Why do our products have Malagasy names?

At Ikala Ngita, every name has been carefully chosen to maintain a connection to my origins, my culture, and the product's identity.

I lived in Madagascar until 2009 before moving to France. Giving my products Malagasy names was a natural way to stay connected to my roots and to share a piece of Madagascar through every creation.

In creating Ikala Ngita, I didn't just want to offer hair care. I also wanted to build a world that reflects who I am, inspired by my story, my roots, and everything that textured hair represents to me.

Coily, curly, and textured hair have long been misunderstood, and sometimes even unloved. Through Ikala Ngita, I wanted to remind everyone that this hair deserves to be worn with pride, gentleness, and authenticity.

The choice of product names therefore came naturally. Each name has a meaning in Malagasy and remains linked to the product's function.

• DIO comes from the Malagasy word “madio,” which means “clean.” A name chosen for our shampoo, designed to cleanse the hair gently.

• OLY is inspired by “olioly,” which means “curly.” A leave-in designed to accompany textured hair on a daily basis, whether it is coily, curly, or wavy.

The first treatments released, DIO and OLY, are also a way to pay tribute to Madagascar through their scents. I wanted to include notes like Ravintsara, ylang-ylang, or tiare—fragrances that remind me of a part of my country and my history.

But I also wanted to keep the scents pleasant and easy to wear every day. That is why some products, like OLY Candy Apple (available very soon), add a sweeter, more gourmet touch to the range.

The idea behind Ikala Ngita is to create treatments that can be integrated into a complete routine, with olfactory worlds that remain harmonious and pleasant to use together.

Future treatments will always maintain this Ikala Ngita identity while offering different vibes and inspirations.

Among the future products planned for the range:

• TANJAKA, our future hair mask, whose name means “strength” in Malagasy.

• ARO, our future protective serum, which means “protection.”

• ANDO, our future hair jelly, which means “morning dew.”

Through these names, I wanted to keep a part of Madagascar alive in every product, while creating a sincere, simple brand that is close to the people who use my care products.

Because beyond hair, Ikala Ngita is also about self-confidence, identity, and pride.

 Be proud of your hair, be Ikala Ngita.