HERDAY: Meet the Black woman who is facilitating wellness and self-care experiences for others
Herday founder, Temi Shobowale.
For many Black women, DIY is a term we’re very familiar with. From mixing lotions for skin care that’s unique to us to braiding our own hair, we’ve never shied away from creating that which we needed to take care of ourselves.
Here in North America, this self-sufficiency manifests in the beauty supply chains, Black hair salons and barbershops and small businesses catered to a Black clientele.
They are a way for Black people to find culturally relevant items, and a lifeline for diasporic people who don’t find these goods and services readily available in the mainstream market.
And it is that same legacy that professional beauty expert and business owner Temi Shobowale carries with her as the founder of HERDAY and owner skincare line, Essentials by Temi.
For its part, HERDAY is a seasonal event series that caters to women who are looking for a safe space to practice self-care that is meaningful to them.
Essentials, on the other hand, is her answer to the unique skincare needs that any woman may have, but can’t satisfy on the regular market, using all natural ingredients like honey, yoghurt and an array of essential oils.
We talked to Temi recently about HERDAY, Essentials, and what it means to facilitate self-care for others .
<This interview has been edited for clarity>
How would you describe Herday?
Herday provides like-minded women with an intimate wellness experience that creates an ambience of a "home away from home". We make space for tribes of women who are open to healing through making small mindful acts, that leads to a big impact within our communities through the practice of self-love.
Why and when did you decide you want to do this?
I’ve always been an advocate for women’s rights in different forms and ways for as long as I can remember. I originally created an online community platform in 2013 called ‘The Tee’ which featured posts from contributors who were my good friends that inspired me. The platform used to consist of contributed posts based on different interests such as - music playlists based on moods, travel journal, easy recipes by a very talented Chef friend of mine and a friend who wrote reviews about the Black web series and films. In December 2014, I decided to expand my online platform into a ‘real life’ community. I consulted a few forward-thinking confidantes which led me to rebranding and hosting my first HERDAY event - my first-ever Makeup Masterclass in collaboration with INGLOT in May 2015.
Why can women gain/learn specifically from making their own wellness and skincare products by themselves?
Women who make their own skincare products themselves gain a lot of knowledge and experience by creating skincare solutions using pure ingredients. Once they’ve shift their mindset from a consumer’s to a chemist’s, they become aware of what ingredients they need to avoid and realize the true quality of what they’ve been paying for. It starts to give them the same satisfaction one receives when you get to enjoy a delicious home cooked meal after ordering take-out for the fourth time in a week.
What kinds of products can they make at home?
Deodorants. Body scrubs. Face masks. Soaps. Linen sprays. Cleaning products. The possibilities of what one can make at home is endless. It depends on the level of “do-it-yourself” you are on a scale from beginner-to-expert.
Can you briefly share one at home "recipe" or DIY product idea that readers can easily try themselves at home?
My go-to DIY Calming face mask for breakouts and other skin irritations.
Ingredients:
2 tbsp of fine, whole oats flour
1 tbsp of matcha powder
½ tbsp of aloe vera gel or juice
1 tsp of honey
½ tsp of plain yogurt
¼ tsp of lavender essential oil
Add ingredients into blender + blend into a puree texture.
Apply on face for 15 to 30 minutes. Rinse off and moisture skin.
Is there an anecdote or personal story that relates to this activity or teaching it to other women that sticks out in your memory?
Most of us in the western world could not fathom the idea of casually creating shea butter or coconut oil or palm oil from scratch. I am grateful for my mom, grandma and our Nigerian culture for my entrepreneurial and DIY skills. These types of skills are priceless and should be kept passing down to future generations.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I enjoy having the ability to create and share my knowledge based on my experience and research, with those who could genuinely benefit from them.
What do you want women to walk away with after attending a Herday event?
It fills my heart with joy when attendees leaves a Herday event feeling heard and connected with like-minded women. I create each Herday experience to assure whoever attends will leave feeling inspired, loved and a bit more healed than when they arrived.
All Essentials by Temi products can be ordered online at www.essentialsbytemi.com