Brand Story
Afrocurl is a South African natural hair care brand founded in Cape Town by entrepreneur Kayla Kim Meiring, also known online as Kayla Kim Kay.
Launched in 2022, Afrocurl was inspired by Kayla's personal experience growing up in South Africa and her difficulty accessing quality natural hair products. The brand was created from a desire to challenge stereotypes around beauty and create products that celebrate natural curls and coils.
Afrocurl produces organic, vegan, cruelty-free and paraben-free hair care products designed for curls and coils while remaining suitable for all hair types. The brand also sources its natural resources from Africa.
From its beginnings as a startup, Afrocurl developed into an internationally shipping business within its first year, demonstrating the potential of a youth-owned South African beauty brand to reach customers beyond its home market.
Why It Exists
Afrocurl exists to make natural hair care more accessible while encouraging people to embrace their natural hair and rethink traditional ideas about beauty.
The brand was born from Kayla Kim Meiring's own experience of limited access to quality natural hair products while growing up in South Africa. That experience became the foundation for a business focused on natural, ethical and inclusive hair care.
Through its products and digital presence, Afrocurl combines beauty, entrepreneurship and representation, creating a brand that speaks directly to a new generation of African consumers.
To provide natural hair care products while celebrating natural beauty, challenging outdated beauty stereotypes and demonstrating the potential of African-owned beauty brands.
Founder & Key People
Kayla Kim Meiring
Founder & EntrepreneurKayla Kim Meiring, also known online as Kayla Kim Kay, is the founder of Afrocurl. Based in Cape Town, she launched the brand in 2022 after drawing on her own experiences with natural hair care and the limited availability of quality products growing up in South Africa.
Kayla's background as a digital creator and entrepreneur has helped shape Afrocurl's strong online identity. Her journey from TikTok creator to CEO has positioned her as an example of how digital platforms can be used to develop and grow a purpose-driven business.
Achievements & Recognition
Afrocurl's rapid growth and distinctive approach to natural hair care culminated in one of the biggest recognitions in its young history.
2025 Overall Top Brand
Afrocurl was named the Overall Top Brand at the 2025 Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards.
The achievement marked two significant milestones for the awards: Afrocurl became the first winner from outside Gauteng and the first female-founded brand to receive the Overall Top Brand honour.
The recognition highlighted Afrocurl's growth, authentic brand voice, ethical approach to beauty and its contribution to the development of youth-owned businesses in South Africa.
What They Do
Afrocurl develops natural hair care products designed around the needs of curls and coils while remaining suitable for all hair types.
The brand focuses on products that are organic, vegan, cruelty-free and paraben-free, with natural resources sourced from Africa.