Daniel Mutie Kioko, a 21-year-old, is transforming beauty and sustainability in the hair industry in Kenya.

Daniel is a student at Machakos University who has managed to transform a common agricultural product-sisal into a business that is yielding profit and is environmentally friendly.

Most of the students are balancing between books and part-time jobs, but Daniel took a different direction.

Having observed his mother struggle to access good-quality hair products, he started experimenting with alternative materials. His breakthrough was with sisal, a hardy fiber that may form ropes and mats.

He experimented a number of times until he could come up with a process of treating the sisal to make them soft and fashionable ones fit to use in the salons.

Daniel braids are cheap, biodegradable, and they are made locally, thus providing a green alternative in a market dominated by imported synthetic ones.

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He is able to sell one braid at Sh80 to Sh100 as compared to imported brands. His clients appreciate the natural feel and appearance of the sisal products, which also eliminate scalp irritation more than the synthetic fibers do.

A home project that began as a small venture is currently attracting both the salons as well as environmentalists.

Daniel has since joined hands with the local farmers to access raw materials and is also training young people in his village to repeat the same.

His business matches the Kenyan youth-driven innovation and agribusiness promotion. Combining agriculture and beauty, Daniel has established a niche which is not only profitable but environmentally friendly.

“I want to prove that we can create quality products from what we already have,” Daniel says. “You don’t need to import success—you can grow it.” Daniel’s says