We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jermeika Moody-Martin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jermeika below.

Alright, Jermeika thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I have always had a strong desire to help people and witness their happiness. If I can play a part in contributing to their joy, it brings me happiness to be of assistance. God knows this about me and he knows how much I love him and how committed I am to follow his guidance. In fact, it was God who inspired me with the idea of creating CUMI.

In 2020, due to the pandemic, everything closed down, including beauty supplies, salons, and barbershops. I recall being concerned about what hair products to use for my family once the ones at home ran out. One day, I searched through my cabinets and discovered natural ingredients such as Shea Butter, Aloe Vera, and Coconut Oil. We began using them on our face and hair, and the results were fantastic! Not only did we notice our skin clearing up from dark spots, but our complexion also evened out. It was then that I received the inspiration from God to start creating my own skin and hair products.

I didn’t know where to begin. Although I was passionate about creating natural products that benefited both hair and skin, I was unfamiliar with the process. Consequently, I began conducting research on the topic. I looked for individuals who were already pursuing this venture and learned about the industry’s best practices and pitfalls.

One day, in my kitchen, my daughter and I decided to create a moisturizer for hair and skin that contained only natural ingredients. I was thrilled with the results after making our first batch of CUMI hair and skin moisturizing butter. The fragrance, how it made our hair and skin soft, how it helped with severely dry skin, and how it promoted hair growth were all fantastic. That day, we created CUMI, our all-natural hair and skin line. I love that my CUMI products cater to both hair and skin.

Jermeika, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Jermeika Shatana Moody-Martin, and I am the CEO of CUMI Natural Hair and Skin Line. I was born and raised in Harlem, New York, and later moved to Dallas, Texas, where I completed my high school education and some college courses. After that, I moved to Virginia, where I started my career in the corporate world. I have held several positions, such as a Customer Service Representative, Benefits Specialist, Bank Loan Specialist, and Human Resource Specialist. I have always enjoyed working with people and helping them, but I wanted to do more. That’s why I decided to return to college in 2020 to further my education. I am excited to announce that I will soon graduate from the University of Phoenix with a Bachelor of Science in Business Degree and a Human Resource Management certificate. I am proud to be getting my degree and to have come this far in my career.

In 2020, I discovered my love for all-natural ingredients. During the pandemic, I started taking care of my boys’ Locs using my homemade all-natural products made from butters and oils, which helped keep their hair healthy. I was amazed to see how much their hair grew with the products I made by hand. This inspired me to start my journey towards natural hair care, and I decided to grow my own Locs while making natural products for my hair growth and moisturization. When I saw how great the results were and how quickly our hair grew, I knew I had created something truly unique.

I dreamed of creating an all-natural hair and skin line to help people experiencing hair loss, breakage, and other hair problems. My goal was to create products that would be excellent for both hair and skin. To achieve this, I conducted extensive research on all-natural ingredients that are beneficial for hair and skin. I also learned about the proper ways of combining, measuring, formulating, and putting recipes into percentages. I then began making my hair and skin products right out of my kitchen.

Here are some of the all-natural hair and skincare products in my CUMI line:

CUMI GLO OIL
SUGAR COOKIE SCENT
Many women love our Cumi Glo oil because of its delightful scent and how it leaves their hair and body soft and smooth. Men also appreciate the oil’s fragrance and how it helps to keep their hair and beard soft and manageable. Our Glo oil enhances the natural glow of your skin and helps reduce wrinkles, fine lines, and signs of aging. Additionally, it helps soothe an itchy scalp and prevent dandruff while also relieving and preventing acne for a healthier-looking complexion.

CUMI HAIR GROWTH OIL
Our hair growth oils are the essence of plants and have several therapeutic properties. There are essential oils for treating hair problems like dandruff, hair loss, hair breakage, dry scalp, flaky
skin, and split ends. Immediately relieves dry and itchy scalps. It is also suitable for the skin and helps with anti-aging, fine lines, and wrinkles.
Benefits:
It calms irritation, eliminates dandruff, strengthens hair, and restores natural shine and vibrancy; it is great for all hair types.

