celebrate international women's day & women's history month with
the khoi business directory
Each week, we highlight new founders and business categories from our growing community. This directory was created to help you discover brands worth supporting and celebrating. When you’re looking for something new, we hope you’ll start here and share these businesses with your community. We’re incredibly grateful to the founders who have trusted us with their stories and proud to feature their work.
KHOI BUSINESS DIRECTORY
THE WOMEN BUILDING BEAUTY EMPIRES
Beauty has always been powered by women, but some of the most inspiring stories come from the ones building their own brands from the ground up. Across the industry, women are turning creativity, passion, and lived experience into businesses that shape how we see beauty today. From handcrafted products to thoughtfully curated collections, these founders are creating spaces where individuality, culture, and self-expression are celebrated. Their work is more than makeup or skincare. It is community, representation, and the courage to build something of your own. In this feature, we’re spotlighting women in beauty who are redefining what it means to lead, create, and make their mark in an industry they continue to transform.
U.S. & CANADA
florence afoutou sanjoh @divine_hair__braiding
divine hair braiding
Favorite KHOI Product: BEKO Earring
Located in Houston - I specialize in all braiding , twisting and crocheting hairstyles. I braid all textures , lengths and ages . More than braids , it’s my heritage and a God given talent! I have over 30 years of experience and strongly believe that Everyone should wear their crown with pride and confidence.
Book your appointment by calling 832-496-8474.
gislaine douandja @hairbraidingstudio
hair braiding studio
Favorite KHOI Product: ONYX EARRING
Hair Braiding Studio aims to provide quality African hair braiding to the Chicagoland community of women and at times from all walks of life. We have two locations on the west and south sides of Chicago. We are open 7 days per week.
ibunkun adewale @theeleveessentials
eleve essentials
Favorite KHOI Product: ANKA TOTE
Eleve Essentials grew out of a personal need to make better choices at home. I wanted products that were gentle on sensitive skin and made with ingredients I understood. When a coconut milk soap I made for my family finally worked, I kept going.
I trained in soap and cream making in England to understand how to build formulas that are effective, gentle and well considered. At the same time, I leaned on what I had grown up with. Coconut oil and shea butter in my grandma’s care. The discipline of making things properly from watching my father’s manufacturing work.
Today, Eleve Essentials operates from Calgary, Canada creating coconut milk soaps, bath salts, botanical body oils, whipped body soufflés, and thoughtful gift sets for women who do a lot and still need care that fits into everyday life.
Shop online at www.theeleveessentials.com
ijé simon @shoprouzie
rouzie
Favorite KHOI Product: NELI EARRING
Rouzié is a West African-inspired bodycare brand crafting sensorial products that celebrate the rich beauty traditions of West Africa.
Our formulations draw on time-honored ingredients like Nigerian camwood, transformed into modern body care essentials that smell incredible and feel indulgent on the skin.
We created Rouzié to honor that ritual: products designed to support not just physical cleanliness, but the mental and emotional reset that comes with it.
Shop online at www.shoprouzie.com/shop
africa
Aïssatou Emma Diallo @nemban.care
nemban care
Favorite KHOI Product: XILA BAG
Located in Abidjan - Born from my Fulani heritage and inspired by shea butter—an ancestral ingredient widely used across Africa—Nemban Care reimagines natural skincare with purpose. We reconnect consumers to authentic products while empowering rural African communities and celebrating Fulani culture.
We say NO to the traditional cosmetics industry: over-processed formulas, empty marketing promises... At Nemban Care, everything is designed with simplicity, honesty, and respect.Our Product Line consists of Whipped body butters, body scrubs and a nourishing body oil.
Contact Nemban via WhatsApp for the catalog here.
Dr. Sandra Esi Odonkor @everythingbeautygh
everything beauty
Everything Beauty GH is a modern beauty retail brand based in Accra specializing in authentic, trend-forward skincare and beauty products sourced primarily from the United States and Korea.
We offer a curated selection of effective, results-driven products through our physical store, e-commerce website, and social media platforms.
Our focus is on providing expert guidance, personalized recommendations, and access to global beauty innovations for customers in Ghana.
Shop online at www.everythingbeautygh.com
Nana Anokyewah Osei @ayasheaessentials
aya shea essentials
Favorite KHOI Product: ARIO BANGLE
Inspired by the Aya fern and its symbolism of endurance, I founded AYA Shea Essentials four years ago to honor the willpower of women and the magic they create. As a woman-owned brand and SDG advocate, I am committed to providing 100% unrefined shea butter that delivers clear, confident skin while fostering decent work and economic growth in Duusi Tindogo, West Region of Ghana. Every jar represents a journey of holistic self-care and a direct investment in the sustainable empowerment of the hardworking women who hand-craft our products with love.
Shop online at www.ayashea.com
Sally Madaki-Amafor @bodyandsaal
body and saal
Favorite KHOI Product: KHOI SWAG
Body and Saal is a premium Nigerian self-care, and skincare brand, crafting intentional, indulgent body care practice rooted in West African ingredients, science-backed formulations, and a deep understanding of aromatherapy. Founded by Sally Madaki-Amafor, Body and Saal was born out of a personal need to treat dry skin with gentle yet effective care. What started as a healing journey has now grown into a “Saal Self-care movement” loved by thousands for its soul-soothing scents and nourishing results.
Shop online at www.bodyandsaal.com
Alison Naa-Annorkor Larsey @NKORGH
nkor
Favorite KHOI Product: MARI EARRING
Nkor is a Ghana-based beauty brand that delivers professional, results-driven aesthetic services with a strong focus on skin health and client education.
My brand positions itself as a premium beauty and skincare service provider, offering treatments such as advanced facials, microneedling, chemical peels, body waxing, and professional piercing services. My content reflects a clean, polished aesthetic, highlighting client results, aftercare education, service breakdowns, and training opportunities within the beauty industry.
Nkor maintains a client-centered approach, emphasizing consultation, safety, proper aftercare, and ethical beauty practices. My brand also offers beauty training programs, equipping aspiring professionals with practical skills and certified knowledge.
Book your appointment online here.