The story of Ikala Ngita

The turning point with my daughter

Then there was my daughter; one day, she came home from school after being called a “sheep” because of her hair.

That phrase stayed with me; I wanted her to grow up proud of her hair, without thinking she had to change it for it to be beautiful.

It was also at that moment that the idea behind Ikala Ngita started to make more sense to me: creating something that speaks of care, of course, but also of pride and the acceptance of one’s natural hair.

That is where the phrase that now accompanies the brand comes from:

“Be proud of your hair, be Ikala Ngita.”

 

An idea that took time to become reality

Alongside this desire, there was my professional and family life.

I was working, I had my children, my responsibilities, and the daily grind that came with them. The idea was there, but truly taking action was something else.

Then I went through a period of burnout.

As difficult as it was, this period forced me to reflect on what I really wanted to do. It ultimately became one of the factors that pushed me to stop pushing this idea aside and to start building Ikala Ngita.

Little by little, what was just a desire became a real project.

The treatments I wish I had found for my own hair

When I started working on Ikala Ngita treatments, I went back to what I had been looking for from the start.

I didn’t want to choose between dry hair and formulas so rich that they weigh it down.

I wanted to find the right balance between hydration and nutrition.

Treatments that allow you to cleanse your hair gently, hydrate it, nourish it, and give it suppleness, all while respecting its nature.

This idea is what guides the Ikala Ngita range today.

How to style your hair comes after and belongs to everyone. Some people like to define their hair more, while others prefer its volume and natural movement.

For me, the essential starts with taking care of your hair.

 

Scents that take me back to Madagascar

Madagascar is naturally present in Ikala Ngita.

It is found in the name of the brand, in the names given to the treatments, but also in certain scents I chose.

Ylang-ylang and ravintsara are scents that remind me of my youth and which I often encountered in Madagascar.

Ylang-ylang reminds me in particular of the scented coconut oil used for hair.

Ravintsara takes me back to other daily memories, like those steam inhalations we used to do at home.

And then there is tiare; it is not the flower I directly associate with Madagascar—I think more of frangipani—but its scent evokes sun, the beach, warmth, and the islands for me.

I did not try to replicate traditional Malagasy recipes. I simply wanted to bring into Ikala Ngita scents, sensations, and memories that are part of my story.

 

A deliberately understated identity

With these inspirations, I could have created a very colorful brand, filled with flowers and tropical references.

I deliberately chose another direction.

Because that simply isn't what I wanted for Ikala Ngita.

I also like sobriety, things that are simple and elegant. That is why I chose white bottles, beige and green tones, and a few golden touches.

My origins are present in Ikala Ngita, but I didn't want to reduce them to clichés of exoticism.

I wanted the brand’s visual identity to resemble me as much as its story does.

 

Ikala Ngita, much more than a hair routine

Today, Ikala Ngita brings together several pieces of my story: Madagascar, my memories, my own hair, my daughter, my journey, and this desire to create the treatments I wish I had found myself.

I also wanted this adventure to be able to have an impact beyond the brand.

That is why, for every treatment sold, €0.50 contributes to the funding of upcycled school bags, made in Madagascar by local seamstresses and given to children in precarious situations.

A way, at my own scale, to support both children's education and the know-how of Malagasy women.

Because a small bag can hold a big dream.