The cornerstone of cultivating beautiful, healthy natural hair is maintaining it with products that nourish and facilitate growth. The more organic the better. But if you live in an area that does not cater to natural hair care, getting your hands on supplies that fit the bill may prove to be a task of epic monetary proportions. Although products like Carol’s Daughter, Miss Jessies and Oyin are readily available for Columbus naturals via Macys, the Internet and very soon Target, there’s much to be said about products that are made and available here on home soil.
Like many local natural hair wearers, Camille McCleskey started her journey using the standard commercial products we’ve all come to know and love. But for her there was something missing.
“[I found] I was more focused on styling aids to style my hair rather than taking care of it.” McCleskey reveals. “At the time my main focus was based on what the product claimed it could do instead of paying close attention to the ingredient list, which usually consisted [primarily] of chemicals.”
It was this discovery that led Camille on the ten year research expedition that eventually culminated in the creation of Yonnea’s Natural Beauty products. Through Yonnea, a name which means organic beauty, Camille first used her knowledge of natural ingredient blending and love for organic herbs and oils to create what would become her natural hair inventions. She began her “career” small by creating lip balms in her mother’s kitchen as a teen then graduated to creating oils, giving her creations away as holiday gifts. It wasn’t long before the demand for her products began exceeding supply and Camille decided to turn her endeavors into her profession.
“After the holidays were over people would call and ask if I could make some more for them or for their friends so I had to start charging. I already had a business making accessories so it wasn't hard to figure out that I needed to turn my hobby into a business.”
One visit to the Yonnea’s Natural Beauty Website and seeing the results of Camille’s personal use of her products is enough testament that the demand was well deserved.
Created exclusively in Columbus, Yonnea’s product selection is a cornucopia of combinations made of essential oils, herbs and butters that are carefully selected and united with specific hair and scalp conditions in mind. Using only certified organic ingredients from a fair trade manufacturer located in Eugene, Oregon, Camille, who has been natural herself since 2007, provides solutions that are made to order, utilizing only naturally occurring preservatives to ensure freshness.
“My personal philosophy is to use what natural ingredients God has given us and put them to work for the benefit of our mental and physical being" Camille explains. "I strive to keep it as naturally possible as it can get, unadulterated and close to my roots.”
And the reaction to McCleskey’s labor of love has been overwhelming. Her personal favourite product, her Growth Prerequisite System Oil – created as a solution to thinning, breaking hair and frizziness – sells out quickly, and her Honey Hibiscus Leave N Condish is often ordered by the gallon. In addition to these two products, Yonnea’s Natural Beauty offers Organic Hair Oil that’s composed of grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, rosemary, sage and other natural additives, Whipped Pecan Hair and Body Butter which brings together shea butter, cocoa butter and various essential oils, as well as body products that work to promote wellness throughout the body. Camille has future plans to expand Yonnea’s offerings in the near future.
“I am working on lotions and creams. I love facial products so I am working on facial masks and treatments. I am also looking to add ayurvedic herbal treatments for hair and body.”
Yonnea’s Natural Beauty products include hair accessories and jewelry as well as the hair and body care lines, and can be ordered online via the company’s Website at www.yonnea.com. Questions for Camille can be sent to her by Email at info@yonnea.com. Feedback can also be left on the contact page of the company’s Website.
Comments
Great read. I'll have to give some of these products a whirl.
you go Yonnea!!!!!!!! Congrats!!!!
keep doing what you're doing.
I really enjoyed the read. I can see why the name Yonnea was selected. I think that your products are at another level than any that I have experienced before. I wish Yonnea the best of luck!!!!!!
Wow, never heard of Yonnea, but now I'm going to check it out. Thanks for sharing your local find.
Nice! Go Camille. I'm happy and proud of you.
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