Hananhana Beauty Got That Sauce For Changing How We Experience And Appreciate Shea Butter
Hanahana Beauty founder Abena Boamah, like most Ghanian’s, have that SAUCE! Not only is her melanin flawless and she has a 100% natural shea butter brand – but she’s an authentic bridge for collaboration, conversation and connection!
Photo by David O'Cansey
Based in Chicago, Hanahana’s inception was built on the foundation of ingredient curiosity. Every black girl’s beauty supply staple – Palmers cocobutter lotion- is conjured up with chemicals that do the opposite of give you healthy skin. But it was Palmers that ignited a healthy skin journey for Abena. It wasn’t long before creating kitchen recipes (inspired by Instagram sheros like Nikisha Brunson) turned into a small business.
Launched in MARCH, Abena's brand is about quality ingredients that instill confidence. She creates shea butter with herself and black women in mind. For shea butter anyone can use the product, but its more so about people and understanding what’s on your body and honing in from an ancestral point of view.
“Anyone can use it but it was made for black women”
School teacher turned shea butter queen makes sure that all of her shea comes straight from Ghana, Tamale (the Northern region of Ghana) to be exact. She specifically works with the Katariga Women’s Group, who hand make all of her products with love and intention.
Her 3 small batch products are shea butter, shea exfoliating bar and shea balm. With rich ingredients such as coco butter, grapeseed oil, almond oil and avacodo oil, her products are meant to leave the skin feeling nourished an hydrated.
Photo by MelaninASS
“I’m not a doctor or dermatologist but the oils are great for your skin and that’s why people see results for healing exzema – your skin should feel hydrated”
Now let me tell you why Abena really has that sauce …
It’s not enough to just be a culturally rich shea butter brand that makes shea balm that has honey and cocoa in it! And it’s not nearly enough to have an amazing exfoliate bar where you make your own exfoliate by grinding rice, almonds and clove! This crusader is on a mission to really connect! She is wants to push beauty standards in the direction of self care and wellness. Furthermore, her passion lies in story telling.
“I love being a shea butter brand but my passion is hearing people’s stories; connection and education”
Learning about the real process of shea and how raw materials are intertwined with culture is everything. Understanding that every aspect of Hanahana Beauty is extracted from the culture is imperative. Everyone who uses shea butter needs to know about the hands who who make it and be able to appreciate that side of luxury. She stands by these stands and travels to Ghana frequently to work and learn alongside the artisans she partners with.
Issa Process that women of color should be proud of!
The more we connect with one another and learn each others stories, the more we have a global perspective that doesn't have America at the core.
“A lot of natural skin care has been white washed and overpriced through exploitation– but this is OUR stuff! These are things we’ve been using for centuries. These resources come from us – so it’s quite important for us to know about it and learn about it.”
Eric Michael Ward
SO LET ME TELL YOU HOW SAUCY ABENA REALLY IS THO …
Abena is spearheading a traveling exhibition called “THE WOMEN BEHIND SHEA BUTTER”. And just like the title suggests – this exhibition will curate a space for stories about women behind the production of shea. The exhibition will be in Accra, Chicago, Brooklyn, Oakland and Columbus.
Check out her INDIEGOGO and support!
By contributing to this project, you will help shed light on the women behind the production of shea butter and their method. Your support is a direct contribution to the radical transformation of how we engage with branding and cultural products.
Abena is on a mission to continue create stories where we can show black women as confident change agents. This is not just a skincare brand ... It’s an educational outlet, an inspirational movement to provoke change.
"If I’m going to make money – someone in Ghana is going to make money too!" - Abena Boamah