INTERVIEW | CREME OF NATURE INTERVIEW
The Creme of Nature Squad
For Lihle Phetla, Siya Ndube, Khanya Mzobe, and Zithobe Macheli, hair has never been just about aesthetics. It is a canvas of self-expression, a tether to family traditions, and a lesson in patience. From surviving severe heat damage and salon mishaps to embracing dramatic bleach eras and bold pixie cuts, their hair journeys reflect a shared evolution: moving away from chasing perfection and toward cultivating true, foundational hair health. Partnering with Creme of Nature, these four dynamic voices sit down to unpack their go-to protective routines, bust pervasive natural hair myths, and share the exact products that keep their crowns thriving.
LIHLE PHETLA
Q: If your hair had a theme song, what would it be, and why?
A: I Am Not My Hair by India Arie. Not because I don't care about my hair, but because my natural hair journey has taught me that confidence comes from embracing who I am, not from chasing perfection. My hair is an extension of me, not the thing that defines me.
Q: On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your hair confidence before finding your current hair routine with Creme of Nature, versus now?
A: Before, I'd say a 6. I loved my hair, but I didn't always understand what it needed. Now, I'd confidently say a 9. Having a routine that actually works has made me enjoy my hair so much more, rather than constantly trying to figure it out.
Q: What advice would you give someone who's scared to try something new with their natural hair?
A: Your hair isn't something to "fix"—it's something to get to know. Be patient with yourself and don't be afraid to experiment. Every head of hair is different, and half the journey is learning what works for yours.
Q: What's one hair habit you learned from your family that you still swear by today?
A: Never go to bed without putting your hair into a protective style. Growing up, we called them amagoda—what most people now known as twists. It wasn't just about protecting your hair overnight; it made styling and wash days so much easier. It's one of those habits I've never let go of because it genuinely works.
Q: What's one hair myth you'd love to bust?
A: That natural hair is "difficult." It isn't difficult—it just has different needs. Once you understand your hair and have the right products, caring for it becomes so much easier.
Q: What's the boldest hair decision you've ever made, and would you do it again?
A: Fully committing to wearing my natural hair. It meant learning my hair all over again, which was intimidating at first, but I'd absolutely do it again. It's helped me appreciate my hair in a completely different way.
Q: What's the one compliment you've received about your hair that means the most to you?
A: Whenever someone tells me my hair looks healthy. That's always the best compliment because it tells me the consistency, care and routine are paying off.
Q: Which Creme of Nature product would you recommend to someone trying the brand for the first time, and why?
A: The Argan Oil Treatment. Babe... that thing will grow your hair. 😂 But honestly, it's one of those products that leaves my hair feeling softer, stronger and deeply moisturised after every wash. If you're trying Creme of Nature for the first time, that's the one product I'd tell you not to skip.
https://www.instagram.com/thembelihlee_p/
SIYA NDUBE
Q: What’s your favourite thing about your natural hair, and why?
A: My favourite thing is how versatile it is. One day it’s tucked away under a sleek install, the next it’s out in all its glory. It’s taught me that healthy hair gives you options, and I love having the freedom to switch it up without compromising my hair underneath.
Q: If your hair could tell your life story, what would the title of the book be?
A: “Roots & Reinventions.” Every chapter would be a different version of me. School hairstyles, uSnoopy weekends, my first weave, learning how to actually care for my hair, and becoming someone who understands that healthy hair is always in style.
Q: What’s one piece of hair advice you would give your younger self?
A: Stop chasing “perfect” hair and start chasing healthy hair. The length, the shine and the styles all come when you consistently look after what’s underneath.
Q: What’s your favourite hairstyle when you want to feel your most confident?
A: A pixie cut, every single time. When it’s cut well, it has this elegant edge that I absolutely love. It’s fun, timeless and contrary to what people think, it can be pretty low maintenance. I don’t always need to reach for heat. Most days, a little mousse is enough to lay it perfectly. It’s one of those hairstyles that makes me feel like the most stylish and best version of myself.
Q: What’s one thing people are often surprised to learn about your hair routine?
A: That I spend just as much time looking after my scalp as I do styling my hair. Healthy-looking hair really starts at the scalp, so I never skip that step.
Q: What’s the biggest lesson your natural hair journey has taught you about yourself?
A: The biggest lesson has been that whether my hair is natural or relaxed, healthy hair still requires time, effort and intention. One isn’t necessarily easier than the other. They both need consistency, care and patience. That’s taught me that consistency beats perfection, everytime. You don’t have to do something dramatic every week. Showing up for your hair with a routine you can actually stick to will always give you better results than chasing every new trend.
Q: When do you feel your most unstoppable, and how does your hair play a part in that feeling?
A: I feel most unstoppable when my hair is done. Hair is our crown, for me, every iconic look starts there. It sets the tone, mood, and energy of everything else I’m wearing. Whether it’s a sleek install, a pixie cut or an Afro, my hairstyle is always the final touch that brings the whole look together and gives me that extra confidence.
Q: Which Creme of Nature product would you recommend to someone trying the brand for the first time, and why?
A: I’d actually recommend building a simple routine with these four products because they work beautifully together.
Pure Honey Moisturizing Dry Defense Shampoo to cleanse without stripping my hair.
Pure Honey Intense Hydration Hair Mask for that deep moisture boost after wash day. (Love this one down!!!)
