Two Carleton graduates are changing the hair game, one kink and curl at a time.
Meron Berhe and John Eke are the creators behind Bantu, a free smartphone application connecting black women with local hairstylists who can fulfill their individual hair needs.
“You shouldn’t feel like you’re different because of your hair,” said Eke, who runs the Ottawa-based company alongside partners Berhe and Richard Kyereboah Jr.
Eke came to Carleton from Nigeria and graduated in 2009 with a degree in computer systems engineering.
During his time at Carleton, he says he saw the struggles other international students faced while trying to findhair stylists.
“I had female friends who would come to me often asking if I knew hair stylists,” Eke said.
The 32-year-old founder says he saw a niche in the hair market, and thus, the idea for Bantu was born.
There are currently an estimated 10,000 users and 400 hairstylists connected on Bantu. The app’s latest version was launched in May.
The company, named after the bantu knots hairstyle, was founded by Eke in 2015.
Earlier this year, Kyereboah, who runs the company’s finances in Toronto, and Berhe came on board as co-partners of the app.
“No matter what your hair is like, you are able to find somebody to deal with it. And it is beautiful,” Berhe said.
Berhe, an Ottawa-native who has two degrees from Carleton and now oversees Bantu’s public relations and marketing, started wearing her hair naturally four years ago.
The 31-year-old says one misconception some may have about the app is that it is just for black women with natural hair.
“You don’t have to be a black woman to use the app,” Berhe said. “If you’re looking for someone to do a braid … you can still find that person on the app.”
Blessing Oruma is the founder and owner of Elebeaute, a online store for weaves, extensions, braids and other hair products. Oruma also provides hair styling services at her home and is featured on Bantu.
“[With Bantu] I’ve been able to get…brand visibility because a number of people are on the app,” said Oruma.
Oruma is a fourth year communications student at Carleton and says having her company featured on the app has helped to solidify client relations.
Eke and Berhe say the company’s next steps may include adding the ability to book appointments and pay for them directly in the app, as well as adding better reviews of the hair stylists and salons.
The app currently works on Apple devices running iOS 8.0 or higher, and is available in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. Bantu isn’t available on Android yet.
“I could definitely see myself using the app,” said Habil Mitiku, a third-year communications student at Carleton.
Growing up, Mitiku said she would straighten her hair every day due to the pressures of being in a school where curls were seen as different.
Mitiku’s first hair stylist experience began in Grade 5.
“I broke their brush,” she said. “They said ‘I’m sorry we can’t do your hair’ halfway through. That is what makes it hard for a black girl to feel confident.”
Mitiku says she trusts her friends and family to help style her curls.
“I can say I am truly at peace with my hair,” Mitiku said. “I love my hair now. It’s all about accepting yourself and that includes your hair.”
