As a little girl, I developed a medical condition known as Venous Insufficiency (i.e. Poor Circulation) after a serious tumble off my Big Wheel. Much like Anemia, symptoms included severe dry skin and constantly feeling cold. Thus began my journey for warm temperatures, a good heater and a strong moisturizer that would eliminate ashiness for more than a couple of hours. Over the years, I have purchased and sampled everything from Bag Balm and Cocoa Butter to Neutrogena and Nivea. Nothing worked. Results were always temporary and so I began to accept the fact that I would never have smooth, moisturized skin.

Fast forward to 2005. I was strolling through the mall & stumbled across an African Art store called, Doors to Africa. My Brother-in-Law, Milton, had destroyed the Dashiki I��?���¢??d given him previously by machine-washing it and so I thought I could replace it with another authentic selection. I entered the store to browse and was immediately greeted by the attendant. His name was Roland "BUHDZE" Ngong. He began showing me everything from Dashikis and dresses to handmade crafts, jewelry and raw Shea Butter. After hearing the many benefits of unrefined Shea Butter, I purchased a container. I��?���¢??d sampled products in the past made with Shea Butter, but had never used it in the natural 100% form. After one application, I was hooked. I returned to the store to purchase a dashiki and to share how pleased I was with the moisturizer. Soon after that, our friendship developed into a relationship and then to a romance. Roland and I became inseparable, just like peas and carrots! He introduced me to his culture and the traditions of his tribe and family. Loving and knowing Roland has been one of the best journeys of my life! I learned the African tradition of naming children with a title symbolic of what the parents��?���¢?? life was like at the time of the child��?���¢??s birth. As a newly married couple, Roland��?���¢??s parents were just beginning their lives together and thus named their first-born child, "BUHDZE" which means, "FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS".

Coming from a strong entrepreneurial family, Roland traveled all over the country to various festivals and trade shows selling his African art and crafts. Upon return, he would always bring me one or two unique gems from other vendors he thought I would like. On one occasions, he brought me a selection of handmade soaps. They were wonderful! I quickly noticed how moisturized my skin felt and so I began to request more soap whenever he could find it. Many times, when he did a local fair, I would tag along to help him solicit his goods and look for more soap. I was always in charge of selling the Shea Butter. I would share my story with customers who suffered skin irritations far worse than mine like Psoriasis and Eczema. They could relate to my struggle and many times took the advice I offered them. I developed a pattern of using the handmade soap and raw Shea Butter to nourish my skin and subsequently began receiving comments on how pretty my skin was. It was shocking at first. The young woman with hands as rough as a bricklayer and skin as dry as the dessert suddenly had beautiful skin. I tried to convince as many people as I could of my wonderful discovery, so they too could reap the benefits.

Eventually, Roland suggested I stop hunting down the handmade treasure and simply make it myself. It was a true Aha! Moment. Hand-n-hand, we circled the local health food store to purchase all the necessary ingredients. I researched techniques, formulas and so forth to develop the best all natural soap possible and within a few hours, Natural Nourishment was born. I could not get enough. My every thought was creating a new batch; the possibilities were endless. Witnessing my skin transformation along with a deep passion for the newly created gems, Roland again stepped in and suggested I share my soap with others by selling it along with his goods at festivals. Aha! Moment again, but what would I call it and then I thought, how could I call it anything else? From the love, support and encouragement this man has shown me to the many benefits of embracing my African heritage & culture he has shared; to his beautiful heart of giving and always helping, it is my honor to introduce you to BUHDZE, From my humble beginning to yours.