Issue 1, March , 2022
Model: Magdalene Williams Photographer: Mo Shutter
Editorial Board Editor in Chief Selasi Dzikunu Creative Designer Mary Dickson Contributors WeMompreneurs Partners MGL Naturals , Winamzua, Eya Naturals , Lola , Nokware
EDITORIAL OFFICES Adenta , Housing Down
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Issue 1 THE DELSE DIGEST
Natural Hair Porosity
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Skin Types and Care Routines 6
DIY facial mist
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Our top five Made in Ghana brands in Beauty Care 10-14
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Four must have skin care products 15 Five Tips to help you turn your Startup Dream into reality 16 Anti-Ageing tips 18 Best Foods for gorgeous skin 19 Trendy Natural Hair Styles 20
NATURAL HAIR POROSITY…ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW By: The Delse Shop
We’re always excited to go on the natural hair and skin journey with you. Would you agree with us if we say knowing something very well helps you understand it better and know how to handle it? Well today, let’s talk about natural hair porosity…the ins and outs. What is hair porosity? Did you know cuticles are not only in the nail department, but in the hair department as well? (We’re sure you do). Well, porosity has a lot to do with the hair cuticles (outer layer of the hair) and simply refers to how easily your hair is able to absorb and retain moisture. The nature of these hair layers (that is, how strong and flexible they are) determines how easily your hair takes in all the oils and moisture your glorious crown is often pampered with. THE DELSE DIGEST | 3
Although hair porosity is often described as hereditary, other elements such as chemicals, treatment of your hair and exposure to harsh conditions can affect your hair’s porosity. This porosity could be either low, high or medium.
Low Porosity Hair with low porosity does not absorb moisture very easily, and therefore requires the use of hair products that can help the hair retain moisture, such ascoconut oil and shea butter. Hair with low porosity is quite healthy and especially when the hair is dark, has a great sheen. However, it needs a lot of care and attention, as it requires the use of more moisturizers. Products used for low porosity hair are often more effective when they are applied whilst the hair is wet. (Have you read our article on LOC and LCO method yet?) Not taking proper care of hair with low porosity or using the wrong products could end up making the hair stiff and thin, which is a definite no-no for our natural hair. Lighter based products that can be absorbed faster are highly recommended, to prevent your hair from being overly oily. THE DELSE DIGEST | 4
Did you know cuticles are not only in the nail department, but in the hair department as well? (We’re sure you do). Well, porosity has a lot to do with the hair cuticles (outer layer of the hair) and simply refers to how easily your hair is able to absorb and retain moisture.
Medium Porosity This level of porosity is a hybrid between low hair porosity and high hair porosity and doesn’t require as much maintenance. Hair with this kind of porosity allows the optimum amount of moisture to be absorbed by the cuticles. Medium porosity is often described as normal and is very easy to style…which is very ideal especially because we love some variety when it comes to our natural hair styles! However, this porosity shouldn’t be taken for granted by excessive use of chemicals, as it could affect the hair’s porosity level.
How can you determine your hair’s level of porosity? It is vital to have an idea of your hair’s porosity level, so you can treat it right and know what kind of products you can use to protect and sustain your hair. You could simply do this in the comfort of your home by picking some strands of your hair from your favourite hairbrush or comb and leaving them in a bowl of water for a few minutes. These strands sinking is an indicator that your hair is highly porous, whilst its floating shows that your hair porosity level is low. Alternatively, you could simply slip your fingers through your hair (a few strands will do), towards your scalp. If this ride proves to be a bumpy one, it shows that you have high porosity as the bumps indicate that your hair cuticles are lifted. If they aren’t, your fingers won’t encounter many bumps, meaning your hair has low porosity. Hope this didn’t sound too technical! Now that we understand hair porosity more, we can give our hair even better treatment…just the kind of love it deserves. THE DELSE DIGEST | 5
High Porosity High hair porosity often comes about not just from genetics but poor treatment of the hair or too much processing. With highly porous hair, the hair’s cuticles rapidly open, making the level of absorption very high. This makes it very easy for the hair to become either tangled or frizz especially when the weather isn’t favourable. Having highly porous hair means taking extra care with your hair even in daily activities such as swimming, as the hair absorbs water much too quickly. Styling hair with high porosity can be quite a task, making it a bit difficult to be versatile with it. If you happen to find yourself in highly humid weather especially, it’s ideal to find ways of protecting your hair, for example, using anti-humectants such as shea butter and olive oil (readily available in our hair care range). These act as sealants for your cuticles, helping to reduce water retention in the process. Leave-in conditioners are also ideal for highly porous hair, because here’s the trick…although hair with high porosity absorbs moisture really quickly, it also loses the moisture just as quickly, hence the frizz! So, layer away with the hair moisturizer, and keep your hair looking healthy!
