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- Leshme de Bruyn turned to natural remedies after dyeing her hair, which in turn damaged her roots.
- Now, the single mom creates her own haircare products at home.
- She has plans to develop more products and expand her business in the future.
Leshme de Bruyn from Leonsdale in Cape Town turned a bad hair day into a growing haircare business.
In 2021, the 33-year-old single mother started making her own haircare products after a terrible experience dyeing her hair blonde when instead, her locks turned purple and grey.
"My hair started to fall out. It was so thin, you could see my scalp," she said.
De Bruyn made a concoction using different ingredients to prevent further hair damage. After using the homemade serum for four weeks, her hair looked and felt healthier. This was her "ah-ha!" moment.
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"I thought to myself, why don't I create my products and see what the response is from my family and friends," she said.
The former admin clerk started creating products in bulk after receiving positive feedback, and that is how "Miss L – Embrace My Roots" was born.
Since then, De Bruyn has developed several products to add to her line.
The range includes a shampoo, conditioner, hair serum, hair growth oil, beard oil and a beard wash.
"I make the hair growth oils and hair treatments in my kitchen. The treatment consists of coconut oil and other essential oils that need to be heated before being cooled and bottled," she explained.
De Bruyn controls the entire production line, from cooking up the ingredients, bottling the products and adding the label design.
Her mother tried to assist her by sticking the labels onto the bottles, but it was not to her standard, and she quickly took over.
The passionate entrepreneur sells her products as combos and has received support from across the country.
"I have people from towns close by like Bredasdorp and Tulbagh. I even received orders from areas in Johannesburg and my first order from Namibia," she said excitedly.
Most of her clients are neighbours in the community of Leonsdale in Elsies River. The residents have supported her small business and encouraged her to keep going.
"I received messages from people in the area that have told me that they look up to me because of what I am doing," De Bruyn said.
She is proud to be doing something good in the area, which is ravaged by crime and gangsterism and hopes to expand her business soon and employ residents to assist her.
