Naturally, one may have what it takes to commence any new journey or project - but the drive to continue building is not a natural thing but a commitment and decision one has to make every day in their journey of chasing their dreams. The Sister2Sister Beauty natural hair salon owner, Noncedo Monica Nkalitshana, who holds an IT bachelors degree is a perfect reflection of the statement above. “I started my business from nothing, and only sold products on the streets and via social media until I moved to Gqeberha in 2019 where for the first time I had to rent a container in Motherwell to have a decent space for clients. Today, I run my business in a well established place and also hosts other entrepreneurs products in our shelves, because I believe collaborations are necessary when building a brand. Our services are provided by a sister to another sister, whether it’s from a chain of suppliers to customers, but all are working hand in hand supporting one another”, she said.
What inspired you to start this kind of business? “It was after I have seen a lot of people suffering from hair loss and if one has natural hair they are treated differently in any salon, either they can't do a certain hairstyle because of the type of one’s hair, or they won't even try unless one relaxes or blow dry their hair, which is very painful. Also growing up I hated relaxing my hair because it used to burn my scalp until I had sores and I told myself when I can afford to do thing my own, I will never again relax my hair. So, I had to teach myself how to treat my own hair, from there I never allowed anyone to touch my hair but myself. In 2016, the passion for solving people's hair problems grew stronger - I decided to leave the IT world to start my own natural hair salon business".
"Months later, I noticed different hair conditions, as some women suffer from a lot of things that affect their confidence including hair, that’s when I thought of starting my own natural hair treatment products". “Now, with the knowledge I have about hair issues and what solutions to bring, I make sure that my salon is where I could treat people suffering from Alopecia, hair loss, heat damage, receding hairline, and any other condition, using my own products”. “Personally, I am very passionate about organic products. I love anything that is natural and authentic. I always like to say let's go back to Embo, (to our roots) and learn how our mothers and great grandmothers used to do things. Currently, we are living in a society where beauty is perceived as being light-skinned, skinny, with long silky hair and all; as a result, we became ashamed of how we look, feel, and how our hair looks”.
Tell us about your hair product? “My hair brand is called Isintu Naturals, Isintu is derived from “umntu a person, abantu people, Isintu humankind”. The products comprises of raw shea butter, moisturizing spray, jojoba oil and castor oil. These products don't have ingredients that are genetically modified. They are free of petrochemicals, not tested on animals. They are also for everyone one who loves raw organic products. And because I specialize in natural hair maintenance I needed products that will complement the treatment. That is where Isintu Naturals was born".
Lastly, what makes your hair products different from others? “My products are free of common chemicals such as artificial fragrances, preservatives, colorants and other synthetic additives. The beauty industry is overflowing with products that claim to do miracles for the skin and hair under the label of 'organic' and 'natural'. Whether the products are well-researched or not. Ours have been tested by our clients and are working even for their skin too. What is also nice is that they are good for children too. And for people with sensitive skin, Psoriasis, eczema and other skin conditions".