September 10th 2024.
A tragic incident changed the course of Danielle Obe's life. It all started when she turned on the shower after her daughter Kayla's swimming lesson. Little did she know, chaos was about to ensue. Like many children, Kayla dreaded having her hair washed. But her swimming cap would often let water in, resulting in chlorine water spreading across her thick hair. To prevent any potential damage, Danielle would spend anywhere from 35 minutes to an hour shampooing and conditioning Kayla's hair.
However, one fateful day at a leisure center in Kent, everything went wrong. Kayla's swimming cap broke, and she was left wailing in distress. As Danielle tried to reassure her daughter and wash her hair, a passerby overheard the commotion and reported them to the reception. Before she knew it, the duty manager and a staff member came knocking on the shower cubicle, concerned about the child in distress.
Danielle, with her hands full of shampoo and a towel, nervously opened the door to explain the situation. They began to interrogate Kayla and Danielle, trying to understand what was going on. In a panic, Danielle tried to calm her daughter and asked her to explain why she was screaming. Through tears, Kayla replied that she didn't want her hair washed. Danielle then had to explain to the staff, who were both white, that most swim caps are not designed for people of African, Caribbean, and Asian heritage, and are not suitable for textured hair like theirs.
The staff eventually left, leaving Danielle and Kayla shaken by the misunderstanding. Danielle couldn't help but think about how the situation could have escalated if they didn't have a good rapport with the staff. As one of the few Afro-Caribbeans at the club, she feared that social services might have gotten involved. It was a terrifying thought for any parent.
The incident brought Danielle to tears, knowing that her daughter's hair, which she considered a labor of love, was now ruined because of a flimsy swim cap. She promised Kayla that she would find a solution so she could participate in any activity without worrying about her hair. It wasn't long after that Danielle's younger daughter, Eliora, took part in a Color Run at school. As she watched two Black teachers quickly fashion plastic bags into headpieces to protect their hair from the powdered paint, Danielle had an epiphany.
She realized that there was a need for waterproof headwear designed specifically for people with textured hair. She wanted Kayla, and others like her, to be able to swim and even dance in the rain without worrying about their hair. As she was doing the dishes one day, Danielle had a divine idea. She thought about the headwraps she wears as a woman of color and wondered if there could be a waterproof version for people to use.
Danielle began researching the swim caps on the market and worked on developing her dream. Her goal was to create a product that was both waterproof and hypoallergenic. She wanted to ensure that people with textured hair could participate in any activity without sacrificing the health of their hair. And thus, Obe's swim caps and headscarves were born.
Today, Danielle's products are helping people of all ages and backgrounds take part in activities without worrying about their hair. She's proud to have made a positive impact and continues to innovate and improve her products. It's a journey that started with a traumatic incident but has led to a fulfilling and purposeful path for Danielle. And she's grateful for the support of her community, who have embraced her products and helped spread the message of inclusivity and diversity.
After a traumatic incident, Danielle Obe found herself on a journey she never expected to embark on. It all started when she turned on the shower after her daughter Kayla's swimming lesson. Kayla, like many children, dreaded having her hair washed. But in this particular instance, the four-year-old's swimming cap had broken, causing water to seep in and spread chlorine throughout her thick hair. Danielle knew this meant a long process of shampooing and conditioning to minimize damage to Kayla's hair, which could take anywhere from 35 minutes to an hour.
The incident took place at a leisure center in Kent, where a concerned passerby reported them to the reception. Danielle recalls how her daughter was screaming and afraid of getting water in her eyes, while she tried to reassure her. A few minutes later, they were interrupted by a knock on the shower cubicle door. Danielle, with shampoo and a towel in hand, opened the door to find a worried duty manager and another staff member who identified themselves as the safeguarding lead.
The two staff members proceeded to interrogate Kayla and Danielle, causing them to panic and explain the situation. Danielle had to clarify that most swim caps are not suitable for people of African, Caribbean, and Asian heritage, as they are not designed for textured hair. After explaining the damage the chlorine could cause to her daughter's hair, the staff left them alone. Danielle couldn't help but think about how the situation could have escalated, potentially involving child protection services.
This incident left Danielle in tears, as she saw the effort she put into tending to her children's hair go to waste because of a flimsy swim cap. She made a promise to Kayla that she would find a way for her to participate in any activity without worrying about her hair. A few weeks later, while watching her younger daughter Eliora take part in a Color Run at school, Danielle had an epiphany. She saw two Black teachers hastily fashioning plastic bags into headpieces to protect their hair from the colored powder, and she knew she had to make a change.
This led Danielle to research swim caps on the market and develop her dream product - waterproof headscarves specifically designed for people with textured hair. She wanted her daughter, and others like her, to have the freedom to swim or dance in the rain without worrying about their hair. And thus, Obe's swim caps and headscarves were born. These products are not only waterproof but also hypoallergenic, making them suitable for all hair types.
Danielle's journey may have started with a traumatic incident, but it led her to create a solution that benefits many people with textured hair. She is proud to offer a product that allows individuals to fully embrace their activities without any fear or worry. Danielle's determination to make a positive change in the world is truly inspiring, and her story serves as a reminder to always look for solutions, no matter how unexpected the journey may be.
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