushes because they can use on their children and it is convenient especially during the pandemic where they are afraid to leave the house. People from all over Africa have shown interest,” Gontse says.
Since launching they have added other hair products specifically for African hair textures,” she says.
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“It’s not just a business for us, but about convenience and making African women and children feel beautiful in the natural hair,” Gontse says.
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