WHEN Falana Fraser established Favour’s Hair Therapy, it was out of love due to her son’s hair condition. Today, it has become a thriving small business empowering her to realise her true potential with her own haircare and beard products.

The products include hair oil, hair pomade, beard oil, beard wash and conditioner, edge balm, shampoo and conditioner, hair mist, beard and hair tools.

According to her self-named business, Favour’s Hair Therapy, “promote(s) healthy and strong growth for all hair types”. It is a small business that started in the kitchen, and it had a trial period before the products were launched.

Fraser is originally from Uitvlugt but resides at Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara. She is married and has a three-year-old son.

She explained that after the birth of her child, she noticed that he had issues with hair growth, and parts of his head were very patchy with no hair, and she wanted to change that.

Fraser led herself into detailed research, and after gaining knowledge, she experimented with some ingredients and made a hair oil from aloe, coconut oil and onion.

She began massaging the home-made oil into her son’s hair/scalp, and within a short time, she noticed a difference: his bald spots were replaced with new hair growth, and soon he had a full head of hair which could be held in a ponytail.

The transformation of her son’s once-patchy hair was replaced by full hair growth within three to four months, and today, his hair remains healthy and full.

Fraser told the Pepperpot Magazine that the positive results in her child’s hair process motivated her to make more of the plant-based hair oil and she began sharing it among family members.

The demand was great within her family tree, and one day, her father encouraged her to utilise her newfound skill to establish a small business to bring in an income to her home.

As such, in 2022, she launched her products in which the hair oil infused with rosemary oil became the best seller. She branded her products and went about to become a registered business.

Fraser’s hair oil was then vetted as safe for use by the relevant authorities, certified and has its own label and packaging to market the products. She explained that the name “Favour” is a powerful Bible name which suited her small business.

The entrepreneur related that her products are all plant-based and give a therapeutic feeling when used and everything from plants is used in the production of the products, including essential oils.

Fraser added that as a small business, she operates from the confines of her home but has pick-up locations in the city and on the West Coast Demerara.

As a small business owner, Fraser says of all her products, three have been FDA-approved and she is working to get all certified but is registered with Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), GCCI and, GSMA and the Small Business Bureau.

She related that being registered with the authorities is an avenue for networking and marketing the products, and it is beneficial to have all your products certified, labelled, and well-packaged.

The mother of one stated that she is constantly inspired by customers and their reviews and testimonials of the products, and being a small business isn’t ‘all bed of roses’. It requires hard work, dedication, consistency and money to stay afloat.

She added that her vision is to produce top-quality, effective products and she would like to become number one in haircare and beard oils.

“For the very first time, this year, I had a booth at the Emancipation Day celebrations in the National Park and I was pleased with the response I attracted through my products, which I am using as a motivating factor to keep going,” she said.

She reported that scores of people were genuinely interested in the products and even encouraged her to produce more. She was also complimented on her attractive packaging.

Fraser stated that although all the manufacturing takes place at her home, she would someday like to have a separate facility for that purpose, along with a store to sell and display her products.

“I advertise my small business via social media, that is, Facebook and Tik Tok, and I often have to produce daily content to promote my products and I can say I have a few loyal customers. I supply a few salons, spas and barber shops, the Guyana Shop and Coss Cutter Supermarket with my products in which sales have been fair,” she said.

Fraser is the holder of a degree in Public Management from the University of Guyana and is certified in law from London University.

Being self-employed is quite empowering and she feels that there is no restraint in becoming successful in business through networking, marketing and consistency.

Fraser always represents her brand, Favour’s Hair Therapy, with her custom-made shirts and other products, which she proudly wears and display.