SKINCARE TYPES Buying the right products for your skin all begins with knowing and understanding your skin type. Today, we take you through the basic skin types and as well as the routines that work best for them. Skin types could either be hereditary or depend on conditions such as ageing and weather. Our skin normally has its own oils, known as sebum which help to keep the skin protected and nourished. Which skin type are you?
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Normal/Optimum Skin Having this skin type means your skin produces the right levels of sebum, which means your skin is well-balanced, not too oily, not too dry, and doesn’t have many skin issues such as acne. Even in times when your skin becomes dry, it isn’t much cause for worry as normal skin doesn’t require much to be maintained. Skin products that are gentle on the skin are ideal for this skin type, such as lightweight skin moisturizersand cleansers. Water can also be used to constantly keep the skin refreshed.
Oily Skin Oily skin could either be hereditary or due to hormonal changes and comes about when the skin produces excess oil. This can increase the likelihood of getting skin conditions such as acne and spots. Products that are easily absorbed by the skin and have anti-inflammatory properties such as honey, almond oil,and lemon are ideal. It’s also best to wash your face often (gently of course) and have some blotting paper on hand, to help keep oil levels down or your skin from looking excessively shiny. Dry Skin Having dry skin during seasons such as harmattan is quite common, but in cases where your skin is often dry even outside these seasons may mean you have naturally dry skin. Although some people may have dry skin from birth, dry skin could also be as a result of harsh sun rays and other conditions. It’s easy to identify dry skin; it usually appears scaly and dull and feels taut if not attended to. This is a bit different from dehydrated skin which just requires more moisture. Dry skin on the other hand can be revived with oil-rich products such as shea butter and seed oils such as almond oil. Also avoid excessively washing your skin or scrubbing it too hard.
Sensitive skin Sensitive skin often does not respond well to harsh conditions such as excessive sunlight and harsh chemicals and is easily inflamed. This skin type is also prone to conditions like eczema, rashes, allergies etc. Keeping this skin constantly hydrated is very important to help reduce the incidence of skin reactions. You also need to identify which skin products are too harsh for your skin and avoid using them. Combination skin We call this in our own terms the “multi-faceted skin”. This skin type exhibits the characteristics of both oily and dry skin. For example, a greater part of your face may be oily but under your eyes may be dry. Such skin can be taken care of by combining various moisturizers that will work well for the different areas of your skin. For example, you could have some essential oils such as grapeseed oil on hand to keep your face moisturized and nourished whilst also having a lighter cream for more oily parts of your skin to help maintain a balance. Are you now 100% sure of what your skin type is yet? Keeping an eye on the symptoms your skin shows sometimes could help make it easier for you to identify your skin type, so you can treat it just right. Our wide range of products are available to help give your skin the royal treatment it needs…no matter your skin type, we’ve got you! P.S. Keeping your skin healthy should be a priority…don’t forget to also eat right and keep your skin protected, so your skin can always be the best it can be! THE DELSE DIGEST | 7
Have you ever used face mist on face? Especially when you have dry skin , it can be soothing and helps to hydrate and revitalize the skin making it feel smooth, soft and radiant.