Pure Honey Break Up Breakage Leave-In Conditioner because it keeps my hair soft, manageable and helps reduce breakage before styling.
Scalp Refresh (the minty scalp treatment). It leaves my scalp feeling clean, cool and refreshed. That fresh, tingly feeling after applying it is honestly one of my favourite parts of wash day.
https://www.instagram.com/siya_weloveher/
KHANYA MZOBE
Q: What was your worst hair day ever, whether at an event, wedding or matric dance, and how did you recover from it?
A: My worst hair day ever was when I went to a new salon to do a straight-up. It was the most painful gruesome maintenance day and 2 days later I had to unplait the braids. I sadly left with bald spots on the back of my hair. I had to wear my natural hair out for the longest time and continuous treatment to recover from my bald spots.
Q: What's the first thing you noticed about your hair after you started using Creme of Nature?
A: I started using Creme of Nature at a time my hair was damaged from heat damage, and from using the products I noticed my hair gaining back its character. Not only is my hair hydrated but it looks healthy.
Q: What's the one hair accessory that never leaves your side?
A: An afro comb!!
Q: What's your go-to hair mantra?
A: Patience, Patience, Patience
Q: If you had to describe your hair personality in one word, what would it be?
A: Effortless
Q: What's one hair trend you're currently obsessed with?
A: I am currently obsessed with short, beaded braids.
Q: What does "unstoppable" mean to you when it comes to your hair and your confidence?
A: When it comes to my hair, “Unstoppable” speaks to my many forms of self-expression through my hair. Whether I wear it one way or switch it up completely, that versatility gives me the confidence to be myself in every space I walk into. That's what being unstoppable means to me.
Q: Which Creme of Nature product would you recommend to someone trying the brand for the first time, and why?
A: I would recommend the Creme of Nature Argan Oil Treatment. It’s been my hair line-saving grace and has helped revive my curls. My mom also can’t stop raving about it.
https://www.instagram.com/khanya_mzobe_/
ZITHOBE MACHELI
Q: Tell us about your most dramatic hair era, whether it was your relaxer days, your big chop, or anything in between. Which hair phase do you laugh or cringe about the most now?
A: A phase that I look back at and laugh about now is when I used to bleach and dye my hair, and heavily at that. One day it was platinum, then pink, the next day it was green. This phase was heavily influenced by Frank Ocean and art school. I look back and laugh because right now you will never catch me bleaching my hair excessively the way I used to because now, I know better. It also caused so much damage to my hair that I eventually had to go bald. But it felt so good at the time and it was really my first experience of expressing myself so freely through my hair.
Q: If you could only take one Creme of Nature product with you on a trip, which would it be, and why?
A: If there is one Creme of Nature product I would take on vacation, it’s the Oil Treatment. I can use it on my hairline to nourish it, on my scalp to moisturise and on my actual hair to give it that nice lightweight shine. I just feel like it’s such a multifunctional product and when I was in Kenya it was actually one of the products I took with me.
Q: How would you finish the sentence: "Unstoppable hair means..."
A: For me, unstoppable hair is hair that is untamed, takes its own form and still thrives in a society that has painted it as undesirable.
Q: What's the one compliment you've received about your hair that made your entire week?
A: I receive a lot of lovely compliments about my hair to be honest, but the compliments that always make my day are the ones that speak to how well executed and expressive my hairstyles are. I do pride myself on my creativity, so when people get it or understand it, it also makes me feel understood as an artist. It’s amazing when people interpret what you’re trying to do in the way that it was intended.
Q: What's your go-to hairstyle for a big event, and why does it never disappoint?
A: For an event I will always go for a gelled-down sleek back because you can always extend it with extensions, hair sculptures or go big with a detachable headpiece like I did at the previous two Creme of Nature launches. It’s really simple, there’s a lot of room to just play around with it and it’s still very clean and sophisticated. I do love it when my hair is out of my face as well, so there’s that.
Q: How has your relationship with your natural hair evolved over the years?
A: To be honest, it’s a whole lot more grounded than it was when I was a teenager. It has been up and down and I’ve cut my hair several times because I felt like my hair was a little bit difficult to maintain. But the more I see my hair as one way of expressing my creativity, I feel like it’s become a much more caring relationship. I do manipulate my hair quite a bit but now that I have Creme of Nature, I’m able to manipulate it knowing that I’ve set a good foundation of hydration and protection with my routine.
Q: What's one thing you do differently now that you wish you'd known when you first started your natural hair journey?
A: I wish I had learned about hair porosity sooner so that I could understand exactly how to cater to my hair’s needs. Right now, after washing my hair I like to do an at-home oil treatment where, after conditioning, I put a generous amount of the Creme of Nature Oil Treatment on my hair. I warm up a small towel, put it on my head and cover it with a shower cap or plastic, then just let it simmer so that my hair absorbs the moisture. My low-porosity hair needs a little help absorbing moisture, so this has really helped me.
Q: Which Creme of Nature product would you recommend to someone trying the brand for the first time, and why?
A: I would recommend the Restorative Daily Scalp Cream because it is so nourishing but also has a really nice cooling effect. Recently I’ve realised that a lot of people don’t take scalp care very seriously and that’s literally where your hair grows from, so your scalp also needs a good routine and attention.