The Story Behind Nyah Beauty: From Passion to Purpose
Nyah Beauty began with my love for crafting and creating things by hand. At first, it was just a hobby—something I did for fun, never imagining it could grow into a business.
The turning point came when my mother asked me to make her more handmade soaps. Curious, I asked why she preferred them, and her response changed everything: “They don’t make my skin itch.” That simple statement sparked a deeper investigation. I realized that the commercial soaps she had been using contained ingredients that irritated her sensitive skin.
As I dove into learning about soap-making, I discovered the beauty of creating soap from scratch—not using a base, but crafting it with natural oils and fats through a process called saponification. This method combines these ingredients with caustic soda to produce soap without added detergents or surfactants, which can strip the skin and cause irritation. After making my first batch of cold-process soap, I was hooked. The idea that I could create something as essential as soap, using raw, plant-based ingredients, filled me with pride and purpose.
Through a supportive community of soap makers, I expanded my skills to create other natural skincare products. Today, Nyah Beauty offers an array of products, including lotions, sugar body scrubs, coconut wax candles, and shower steamers, in addition to our signature handmade soaps.
Challenges and Growth
As with any business, Nyah Beauty has faced its share of challenges. One of the biggest hurdles for small, women-owned businesses is financing. As our private-label business grew, we found it increasingly difficult to keep up with demand while making bath bombs and shower steamers entirely by hand. The physical toll was real, and we needed machinery to help us scale efficiently.
We launched a crowdfunding campaign to address this need, and to our surprise and delight, Caress was one of the first contributors! Thanks to their support and the generosity of others, we were able to purchase our first machine. This investment revolutionized our production process, increasing output by 200% and allowing us to make double the products in the same amount of time.
We’ve also reached milestones worth celebrating, including partnerships with major hospitality brands like Westin, Marriott, and Kimpton, as well as having our products sold at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich in Connecticut. These accomplishments remind us how far we’ve come and inspire us to keep moving forward.
Why Nyah Beauty Matters
Nyah Beauty isn’t just about products; it’s about people and their stories. One customer who stands out is Theresa T., who has extremely sensitive skin. During the pandemic, one of my banks featured my business to their customers. As part of the initiative, I left sample soaps attached to my business cards. Theresa picked up a sample of our Lemongrass and Lavender soap, and shortly after, she placed her first order for a full bar.
For someone like Theresa, finding a soap that didn’t irritate her skin was life-changing. That first bar was just the beginning—she’s been a loyal customer for five years now, trusting our plant-based soaps to care for her skin.
Join the Journey
Nyah Beauty is here to help you embrace your natural beauty. We invite you to explore our products and learn about the carefully selected ingredients that go into them. Your skin deserves the care and nourishment of natural ingredients to stay clean, healthy, and radiant.
We’re grateful you’ve joined us on this journey. Together, let’s celebrate who you are and the beauty that’s uniquely yours.