DIY CORNER
HOW TO PREPARE FACIAL MIST FOR DRY SKIN
Our main ingredients for our DIY face mist today is Aloe Vera, Lemon, Cucumber and rose water. Whereas Aloe vera is an effective natural remedy for dry skin, Cucumber also has some soothing effects on the skin and lemon acts as a natural exfoliator. Rose water on the other hand contains astringent property, which helps to get rid of extra oil and balances the skin’s pH levels. You will need: (i) Cucumber: 1, fresh (ii) Lemon: 1/2 (iii) Aloe vera gel: 1 teaspoon Method:
By Delse Shop
(i) Peel and slice a cucumber and put it in a blender. Blend it for a couple of minutes and pour its pulp into cheesecloth or a strainer. Squeeze the pulp to extract its juice into a glass bowl. (ii) Mix in well fresh lemon juice from 1/2 lemon, 1 teaspoon of aloe vera gel and 1 tablespoon of rosewater. (iii) Stir well all the ingredients and pour the mixture into a spray bottle. If you feel that the mixture is thick or sticky, you can add a little more rosewater. Store it in refrigerator for up to a week. (iv) Spray this homemade mist on your face. You will instantly get a cool soothing and refreshing feel. (v) You can use this mist up to 3 times a day on regular basis.
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MEET THE WOMEN CHANGING THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY IN GHANA-
VIOLET A. AMOABENG ( SKIN GOURMET)
Violet A. Amoabeng is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Skin Gourmet Limited, a Ghanaian start-up that provides raw, handcrafted skincare that is so pure it can be eaten. Violet founded Skin Gourmet around 5 years ago after recognizing a demand for unadulterated, high-quality body care that was also safe to consume. Violet has learned about Ghana's beauty through Skin Gourmet, and her company's products are entirely handcrafted utilizing traditional Ghanaian procedures that retain the product in its most natural state while boosting its efficacy. Violet has always been a lover of mother earth and is focused on creating a unique line that is sustainable and will push Ghana forward and teach Africans that their culture should be preserved because, as she puts it ” Nature is perfect – its man that is flawed” and our African traditions respect, enhance and preserve and as such we should in turn make the effort to preserve our tradition by adapting our bodies and lifestyles to suit nature instead of the other way around.
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MEET THE WOMEN CHANGING THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY IN GHANAFULERA SEIDU ( NZUA )
Fulera Seidu is from a traditional household in Ghana's Upper East Region, and as a little girl, she would go about her daily activities at home and running errands with a 'hunger' for life. She was continually attempting to determine where she would live and what she would do with her life. She had a deep desire to be a journalist, but she couldn't see how she could make it happen. This era of her life was supposed to prepare her for what was to come, but as a little girl, she had no idea and was preoccupied with her anxieties. She became a mother at a young age and faced numerous challenges. Her family was against her having a child as a young woman who was not married. She couldn't take the ridicule and misery any longer, so she decided to take action for a better life. She packed her belongings and moved to Accra with her daughter to start a new life with little money. Her decision to pursue art and crafts was a watershed moment in her life. She found she had a natural drive to express herself through unique and attractive distinctive items made from natural materials. Her spirit was aroused when she realized her abilities, and she went on to seek out new chances, which she took advantage of. She stopped blaming others for her misfortunes and began to think about what she could do for herself rather than what others could do for her. She constantly reminds herself that the true job of life is to become aware of and awaken to our calling.
