NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 6 – Manufacturing giant Haco Industries has re-launched its hair care range known as \’Miadi\’ with a promise to continue developing specially formulated products that are better suited for ethnic hair.
Haco Industries Chairman Chris Kirubi said on Monday that the new range has been enriched with fortified organic ingredients that can help promote beautiful and healthy hair for African women.
"We wanted to make sure that the challenge that faced our ladies was eliminated by creating a product that had all kinds of quality oils that are found in Africa because the solution for Africa hair must be and will always be found in the continent," he said.
Speaking during the launch that was attended by hundreds of stylists and salon owners from the country, Mr Kirubi said the company had invested over Sh200 million in the research and development of this line that has ingredients such as aloe vera, sage, tree oil, rosemary and neem.
Through this range, the company seeks to dispel the misconception that only foreign products work best.
"All of us think that to make your hair look good you must buy something made in America. That is a mistake. We have gathered a lot of information in the field and all the made a product can compete with any other in the world. This is a real product from Africa for African," he added.
\’Miadi\’ is already available in East Africa and there are plans to introduce it in other parts of the continent as well.
However, just like most products in the country, the hair care line is prone to counterfeits. Mr Kirubi called on the salon owners, stylists and all customers to ensure that they use only quality and genuine products as one way of fighting this vice.
Stylists should take the initiative to educate their clients on the products that they should use to address hair problems such as hair breakage and which would go a long way in ensuring that reducing the use of sub standard products in the market.
He however emphasised that the government should step up its efforts to curb the influx of these counterfeits which continues to hurt manufacturers.
"The amount of energy on this issue is not enough because counterfeiters have been in the market for many years and so the government needs to put in more resources and we also need to educate the people so that they can report all these counterfeits," he asserted.
He disclosed that a partnership with some of the renowned stylists in the country is in the works to come up with detailed booklet on the best way to care for the hair.
The firm\’s Managing Director Polycarp Igathe who said they would lobby the government to remove the five percent excise tax on hair care cosmetics which makes many beauty costly and out of reach of many Kenyan women.
"Excise duty means that the government is still looking at a hair care product in the same way that they look at beer or cigarettes. This is not a vice; it does not deserve any excise duty," Mr Igathe said.
The removal of this tax, he pointed out, would enable manufacturers such as Haco to employ more youths and it would also have a knock on effect which would translate into more job creation in the entire industry.
The MD they have set aside Sh30 million to market the \’Miadi made with Mother Nature\’ campaign where they will also try to encourage Kenyans and salon owners to use only quality and genuine products.
Through the campaign, Mr Igathe hoped they would be able to enhance professionalism in the Sh15 billion industry which would in turn enable them to get the recognition that they deserve.
In this respect, he further disclosed that together with a few partners in the industry, they had formed an association that would champion the interests of the industry stakeholders while at the same time ensuring that stylists are licensed by recognised bodies.
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