Entrepreneur found a solution to hair loss
Seeing people struggling with hair loss inspired Trichologist Dr Leticia Mupawose to start Feso Africa, a business that manufactures hair loss products. By: Phindiwe Maka
Hair loss in women can be caused by years of styling, braiding and relaxing and for men it can be because of hormonal changes, medical conditions, or a normal part of aging. “When I was a hairdresser, I noticed that people were struggling with hair loss, and I was inspired to help them by learning more about the causes and treatment of hair loss,” said Dr Leticia Mupawose the Founder and Director of Feso Africa. She saw a gap in the market to address the hair loss that affects hundreds of people across the world.
Hair loss can be psychologically devastating and can negatively affect a person’s quality of life and self-esteem. Dr Mupawose turned to science to find a solution to hair loss. She decided to study trichology, which is a sub-specialist arm of dermatology that studies diseases or problems related to the hair and scalp, as well as their treatments. Through her studies, she was able to understand the complexities of hair loss and find a solution.
After two years of research, she came up with a product that combats hair loss. Today her business, Feso Africa manufactures hair loss products and has a hair loss clinic. Her hair renewal products stimulate dormant hair follicles back to life, helps restore scalp tissue damaged by chemicals and traction alopecia. “All my products are made from natural African ingredients, and I have a clinic with hair experts that do consultations,” said Dr Mupawose.
Increase demand for products made with natural ingredients
Over the past years, consumer preferences have shifted towards organic products. According to the South Africa Hair Care Market Forecast Report (2022 – 2027) by Mordor Intelligence, this will be a continuous market shift. In the report, they stated, “more consumers are now looking for clean brands that use natural and organic ingredients.”
Dr Mupawose hadn’t anticipated the market shift when she started her business. Fast forward to 10 years later, Feso Africa is now a global brand available in eight African countries, Australia, the UK and the USA.
Her product range now includes hair maintenance products. “After I had grown my client’s hair, they would ask for hair products to help them keep their hair healthy and this inspired me to create hair maintenance products, “said Dr Mupawose.
Feso Africa is no longer only a hair clinic with hair loss treatment products but now the business also does anti-ageing facial creams, which helps with hyperpigmentation. Dr Mupawose’s passion for helping people inspired her to become an entrepreneur that is helping to address problems faced by thousands of people across the world.
Entrepreneurs like Dr Mupawose are not only creating jobs and boosting the economy but are also positively impacting society’s emotional, physical, and mental wellbeing.