For years, Black consumers have invested billions in the beauty industry, yet the products they rely on are rarely created or owned by people within their own communities. Walk into a beauty supply store in the U.S., Europe, or even Africa, and you’ll find shelves stocked with imported hair and skincare products – most of them manufactured in Asia, North America, or South America. It’s a strange reality: an industry built on Black consumer needs, yet with so few Black-owned brands leading the charge.
This is exactly what Esinam Agbley wanted to change.
Growing up in Ghana, Esinam was surrounded by rich natural ingredients like shea butter, cocoa butter, palm kernel oil, and aloe vera. These weren’t just beauty trends – they were essentials, passed down through generations. Fascinated by their effect on her hair and skin, she developed a deep curiosity that eventually led her to the United States after earning a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. In the U.S., Esinam pursued Cosmetic Science at Fairleigh Dickinson University. The daughter of a civil servant and a public school teacher went on to build a successful career in science, formulating products for some of the world’s biggest beauty brands – including Johnson & Johnson, Palmer’s, and Colgate-Palmolive.
But something never sat right with her.
“Throughout my career in the beauty industry, I identified a major gap in clean, natural products designed specifically for people like me; Women of Color with textured hair and melanin-rich skin,” she points out.
Even in Africa, where Black beauty standards should set the norm, foreign imports dominated the market. Why weren’t more brands developed, manufactured, and owned by Africans? And why couldn’t African-made products meet the same global standards as these corporate giants?
That’s when she made a decision.
She left behind her career in the U.S. and returned home to Ghana to create Enam Cosmetics – a brand that blends science, tradition, and innovation to produce world-class beauty products for melanin-rich skin and textured hair.
More Than a Beauty Brand – A Tailored Solution
Unlike many brands that simply follow trends, Enam Cosmetics was built from the ground up to solve real problems. The company isn’t just using clean, natural ingredients for the sake of marketing; it’s backed by science. A chemist with over a decade of industry experience and three international patents in cosmetic science, Esinam formulates every product by herself. Her goal is to create a beauty brand that doesn’t just cater to Black consumers but is owned, designed, and developed by Black experts. And her impact is reaching far beyond Ghana. Esinam is formulating products for brands worldwide, proving that Africans can lead in beauty innovation. “As a Cosmetic Scientist & Chemist, it’s exciting to do what I love doing best for clients all over the world,” she shares. Her latest commission? An organic Rose Water Body Serum with just four ingredients, crafted for a client in Georgia, USA.
Enam is Redefining Healthy African Beauty on a Global Scale
Even though Enam Cosmetics is headquartered in Ghana, the brand has gained international recognition, retailing online globally and being featured at trade shows in Egypt, Kenya, and beyond. The product’s cutting-edge formulation techniques—which blends Africa’s finest natural ingredients—is free from harmful additives. For this African-led brand, being Black-owned isn’t the final goal; it’s about competing at the highest level. Enam is not only meeting but surpassing global beauty standards, proving that African excellence belongs on the world stage. In 2024, Esinam was selected among 40 entrepreneurs by the German Development Agency (GIZ) for the prestigious SME Loop program, reinforcing Enam Cosmetics’ foundation for sustainable growth and global competitiveness.
A Perfect Fusion of Beauty Innovation and Smart Business
At the heart of Enam Cosmetics is a story of twin sisterhood, leadership, and the undeniable power of women in business. Esinam and Akofa Dakwa have built more than a beauty brand — they’ve created a legacy of innovation, resilience, and excellence. Their combined expertise in science and finance not only drives the company’s success but also serves as a testament to what women can achieve when they lead with vision and strategy.
Enam Cosmetics was co-founded by Esinam Agbley and her twin sister, Akofa Dakwa, a chartered accountant and chartered banker. In an industry driven by creativity and strategic business acumen, their partnership—a visionary scientist and a finance expert—provides a strong foundation for innovation and sustainable growth. This dynamic synergy continues to propel Enam Cosmetics as a formidable force in the beauty market, proving that African-led brands can redefine industry standards in quality, excellence, and leadership.
With every product that lands in a customer’s hands, Enam Cosmetics is telling a new story — one where Black beauty isn’t just celebrated, but created, led, and owned by Black innovators.
Antoinette H. C. 