Miami's Ebene Naturals Pioneers Plant-Based Beauty Products

Haitian American entrepreneur Fayola Nicaisse created Ebene Naturals to serve the needs of people with textured and curly hair.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Miami-based Ebene Naturals is a company creating high-quality, plant-based products for hair, skin and body. Founded in 1999 by Haitian American entrepreneur Fayola Nicaisse, Ebene Naturals became the first ethnic hair-care brand sold at Whole Foods after Nicaisse challenged the store's lack of products for Black hair. Today, Ebene's handcrafted soaps, scrubs and other items are customer favorites, with a focus on inclusivity and natural ingredients.

Why it matters

Ebene Naturals represents a pioneering effort to create plant-based beauty products that cater to the needs of people with textured and curly hair, long before it became a mainstream trend. The company's success highlights the growing demand for inclusive, ethically-sourced beauty options that go beyond traditional mass-market offerings.

The details

Fayola Nicaisse launched Ebene Naturals in 1999 while working as a model in Dallas, creating her own products to care for her natural hair and skin. After a frustrating experience at Whole Foods where she was directed to products for dyed black hair, not natural textured hair, Nicaisse began selling her products at the store, becoming the first ethnic hair-care brand on their shelves. From there, the brand took off with features in publications like The Dallas Morning News and Essence Magazine.

  • Ebene Naturals was founded in 1999.
  • Nicaisse began selling Ebene products at Whole Foods in the early 2000s.

The players

Ebene Naturals

A Miami-based company creating high-quality, plant-based products for hair, skin and body.

Fayola Nicaisse

The Haitian American entrepreneur who founded Ebene Naturals in 1999.

Whole Foods

The grocery store chain that became the first to carry Ebene Naturals' ethnic hair-care products.

Vivian Haydar

A skin cancer survivor and longtime customer of Ebene Naturals.

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What they’re saying

“Ebene has several meanings. To simplify it, it means 'ebony,' which is the French version of ebony, but in the Ewe language it means from Mother Earth.”

— Fayola Nicaisse, Founder, Ebene Naturals (CBS News Miami)

“I went into the store and told the buyer, 'You don't have any products for Black hair.' He said, 'Yes, we do,' and walked me over to products for people who color their hair black. I laughed and said, 'No, I mean hair like this.'”

— Fayola Nicaisse, Founder, Ebene Naturals (CBS News Miami)

“I'm very careful about what I put on my body and my face. I come in here and I want to buy the whole store.”

— Vivian Haydar, Customer (CBS News Miami)

What’s next

Fayola Nicaisse said she has exciting plans, including opening a first-of-its-kind natural hair salon in South Florida designed specifically for people with curly and textured hair, using only plant-based Ebene Naturals products.

The takeaway

Ebene Naturals represents a pioneering effort to create inclusive, plant-based beauty products that cater to the needs of people with textured and curly hair, long before it became a mainstream trend. The company's success highlights the growing demand for ethically-sourced beauty options that go beyond traditional mass-market offerings.