This Southern Woman Didn't Like Her Man's Raw Shea Butter, So She Whipped Up Her Own
Open-ended issues of racial difference stirring up in present-day America has not extinguished black women's entrepreneurial spirits. According to the 2019 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report, African American women own more than 2 million businesses, making them the leading female minority group of industry owners, especially in the cosmetics field.
Black businesswoman Nyoshi Lashae is the founder of "Bunny Butter" cosmetics, a skincare line formulated for diverse skin conditions and ethnicities.
With the idea of starting her own company, she began creating whipped shea butter in her home in 2015. She began to receive high demands for her products, which allowed her to ultimately open up her own space in a shop that she shares with her fiancé.
"My man was using shea butter, but I never liked how hard it felt or the smell," said Lashae. "So, after some research, I decided to add some scent and whip it, so it comes out smooth. That was the birth of "Bunny Butter".
There are various aspects of taking care of your body. It's more than eating and exercising; taking care of your skin is essential as well. Her brand uses all-natural ingredients, including lip scrubs, facial cleaning products, oils, raw and whipped shea butter.
Photo courtesy of Bunny’s Butter Bar
“I aspired to give people who have different skin types such as normal, dry, oily, combination, or sensitive an inexpensive natural product they could use.”
There are several advantages to using Shea butter, including moisturizing skin/hair, helping sensitive skin, mild skin conditions, eliminating blemishes, and wrinkles.
“I’ve had several people who have issues with eczema and psoriasis, come back in my shop and show me how significantly my whipped shea butter products have helped them with the skin issues. That’s why I created this line, not for profit but hoping that it will enhance a person’s skincare regimen.”
Not only does her brand cater to the skin, but also your holistic health. Bunny’s Butter Bar has top-selling products like Sage cleanses to help your mental state. Sage can be burned as part of a spiritual ritual to cleanse a person or space and promote healing and wisdom.
Her brand also offers Yoni cleanses to help women have a healthier "private area." A Yoni cleanse is an all-natural detox consisting of ingredients like sweet almond oil, which rehydrates and restores natural balance of the vaginal walls.
Photo courtesy of Bunny’s Butter Bar
Besides her business, Lashae utilizes her platform to showcase other companies by having vendor festivals in North Carolina. These events allow entrepreneurs, like Tasha Cooper, to network and market their products to attending consumers. “I think she is an amazing person for putting these events together,” said Tasha. “We need events that will bring entrepreneurs of color together because we can accomplish more together than divided.”
"Being a black entrepreneur and a mother, I want people to know that it's going to be hard on occasions, and you might face various obstacles but never give up, continue to work hard, and strive for what you want," said Lashae.
You can learn more about Bunny’s Butter products by visiting www.bunnysbutterbar.com. You can also locate Bunny’s Butter Bar on Instagram and Facebook.