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She is dedicated to her work and takes the time to give each piece a professional finish. She creates 100 percent green accessories that match her own individuality and gentle regal nature. Her love of nature has served as an inspiration for her work, which is evident in her designs. Wood, leather, cow horn, and bone, as well as repurposed glass beads, are among the natural materials she employs. She goes throughout West Africa in search of the greatest and most appropriate materials to bring real African patterns and culture to life. She is also a skin and hair care product formulator for the Nzua by Nature brand, where she creates skin and hair care products. She also provides businesses with white labeling services. She hopes to be able to set up a workshop where she can train youths, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds in the community. She hopes to be able to provide them with work so that they can gain independence. While the journey has not been easy, her venture has grown significantly as a result of her hard work, commitment, passion, and perseverance, which she attributes to hard effort, commitment, passion, and a great deal of patience. She hopes to be able to set up a workshop where she can train youths, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds in the community. She hopes to be able to provide them with work so that they can gain independence. While the journey has not been easy, her venture has grown significantly as a result of her hard work, commitment, passion, and perseverance, which she attributes to hard effort, commitment, passion, and a great deal of patience.
MEET THE WOMEN CHANGING THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY IN GHANA-
TUTUWAA AHWOI (NOKWARE)
Tutuwaa is a marketing and operations professional who specializes in building advertising operations technology and processes. With expertise in project management, Salesforce.com administration, QA, and project operations, she has extensive experience in digital strategy, podcast operations, product management, digital and integrated marketing, and advertising operations. Nokware is a natural skincare company that was founded on a family heritage of making products with traditional African herbs and oils. Tutuwa Ahwoi met Thato Tau from Botswana while studying in Paris, and the company was born. Tutuwa showed Thato how to make black soap using pure shea butter. When the two returned to their respective home countries, Thato requested that Tutuwa continue to bring her the things that were not accessible in Southern Africa, and soon Thato's friends began asking for them as well. To meet demand, what began as a group of friends exchanging beauty secrets grew into a company selling natural skincare products in Ghana, Botswana, Europe, and North America.
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In September 2017, Nokware officially launched with a line of African Black Soap. Shea butters, created with materials gathered from local women's cooperatives in West Africa, followed soon after. Tutuwa set out to build a firm based on the concepts of simplicity, sustainability, and self-love from the beginning. Tutuwa's great-grandmother taught Tutuwa how to make Nokware goods utilizing traditional know-how skincare techniques. The company operates on a community commerce model that emphasizes fair pricing, giving back to the communities it serves, and empowering individuals who have not had equal opportunity to earn a living. The company has also launched the Inclusive Beauty Movement in order to promote selflove. A campaign to combat colorism and the underrepresentation of different skin tones in the media and in the beauty industry. Tutuwa wants to transform the way people think about beauty by realizing that it comes in many forms and should be cherished.
MEET THE WOMEN CHANGING THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY IN GHANASHARON AGYAPONG (EYA NATURALS) Sharon Agyapong is the founder of Eya Naturals Limited, a natural-productsfocused cosmetics firm. Eya Naturals, a line of natural hair care products, and Kaydua Luxury, a range of skincare products, are her two biggest brands at the moment. Eya Naturals Limited also operates a few salons and spas across the country. Her move into entrepreneurship was unforeseen and dangerous, but she persevered, and now she has clients like Samira Bawumia, Naa Ashorkor Mensah Doku, Captain Planet, and others. Sharon attended University Primary and JSS in Legon before going on to Akosombo International School to study Economics, Geography, and Mathematics. She was accepted to Mount Holyoke College to pursue a Bachelor of Economics degree after graduating from high school. Sharon worked in the finance field in the United States before leaving to move to Ghana. Sharon worked in telecommunications before moving on to the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods market in Ghana. Her most recent position was as Diageo Ghana's Head of Strategy. She was a member of the management team, and it's possible she was one of the company's top earners. THE DELSE SHOP |13
She started this business from her home and now has two brands with products sold in the United States, Nigeria, Togo, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Zimbabwe, and Japan. She can also ship anyplace on the planet. All of this was achieved via hard effort and brave judgments.
