By: Maria Williams
Atilola Moronfolu’s journey into the hair care industry began in 2009, sparked by personal frustration over the lack of accessible resources and products for natural hair in Nigeria. Like many women with natural hair, Atilola struggled to find affordable products that catered to her specific hair needs. The situation was compounded by a scarcity of reliable information on how to care for natural hair, particularly for women living in high-humidity regions like Nigeria.
The available resources, largely coming from Western countries, catered to women with looser curl patterns and environments that didn’t reflect the realities of women living in tropical climates. This lack of inclusivity in hair care solutions pushed Atilola to take matters into her own hands.
In 2011, she launched her blog, African Naturalistas, which became an early voice in the Nigerian natural hair movement. What started as an effort to share her own journey and tips for hair care soon led to a flood of requests from her readers for personalized hair care solutions. As a result, Atilola began creating products from her home, all while still working as a consultant at PwC.
With growing demand and her own increasing passion for hair care, Atilola made the bold decision to leave her corporate career behind and focus full-time on African Naturalistas. The brand grew quickly, fueled by a need for natural, safe, and effective hair care products in Nigeria. Her commitment to quality led her to become a cosmetic scientist, ensuring that she could produce safer, scientifically-backed products.
But Atilola didn’t stop at product development. While African Naturalistas helped many women achieve healthier hair, Atilola realized that products alone wouldn’t solve the hair issues she witnessed daily. There was a deeper problem—a lack of hair care literacy and proper techniques used by both individuals and professionals. Hair loss and scalp disorders were often exacerbated by improper handling, poor knowledge of hair science, and stylists using damaging techniques.
This epiphany led to the birth of The Good Hair Tribe in 2021. Atilola saw education as the missing link in the hair care industry, especially in Nigeria and other parts of the world where trichology and hair science were not mainstream. The Good Hair Tribe is a tech-driven hair care literacy and coaching company that aims to bridge the knowledge gap. Atilola’s mission is to educate stylists, influencers, and hair coaches, providing them with the skills and understanding they need to truly care for their clients’ hair.
The Good Hair Tribe offers a variety of educational resources, including memberships, courses, and certifications. One of its core goals is to equip professionals with the knowledge needed to prevent hair loss and scalp disorders, rather than just treat them after the damage is done. This proactive approach to hair health sets the organization apart from the usual focus on products alone.
Atilola believes that by empowering women with knowledge—whether they are individual consumers or hair professionals—she can create a ripple effect in the industry. Her vision is a world where every woman has access to the resources, tools, and techniques to achieve healthy hair, no matter their location or background.
Through her work at African Naturalistas and The Good Hair Tribe, Atilola continues to break down barriers and raise the standard of hair care worldwide. Her journey from a frustrated consumer to a globally recognized trichologist and entrepreneur is a testament to the power of passion and persistence. And in her own words, “We help you achieve your goal of healthy hair… naturally.”
The future of hair care is not just in the products we use but in the knowledge we gain—and Atilola Moronfolu is leading that charge.
Published by: Nelly Chavez
