OUR STORY
Northwish Naturals: A Journey of Hair, Heritage, and Self-Love
​From Papua New Guinea to India: A Hair Journey Across Borders
I was born in Papua New Guinea, where I grew up surrounded by a rich variety of curl patterns. My mum would style my hair every day into fun, creative hairstyles; an experience that made me love my curls early on.
But as I started doing my own hair, I quickly realized I didn’t know what to do with it. Without the right products, my go-to style became a simple bun. My lack of knowledge led to frustration, but this was just the beginning of my hair journey.
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At 14, I moved to India alone—a world where everything looked and felt different. For many, I was the first person with textured hair they had ever met. I was bombarded with questions about my curls and frequent suggestions to “rebond” them—a popular hair straightening treatment. At first, I resisted, proud of my natural hair. But over time, the pressure to conform to beauty standards wore me down. The media didn’t help either; I grew up seeing women who looked like me always depicted with straight hair. Eventually, I gave in. (Show pictures of my curly hair and my first rebonding treatment).
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​Losing Myself in Straight Hair
I thought rebonding would make my hair easier to manage, but it did the opposite. My hair became weaker and required constant straightening just to look presentable. I spent hours maintaining my “straight” look, but my natural curls were gone, replaced by damaged, frizzy strands. Over three years, I lost connection with my curls entirely—I didn’t even have pictures of what they used to look like.
Rediscovering My Natural Curls
It wasn’t until university that I began to reconnect with my natural hair. I noticed my curls trying to make a comeback, and I started experimenting with leaving a bit of conditioner in my hair. Around the same time, I stumbled upon the natural hair movement online. YouTube creators like Andrea’s Choice inspired me to embrace my texture and helped me relearn how to care for my curls.
Although I was surrounded by women on similar journeys, the process was still a challenge. Styling my wavy, transitioning hair for special events felt impossible, and I often reverted to straightening for those occasions. But step by step, I became determined to nurture my curls back to life.
A New Beginning
This journey of trial, error, and self-discovery laid the foundation for Northwish Naturals. My personal struggle with textured hair taught me that the right products and knowledge make all the difference.
It all started in my grandmother’s kitchen in Gurgaon, where I created my first homemade deep-conditioning treatment using bananas, avocado, shea butter, coconut oil, and her prized cold-pressed til oil (she wasn’t thrilled about that). After seeing visible improvements in my hair, I couldn’t wait to share my results on Instagram.
What started as a simple way to nourish my own hair turned into a passion for helping others. Seeing how many people resonated with my journey and benefited from my tips inspired me to take the next step. That’s how Northwish Naturals was born—a brand rooted in heritage, care, and a mission to empower people to embrace their natural texture.