“It’s easy to dream big, it’s another thing to put yourself on the stage and carry out that dream. The stage comes with critique that you need to be bold enough to handle because some people may be for what you are doing, and some against.”
Refilwe Xaba is a wife to her wonderful husband Thami Xaba and a mother to two beautiful boys, Mohale and Bohlale. She is not only the owner of a thriving business called Glolooks, but she is also an independent lecturer and doctoral student at the University of the Free State.
Refilwe grew up in Sasolburg in the Free State and moved to Bloemfontein to pursue her academic career on a primary, secondary, and tertiary level.
She is extremely passionate about the empowerment of women, youth, as well as communities. “This is seen through my commitment towards Enterprise Development through academia and practice,” she says.
Refilwe’s theoretical knowledge is focused on small business development, with a particular inclination towards businesses’ owned and managed by women.
Her business Glolooks exists to provide high quality hair care solutions to Africa and beyond, by harnessing and taking advantage of the potency and effectiveness of African indigenous oils, plant extracts and butters in the production of the products.
“When I started Glolooks, I was inundated with international brands that did not cater for my afro textured hair. I made use of my research background and savings as a student to concoct my own hair care formulations. With people seeing the results in my hair and asking for advice, I decided to take this seriously and make it a formal and profitable business,” says Refilwe.
She adds that she loves the evolution of the Glolooks Brand and what it stands for.
“I have allowed the brand to organically evolve to a point where we now serve women of different ethnicities and men. I want Glolooks to be the first multicultural cosmetic brand from Africa that speaks to the beauty needs of women, men and children across different spectrums of race,” she says.
She further expresses that she wants people to go beyond skin colour and see the value and effectiveness that are in their products due to the potency of natural ingredients. “We will definitely be in major retail stores across the SADEC area. We will develop export distribution channels and will increase our products line from just hair to hair and skin. In the next three years, Glolooks will be a household name.”
Refilwe has been endorsed and recognised by renowned companies and publications. She won the Junior Chamber International Creative Young Entrepreneur national title for 2022 and represented South Africa in the AEC competition in May, which was hosted in Zimbabwe. She was also selected as Mandela Washington Fellow for the 2023 cohort where she will be representing South Africa under the Business and Leadership Track in the USA this month.
“This recognition serves as a constant affirmation that my vision matters. It not only matters, it’s valid,” she says.
Putting business aside, Refilwe says the family unit is something she loves dearly.
“I love its unity and the huge role it plays in shaping our communities for the better. One of the things that people fear about marriage is losing their identity. However, this is not my reality. Instead, marriage helped me shape my identity.
“I am a wife that is absolutely celebrated and embraced by my husband. Because of this, I am able to serve my husband as a wife fully and freely. Being in such an environment makes it possible to be courageous and bold in the boardroom, but also tender and submissive to your husband at home. I love taking care of him, our children and our home,” she says.
How she keeps the momentum with being a mom and an ambitious business woman is through accepting the season that she’s in, having a solid support structure, taking care of herself and scheduling.
“Often times, we are too hard on ourselves as working moms. Society praises us for being able to handle both work and home, but the same society places almost unattainable standards that make it difficult to do so,” says Refilwe.
When she is not at work you will find her in places that offer her peace of mind, new and meaningful experiences, stillness and a good cup of coffee paired with great company.
Text: JUSTINE FORTUIN Photography: GYPSEENIA LION Makeup: KAMOGELO MANKUROANE
