Meet Our Founders

Gladys Rwagatore
Co-Founder

“Zuri cosmetics” was created by a Burundian mother of four who experienced hair loss while breastfeeding. In 2020, during the global COVID-19 pandemic, she faced a major challenge: she couldn't access the products she needed to restore her hair from abroad. However, this obstacle led to a discovery that helped her and benefited the natural hair community in Burundi and around the world. She put together a scalp treatment formula that started to work wonders on her hair. It was getting noticed and complimented for its health and thickness—two attributes her hair was a stranger to before using her concoction. She started selling it when the demand grew. Her passionate determination to see Afro-textured hair embraced and celebrated, as well as her drive to study and develop a sustainable solution, led to the creation of Zuri Cosmetics. Ms. Rwagatore has the responsibility of General Manager of the company, she has a partner: Ms. Nina Irakoze, who has an engineering degree in pharmaceutical engineering with a Master's degree in management and quality control of food and pharmaceutical products. She has the role of Production Director. All together,they produce a product line made from Africa's natural resources that aims to nourish and enhance even the most challenging and least compliant hair types. The Scalp Fertilizer quickly gained popularity, and the Hair Butter, which was later added, received outstanding user reviews. “Zuri” derives from the Swahili adjective “Nzuli”, which means good or beautiful. The name evokes the brand’s commitment to only using nature’s bounty—God’s creation—in their products to promote and benefit Afro-textured hair. This focus has proven to be effective, helping to reverse hair loss, spur growth, and boost the overall health of the hair on many happy heads in Burundi and abroad.