Anne Cheatham and Christine Martey-Ochola, owners of Coatesville-based Nuele Hair, combined their scientific backgrounds to create non-toxic, sustainable products that are 100 percent natural, writes Shaunice Ajiwe for Philadelphia magazine. 

“Ultra-clean hair products,” said Martey-Ochola. “They’re paraben-free, sulfate-free, alcohol-free, and fragrance-free.” 

The beauty line was launched in 2020. Since then, the business has won several awards for its treatment that leaves even the most brittle locks soft.  

Among these awards are the Refinery29 Innovator Award and a Harper’s Bazaar Hair Award. 

The owners, both of whom hail from Africa, met at West Chester SDA Church and soon became friends. When Martey-Ochola created a product specifically for the needs that Cheatham was looking for, they became business partners. 

“Being a Black-woman-owned business, we noticed a big gap in 100-percent-organic, natural hair-care products designed for all hair types,” said Cheatham. 

Their business is also focused on sustainability and supporting the communities they engage with. 

“We value working with local female farmers in Ghana and Morocco,” said Martey-Ochola. “Having grown up in communities, where we saw such amazing robustness with natural products, that drives us. To be able to say that because of the work we’re doing, there are communities that are benefiting.”

Read more about Nuele Hair in Philadelphia magazine.