After a severe injury from a fall that put an abrupt stop to her business in children’s clothing and maternal wear, Wecheteu Kapfo used the recuperation period to creatively think about daily products in the home. The result was that she explored natural sources and how to manufacture hand wash, dishwashing liquid and shampoo from entirely organic materials. Going back to her roots, she examined the properties of a forest fruit called Soap berry (Tsiinyii in Tenyidie) used by women in the old days to wash their hair. To her delight, soap berry was being sold at the bazaar, and she bought a good amount of the brown-coloured berries. As mother of five, Wecheteu explains her interest in her own words, ‘I always encouraged my children to wash their own cups and plates and make their beds from a young age. But I didn’t want to clean up after them as it is humiliating so I started to use eco friendly dishwash and detergent. I have been doing this for 19 years. After my injury, I needed a source of income since I could not look after my business. I learned about soap berries and researched on the internet for a period of three months, and finally I came up with my own recipe for dishwash and shampoo. I sent out samples to cousins and friends and got positive feedback. So I continued making them. Now I only use my own shampoo and handwash and dishwashing liquid. I am saving money, and my label is almost ready.’
User feedback is very encouraging. One user reported a visible stop to hair loss. Many users say that the shampoo controls scalp itchiness. Definitely hair is more manageable when using her natural product. On the shampoo bottles, one of the signs says, ‘non-foaming.’ So shampoos that produce a lot of foam are not necessarily doing a lot of good to hair. All her shampoos have a soap berry base. One variety has Argan oil, Jojoba oil and Coconut oil with soy lecithin as emulsifier. A second variety is Hylu, salicylic acid and Aloe gel. The latest variety she has come up with is amla, shikakai and moringa. The shampoos are good for deep cleansing, hydration and exfoliation. According to Wecheteu, the Aloe products soothe and calm the scalp. She further added that extra virgin oils like Reetha, argan, coconut and jojoba deep cleanse and strengthen hair and reduce frizz while improving hair texture and shine.
Creativity in adversity might be a title for a story on Wecheteu Kapfo. The shampoo and hand wash story behind Unlimited Naturals is inspiring enough. But even more than that is the spirit that has risen from the ashes to carve out a new destiny. Many users have given only positive feedback on the shampoo. Another product is pure lime extract which can be consumed in the morning or even used as a fabric stain remover. I have tried it on a very stubborn stain and received excellent results. One of the reasons Wecheteu began to use natural products: ‘I don’t want to get cancer because a lot of personal items and detergents contain cancer causing chemicals according to researchers.’ She admits to a love for medical documentaries and medical mysteries. A lot of study has gone into the product leading her to use only organic materials. ‘I am learning from trial and error,’ she said in the middle of her experiments. All this has taken many months of work and study.
Wecheteu has other interests as well. ‘I am passionate about waste management, mental health and geriatric and palliative care.’ Having been a patient for many months, she has had much insight into the care of geriatric patients as well as patients who struggle with the minimum tasks of daily life.
Although she has a long way to go since her products are not on the market yet, I am confident Unlimited Naturals will appeal to users who care about protecting themselves against too much of harmful chemical presence in their daily lives. Delivery between Chumukedima and Kohima and Dimapur has been made very convenient by the many delivery boys. One can only step back and wish Wecheteu a bright future with Unlimited Naturals, while thanking her for her contribution to a healthier world for the rest of us.
