My name is Courtnae and I founded Ahuva after officially qualifying as a Nail Technician in 2019. I found a particular keen interest in the health and wellbeing of nails and skin. One key lesson from my journey was this: whilst many professionals focus on nail enhancements, far fewer truly prioritise the long term health of their clients' natural nails and overall wellbeing. That realisation stayed with me.

This is how my skincare range was born. Starting with cuticle oils and then pivoting to carrier oils and butters, I spent over 5 year researching ingredients, formulations and suppliers to ensure the highest quality and best value for both my clients and the integrity of the products themselves. Within my first year of research, I noticed how rare it was to see truly natural, organic products represented on a larger scale. That gap inspired me to keep pressing in.

 

I also began to realise that the vast majority of the world's most nutrient-rich botanical oils and butters can only be grown and harvested in the tropical and subtropical climates of the Global South, including my motherland Africa, as well as Asia and Latin America. With that realisation came a deep sense of responsibility. I began to develop a desire not just to source from these regions, but to do so with integrity, building an ethical supply chain that ensures fair value returns to the farmers and cooperatives who cultivate these treasures, while committing to eco-friendly practices that protect and preserve those precious lands for generations to come. This birthed the mission and enhanced the vision which you can read about below.

This is when I heard the wise words of my grandmother ringing in my head, words she would often impart to me, as she was the queen of herbs, botanicals and natural remedies.

From that, I built on this newfound passion, researched what would benefit the nails, hair and skin of people of all colours, backgrounds and professions, and created the recipes you see here today.