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Black History Month: #TimeForChange with Nyfasi CEO Youmna Mouhamad

Dr Youmna Mouhamad, inventor of the Deluxe Detangler, hopes to redefine care for textured hair.

Tell us about your business

“Unlike straight hair, textured hair is dry and requires regular moisturising with conditioners. It can take up to 50 minutes to apply treatments and detangle. Often children cry, and this impacts their self-esteem. With its patented mechanism, the Deluxe Detangler detangles whilst using conditioner; the application is pain-free and can save up to 30 minutes. Nyfasi aims to redefine hair care as an enjoyable experience that empowers individuals to appreciate their hair in all its glory. In addition, we will donate 5% of our profits to provide one-to-one coaching to young people and set them on a great path to living a joyful, purposeful life.”

Why was starting your own business important to you?

“It’s important because it means solving a problem that is really close to my heart. Everything started when I was a live-in nanny. I used to look after a five-year-old girl, and every single time that her mom was washing her hair, she would be in tears – to detangle textured hair, you have to part the hair sections, apply the condition and then detangle. And that process can take up to 50 minutes, depending on the length of your hair, and it hurts. So hearing that little girl cry made me feel that I wanted to change her experience.

“So I used my background as a research scientist, including six years’ experience working in the field of printing and coating, to invent Nyfasi Deluxe Detangler. It lets you apply conditioner at the same time as detangle; the enhanced slip from the conditioner makes the process faster and pain free. It can save up to 30 minutes.”

What’s been the biggest obstacle you have encountered and how did you overcome it?

“The first thing I encountered was actually me believing in my idea to start with and understanding my ‘why’. I went on a journey of self-discovery to understand the value that the Deluxe Detangler product was going to bring me and customers. Nyfasi is about joy; the Deluxe Detangler is going to be bringing joy back into women and children’s hair-care experience and is about enabling women to live life to the fullest because, with textured hair, a lot of women might go not go swimming or working out because they are worried about how long it is going to take them to care for their hair.”

Black History Month is a great educative platform and also a great opportunity to celebrate the diversity of British society

Dr Youmna Mouhamad
Founder and CEO, Nyfasi

What’s the most important aspect of Black History Month for you?

“I’m French and in France there is no such thing as Black History Month. We don’t have the opportunity to see how Black people relate to the wider society – the impact but also the struggles. So I believe it’s really important. I’ve learned a lot through Black History Month; I’ve learned things that I think I wouldn’t know as a Black French person. It’s a great educative platform and also a great opportunity to celebrate the diversity of British society.”

What’s your top tip for other entrepreneurs?

“I believe it is important to invest in us as much as we invest in the business. I believe our business flows from ourselves and our visions. So if we’re not clear about what we want and why we want it, it will make it more difficult to thrive during difficult and lonely times. The enhanced self-awareness helps manage the mind and productivity.”

This year Black History Month is about change. What one change do you want to see?

“One change I would like is more diversity, especially when you’re looking into entrepreneurship and the wider investment landscape. We need that representation so the cultural barrier doesn’t become a problem for a diverse entrepreneur. Potential investors need to understand and see the value of the problem that they’re trying to solve.”

To celebrate Black History Month, we are hosting a special celebration of Black culture and heritage on Friday October 28. Find out more and grow your own network here:

Black History Month event

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