MEET THE WOMEN CHANGING THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY IN GHANA-
ISRAELLA KAFUI MANSU( MGLNATURALS)
Israella Kafui Mansu was born in Ghana's Sogakope on October 26, 1985, and migrated to Liberia with her family when she was small. Unfortunately, the Liberian civil war came out during that time, and the family was forced to return to Ghana. She began her education at Sogasco Primary School in Sogakope, then transferred to Dabala Primary and JHS, and then to St. Francis Demonstration JHS in Hohoe, where she completed her BECE, all as a result of her mother's transfers as a school matron. She was accepted into Anfoega senior high school in the Kpando District to study Home Economics after clearing her examinations, and she completed her tertiary education at the University of Ghana, Legon, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Consumer Science and Psychology. Israella continued to stand out among her classmates while in school. While attending Dabala JHS, she was chosen to represent the school in the yearly STME (Science, Technology, and Mathematics Education) program. She participated in government-sponsored programs aimed at empowering young people, particularly girls, and she represented her school in district tests and competitions. She also competed in an open literature competition for the entire school, where she created a creative narrative and came third, despite the fact that the bulk of the participants were boys and seniors. Since 2009, Israella has built a reputable brand with her company on both the domestic and international market. As an entrepreneur, she does research, develops designs, and markets natural cosmetics. Israella worked hard to find work after completing her national service in 2009, but to no effect. This situation inspired her, and she began her first business using her kitchen as a laboratory, where she created and prepared the first few beauty goods, using only GHS300 in her bank account, which she had saved throughout her National Service.
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Israella, who is a leader in the manufacture of Made in Ghana goods, periodically exports her cosmetics to other African countries, Asia, the United States, and Europe. Her products even go so far as to promote Ghana by flying the Ghanaian flag high in the air. She is dedicated to addressing developmental issues, establishing long-term employment, and mentoring emerging entrepreneurs. Israella Kafui Mansu saw the high rate of unemployment among Ghanaian youngsters and the dearth of vocational skills training as a chance to establish her own business. She found solutions to the developmental difficulties she noticed in her community at the age of 24, while she was unemployed. Israella creates, manufactures, and sells high-quality handcrafted and natural hair and body care products both locally and internationally. She employs and educates underserved rural women and youths, teaching them technical skills such as manufacturing soap, body cream/butter, and hair pomade, as well as packaging, marketing, and other fundamental business skills. In South Africa and Sweden, she got two Ghanaian and two international business honors. Springboard, Legacy, and Legacy, Ghana, honored her as a "Apostle of the New Economy."
FIVE MUST- HAVE BEAUTY PRODUCTS FOR YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE Cleanser: The cleanser sets the tone for your whole skin care routine. It should be gentle, water soluble and able to remove your make up.
Serum: They are one of the most important skin care products. They are used for brightening, repairing and hydrating the skin
Toner: It helps to remove any oil of Make Up residue and prepares your skin to receive whatever treatments you put on next. It’s basically a pre-serum of a pre-moisturizer product
Moisturizer:They are usually the last product used in the last step of your skin care routine and it is also very important. Helps to keep the skin hydrated and it’s loaded with a lot of skin care goodies such as antioxidants and vitamins
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FIVE TIPS TO HELP YOU TURN YOUR STARTUP DREAM INTO REALITY By: WeMompreneurs
If you’re a determined mother entrepreneur with a start up or a company idea that has the potential to grow into a fullfledged enterprise, you could use these tips to turn what often seems like a dream into a reality: 1. CLARIFY YOUR TIME AND FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS To turn your start up dream into reality, it’s critical to first figure out what your priorities are. Begin by asking yourself, “How much time and money am I willing to commit in this project?” Examine your personal finances and compare them to your projected launch costs. Determine where you can cut expenditures if necessary, and be realistic about how much money you can spend on this project. Make a definite 4. TRY OUT SMALL MARKETS BEFORE TRYING TO decision on how much revenue the company needs to EXPAND generate and develop a plan to get there. You can read more at Entrepreneur.com To turn your start up dream into reality you need to
start small by building a small and manageable
2. IDENTIFY NETWORKING POTENTIAL ALL AROUND YOU foundation . This will allow you to fine-tune and improve TO HELP PUSH YOUR START UP DREAM your craft, monitor your business strategy, and create brand awareness with clients. Once you’re established in Every mother needs a support group in her entrepreneurship your local market and among your peers in the industry and motherhood journey. You may not have enough time in you can better position yourself to progressively expand your schedule to attend a networking event, but you could into a larger market or go glocal. schedule and link up with other mothers or professionals through virtual seminars and zoom sessions from the comfort of your own home. Capitalize on the connections that 5. DO NOT WAIT FOR THE “PERFECT TIME” TO already exists and also reach out to specialists or other mom LAUNCH YOUR START UP DREAM entrepreneurs who can help you fill in the gaps in areas of company where you are less experienced (think accounting, The “right” time to start a business will never come if IT, etc.). you expect all of your life’s moving components to
organize and align themselves precisely.
