Oyin Handmade is teaming up with University of Maryland Medical System to create an equitable hair care initiative to help people achieve and maintain healthy, happy hair.

Patients of color now experience improved care and respect at University of Maryland hospitals.

March 27th 2023.

Oyin Handmade is teaming up with University of Maryland Medical System to create an equitable hair care initiative to help people achieve and maintain healthy, happy hair.
The idea was sparked by the nurse leaders at the University of Maryland Medical System who identified a need to provide natural hair products for their patients of color. DoRhonja Nichols, DNP, RN, Director of Critical Care & Behavioral Health Services at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center, spearheaded the initiative and invited us to partner with them. We are so proud to be part of this effort to improve patient experience for the well-being of the communities served by the Maryland Medical System.





Nursing leaders at the University of Maryland Medical System recognized a lack of ability to meet the haircare requirements of patients of color, due to the fact that some of its organizations care for up to 70% of Black patients. Jamyla Bennu, the co-founder of personal care company, Oyin Handmade, worked with UMMS to provide haircare items to those with textured and curly hair in order to address issues related to diversity, equality, and inclusivity across the Maryland Medical System. Spearheaded by nurse leader DoRhonja Nichols, DNP, RN, Director of Critical Care & Behavioral Health Services at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center, Oyin Handmade provides small-sized versions of its most popular products to the eleven-member hospitals. The high-performance products, which contain food-grade ingredients, offer clean formulas that are especially suited for those with textured, curly, and coily hair.

Bennu explained the partnership's commitment to BLACK ENTERPRISE and its mission to enhance the patient experience for the good of the communities.



I have always been invested in this field, as I was unable to find commercially available natural and organic products for my textured hair when I was a naturalista and ingredient-conscious consumer. In 2001, I began crafting moisture-rich solutions as a hobby and eventually shared them with family and friends. In 2003, while I was working as a freelance web designer and content creator, I created a website to share my hair and body treatments with other members of the online natural hair community, and Oyin Handmade was born. We are proud to be part of the early wave of the millennium's natural hair movement, which has helped to change cultural expectations and industry standards regarding textured hair care worldwide.

This initiative combines our dedication to producing high-quality products for healthy, happy, highly textured hair with the Hospital's internal commitment to inclusion and enhanced patient experience. Making texture-sensitive personal care products available to up to 70% of the University of Maryland Medical System patients, who are Black, is an incredible way to make them feel seen and taken care of during their healthcare journey.



The idea for the initiative originated from the nurse leaders of the University of Maryland Medical System, who identified the necessity to provide natural hair products for their patients of color. DoRhonja Nichols, DNP, RN, Director of Critical Care & Behavioral Health Services at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center, spearheaded the initiative and invited us to be part of the effort. We are pleased to be part of this effort to improve patient experience for the benefit of the communities served by the Maryland Medical System.

The idea to fill the gap in the marketplace was sparked by our partnership with the University of Maryland Medical System, who wanted to provide quality hair care products to their patients of color, who make up as much as 70% of their patient population.

Our initiative is a reflection of our commitment to providing high-quality products for healthy, happy, highly textured hair, and the Hospital’s internal commitment to inclusion and improved patient experience. We are proud to be able to provide texture-sensitive personal care products to these patients during their stay, helping them feel seen and cared for during their healthcare journey.

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