Sherl Daniels’ natural hair care regimen

AT FIRST, it was just about providing the best hair care for herself. It was about ensuring the right ingredients were used for the best results. Thirty-year-old Sherl Daniels wanted to go natural. She was well aware of the cost associated with elaborate salon hairstyles, the weaves and alleged miracle-working ‘big name’ hair care products; but she was even more aware of the price to be paid from the fatigue and the use of chemicals on her natural hair.
She told the Pepperpot Magazine that she recognised that it was not her alone who wanted to go natural. That many women, especially those like herself, with a more complex hair texture, were finding it very difficult to locate products that catered to their ‘woolly’ hair type. She said those hair types could be difficult to manage and without the right products, the task was even more difficult.

It was fate, however, that sometime in 2009, she crossed paths with two young ladies from different cultures and backgrounds who gave her some insight into proper hair management. She said it was while vacationing in Suriname that she met a “bush negro” girl (as they are called there) through a friend. “This [extremely dark],” she explained. “But her hair was long to her butt, and it was so thick.”

Astonished and intrigued by the length and body of the young lady’s kinky locks, Daniels said she inquired of the girl what her secret was, and through a translator was told some of the products used by her tribe. On another occasion, Daniels said she met a mixed woman, who looked Indigenous but wore a full head of thick, long woolly hair. Armed with the information received from the “bush negro girl”, her mixed friend and natural remedies known to Guyanese, Daniels said she started using some of the products in her hair.

“I was using all these expensive products and my hair looked nice, but it wasn’t growing. I combined those local products and those other things I learned along the way, and my hair started growing. So I decided to go fully natural because the product was actually working for my hair.”

NEW DIRECTION
Daniels said she had been using her own products since 2009, but started producing on a commercial scale in 2015 when she finally decided that enough persons were asking for her product, which also had great potential for growth. “I finally decided, hey… this could be a business. So I started producing the mega growth and the hair oil first.”
Currently, ‘Sherl’s Cosmetics’, the brand, produces hair oils; mega growth hair vaseline; conditioners and shampoos. Her new line will include body washes, bath soaps, toothpaste and other natural –based hygiene care products. They include ingredients like tonka nut; local ‘owara’ oil and fat; lots of Vitamin E for healthy skin, hair and nail growth; peppermint oil that leaves a fresh tingling feeling and smell when applied; ‘cookrit’ oil; coconut and castor oil among other familiar and unfamiliar, but natural ingredients.

The mega growth comes in three sizes; small to large from $600 to $2000. The oils are from $600 to $1200 small and large bottles, while the 250ml shampoo and conditioners are $1000 each. These items come with a packet of 12 Vitamin E capsules to be consumed.

GROWING CUSTOMER BASE
Because Daniels is a nurse, she understands the need to not only care for the hair but to care for the body to allow for shine, beauty and growth. “We have to remember that if we are not eating well, or just not caring for ourselves, then we will have ugly looking nails, hair, and so on,” she said. Daniels offers a complete care package with excellent after service. She provides information on how to use her products, treat; steam and manage the hair. She said her business has over 100 customers and continues to grow. She said every week she receives new customers; expressing surprise at how the product is getting around through word of mouth and good reviews by those using it.
Daniels told the Pepperpot Magazine that should she put 100 percent of her effort behind her business, she believes it could become a “multi-million, even a multi-billion dollar enterprise.” She said her nursing career takes up much of her time, but it is something she loves as well as producing hair products and receiving praises for her effort and amazing creation.

EXPANSION
She said she would nonetheless like to grow her business. She envisions mass production in her own production facility, with large shipments of her goods reaching women of varying hair textures around the world. She said that because her products are natural it works for any hair texture, skin tone and handles just about any problem. “Whether its dandruff, dried out hair, growth issues, you name it, the products work,” she said. She stressed that hair care is a process that would require patience and dedication, something many persons eventually fall short on.

She said she is especially excited about Guyana finding oil and the prospects of that since she expects energy and other costs to reduce, to help with growth and higher profits.

Sherl’s Cosmetics is located at 460 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown. She is currently offering a special package for the upcoming Mother’s Day. She can be contacted on 668-2085, 625- 1128.