3. RESEARCH TO SEE IF THERE’S A NICHE FOR YOUR Juggling motherhood and business can be chaotic and STARTUP DREAM confusing and you may sometimes want to postpone of your dreams which is fine if you are not able to You may have thought of a great idea but you need to find most it there and then. But once you have the out if really there is a need for that product or service. pursue opportunity don’t wait to be perfect. Before you take a decision on whether or not to go with an idea, do some research to find out if people will be interested You should learn from our mistakes, and don’t see in using that product or service and talk to people in your yourself as a failure. Perfectionism can stifle your ability network to see if it’s something they would want to buy. This to grow, extend, and flourish as a business. Allow yourself can help you narrow down your ideal customer and target to be under qualified, and don’t be scared to take the market. If your study generates enough potential interest in initial step. After all, your concept could lead to a onceyour business idea to keep it alive, you might find it’s one in-a-lifetime chance. worth pursuing.
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4 ANTI-AGING TIPS FOR SKINCARE
Do you want your skin to stay young and healthy, then these essential tips will help you get started on following the best skin care routine to achieve your youthful skin. 1. Always wash with a gentle cleanser It is important to cleanse as it helps to remove skin care product and especially makeup that was applied during the day. Cleansing also helps your skin care products to enter your skin very well and work more effectively! 2. Use an exfoliant As you age, dead skin cells aren’t replaced by fresh cells as quickly, which means your skin starts to look dull and uneven, and may even crack. To get the dead cells off your skin Exfoliants are a always a great choice. THE DELSE SHOP |18
3. Always moisturize your skin Aging comes with less sebum which comes with it’s advantages as it means less chance of acne. But this also means the skin beginning to dry out more easily. Moisturizing is always good and easy to fix inadequate skin hydration. Remember to choose a moisturizer that works for your skin 4. Always apply sunscreen Sun protection is one surefire way to keep your skin looking as young as possible. The sun is responsible for so much of your skin’s visible signs of aging.
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BEST FOODS FOR HEALTHY SKIN A lot of research has been done on healthy foods that can support skin care and so far, antioxidantrich foods continue to have a protective effect for the skin. You can consider these skin-friendly food on your Skin care journey: Tomatoes Carrots Oranges Spinach and other green leafy vegetables Berries Salmon, mackerel and other fatty fish Beans, peas and lentils Nuts Try as much as possible to minimize the intake of processed or refined sugars or other carbohydrates and unhealthy fats as these promotes skin aging. Don’t forget that taking in healthy foods also promotes your overall well-being in general aside giving you. Healthy and glowing skin. Take in a lot of fruits and vegetables. Always go for low-fat or fat-free dairy products. Include nuts, seeds and beans in your favorite meals and always choose whole-grain breads and pasta. Limit sweets. Don’t hold back on looking for variety as you continue to make healthy choices on your skin care journey .
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Trendy Natural Hair Styles By : LOLA