CUMI STRAWBERRY CUPCAKE
HAIR AND SKIN BUTTER
Indulge your senses with the delicious strawberry scent of CUMI Strawberry Cupcake Hair and Body
Butter. This luxurious butter not only moisturizes and nourishes your hair but also hydrates and softens your skin. Treat yourself to this delightful hair and body butter and feel the difference in your hair and skin. It enhances all-natural hair, including
curls and locs.

CUMI MELON SUGAR SCRUB
Indulge your senses with the invigorating scent of CUM/ Melon Twist Sugar Scrub. This luxurious sugar scrub not only smells fantastic, but it also provides a gentle exfoliating action that leaves your skin feeling smooth and soft. Treat yourself to a spa-like experience in the comfort of your own home with CUMI Melon Twist Sugar Scrub. Add It to your skincare routine today!
What is a sugar Scrub? A sugar scrub combines granulated sugar with moisturizing ingredients such as natural oils and butter to create a gritty paste or slush-like texture.

CUMI SCENTED CANDLES
Pineapple Strawberry Smoothie Scent

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Two years ago, I suffered a devastating loss in my family. Someone who was very dear to me is no longer with me. This amazing woman stood beside my mother and raised me since I was born. She helped instill many great values in me – love, kindness, and gentleness. She taught me to be a beautiful person inside and out, to always do my best, to prioritize my education, to love dancing, to be a good friend, to care for and love others, to understand the meaning of family, to be compassionate and empathetic towards others, to be skilled in business, and to love computers. Above all, she taught me how to be a great woman of God, mother and businesswoman. Sadly, she is no longer with us, but I know that she will always be with me in spirit.

I always thought that when this day came, I would feel lost without her. My aunt/mom, Godmother, confidant, and close friend played many important roles in my life. Even though she is no longer here with me in person, I still feel her spirit with me during this challenging time. I have noticed that she is still helping me through everything I need to do to make sure all of her endeavors are complete, including taking care of her son – my cousin who has physical disabilities – and managing the past four years of college and establishing my CUMI business. All of her teachings and motivation continue to guide me.

Even though this was the most challenging time in my life, and I was suffering from grief and depression and just felt like I couldn’t go on, I knew that she would always want me to fight and do my best. She wouldn’t want me to give up. I still have to keep going for my husband and children. Resilience is the ability to withstand adversity and bounce back from difficult life events. Being resilient does not mean that you never experience stress, emotional upheaval, and suffering. Rather, resilience involves the ability to work through emotional pain and suffering. I remember sitting down and crying my eyes out, having a conversation with her like we used to do. While I was speaking alone, I still felt her presence beside me. A sense of peace washed over me, and I was filled with motivation to move forward, knowing that she would be there with me every step of the way. It was time for me to bounce back and put all that she had taught me into motion. I am incredibly grateful to her and I think of her often. Although she is no longer physically with me, I know that she is always with me in spirit.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Throughout my life, I learned to be tough and push myself to achieve greatness. However, I realized that I was being too hard on myself and not celebrating my accomplishments, no matter how small they were. This mindset was ingrained in me by various factors like my family, peers, education, culture, religion, and workplace. I started practicing gratitude and being less hard on myself to change this. I learned that acknowledging and celebrating every achievement, no matter how small, can contribute positively to my overall well-being. Celebrating small wins boosts my motivation, validates my efforts, and fuels me to set and achieve more significant goals. Acknowledging progress and accomplishments provides positive reinforcement, boosts confidence, and helps me recognize progress. Clapping for yourself is not about being arrogant; it’s about celebrating yourself and your achievements.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.cuminaturalhair.com
• Instagram: @cumi_naturalhair
• Facebook: Jermeika Shatana
• Other: Tik Tok-@jermeikashatana

Image Credits
Photographer- Sleep Ru @sleepru973