A research conducted by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Midnight Roots, Ackeem Henry, has shown that there is a fascinating relationship between beauty and a healthy scalp for strong, natural hair in black women on the African continent and the diaspora.
However, black women expose themselves to several dangers by failing to understand the effects of chemical-based products on the human scalp.
Mr Ackeem, a big advocate of all natural and organic, chemical-free cosmetics for the African woman, found out, through his research, that there was quite a common trend in coconut especially in his locality, which led to the stocking of more coconut products such as coconut oil by nearby shops.
This intrigued him and he took an interest to investigate and read up on the properties of coconut and the benefits of its usage. After gaining valuable scientific insight from his research, he began looking into other substances such as essential oil and organic root extracts.
The conclusion of the research brought him towards the formulation of varieties of H.G.E formula, a cosmetic product mostly for hair food and scalp massage ointment produced by Midnight roots.
Selecting the best suppliers for the cosmetic material was challenging, he says, therefore he had to expand his global contact outreach for the best ethical sourced ingredients and supplies.
The research, according to him, also revealed that a lot of black women, due to the cultural habits of lifestyle, often exert traction forces on the hair. This led to a conclusion that a clinical and therapeutic hair growth and enhancement formula which is sustainably sourced using plants-based ingredients was badly needed on the market.
Scalp massage ointment.
This led to the formulation and production of H.G.E scalp massage ointment, an all-natural sourced hair food product that is aimed at nurturing and protecting the scalp and in turn promote a healthy head of hair. The scalp massage is currently the world’s only uniquely balanced natural and organic cold-pressed ointment which has so far solved many hair problems and has also gained much admiration and major collaborations from cosmetic companies.
He has advised that the most important thing to consider when choosing a product suitable for the scalp is first knowing your hair type and looking for a natural product that nourishes the hair and scalp that won’t strip your scalp of its natural oil but will in turn restore balance to your hair.
Mr Ackeem added that there are many ways to keep the scalp healthy and that since the black hair is diverse, the scalp is more than just the place where hair follicles lie. He noted that it is also the foundation from which one’s hair grows.
The best way to go, according to him, is by eating right, massaging your scalp to stimulate hair follicles, paying attention to ingredients in the products used in one’s hair care regimen and keeping protective styles for a longer period of time which can weigh down hair follicles.
Mr Ackeem disclosed this in one-on-one conversation with the Daily Statesman.
Below is the transcript of the full conversation
Question (Q): How did the journey begin for you
Answer (A): In early 2018, we found that there was quite a common trend in coconut. Shops everywhere were beginning to stock a lot more coconut products, such as coconut oil. I was intrigued and began to take an interest, reading up on the properties of coconut and the benefits of its usage.
After gaining valuable scientific insight from his research, I began looking into other substances such as essential oils and organic root extracts, such as Ylang-Ylang and the Damask Rose plant, not knowing I was getting closer to formulating our signature H.G.E formula.
By far, the journey has been a pleasant ride since the launch of our world class cosmetic products into the market and this has greatly impacted on the growth of our company by making our consumers aware of our brand and also helped a lot of black women in their customer purchasing decisions because we provide insight and awareness as to what to look out for when it comes to taking care of their roots which is the Scalp.
Q: How long did it take you to complete the research and develop the formula?
A: One year to research and formulate our signature H.G.E Scalp Ointment Formula. Five years to launch the Midnight Roots brand.
Q: How challenging was the process of research and how did you overcome it?
A: Selecting the best suppliers for our cosmetic materials. I had to expand my contact reach globally, for the best ethically sourced ingredients and supplies.
Q: Share with us what you found from the research, especially how these formula affect hair growth.
A: From our research, we found that a lot of black women due to the cultural habits of hairstyles often exert traction forces on the hair which makes the hair prone to damage and in turn affect the scalp from where the hair grows from and that is a major complaint amongst black women.
So our team at Midnight Roots came to a conclusion that a Clinical and Therapeutic Hair Growth Enhancement formula which is sustainably sourced using plant based ingredients will nurture and protect the scalp and in turn promote a healthy head of hair.
- Q. What makes your formula unique and different from the others.
A: Our signature H.G.E Scalp Massage Ointment is the world’s only uniquely balanced natural and organic cold-pressed ointment and we still maintain that and this has garnered a lot of admiration and major collaboration from cosmetic companies and NGOs wanting to partner with us.
Q: How has feedback on your formula been and which demographics would most benefit from the formula?
A: The feedback has been positive considering the fact that our H.G.E formula is sustainably sourced using plant-based ingredients. And based on users feedback we are able to see a gap in hair loss pattern the Black woman experiences and we will be launching a new product in our range of our H.G.E formula aimed at the African woman who suffer from stress related hair loss, scalp baldness such as Alopecia. The Black woman in search of a cosmetic experience that cultivates and nurtures their understanding of scalp care and kinky afro hair growth would most definitely benefit from this world class formula.
Q: What should people look out for when choosing a scalp product?
A: First thing you need to know, not all products is the solution to your scalp care needs.
The most important thing you need to consider when choosing a product suitable for your scalp is knowing your hair type and looking into natural products that nourishes your hair and scalp that won’t strip your scalp of its natural oil which will in turn restore balance to your hair.
Q: Having found knowledge through research, share some tips for keeping a healthy scalp.
A: There are many ways to keep the scalp healthy. As we all know, black hair is diverse, the scalp is more than just the place where your hair follicles lie, it’s also the foundation from which your hair grows but these factors cannot be overemphasized
- Eating right.
- Massaging your scalp to stimulate hair follicles.
- Paying attention to ingredients in the products used in your hair care regimen.
- Keeping protective styles for a longer period of time which can weigh down hair follicles and makes one at risk of Traction Alopecia which is a common form of hair loss among Black women.
