Limpopo: An innovative development in the South African hair industry is underway as Lufuno Nemakonde, Managing Director of Funocurls Green Beauty, introduces EcoCurls, hairpieces crafted from banana pseudostem fibre. According to South African Government News Agency, this environmentally conscious initiative presents a plant-based alternative to synthetic hairpieces. Currently in the development and validation phase, EcoCurls is progressing towards commercial readiness. The product has been submitted to the South African Bureau of Standards for independent testing, marking a significant step in its journey to market. Nemakonde's innovation has garnered attention from the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition's innovation and technology section, securing her funding through the Grassroots Innovation Facilitation Scheme. This support aims to aid the commercialisation of innovations from rural and township areas. Confidence in her product's potential has led Nemakonde to acquire factory space for a processing plant in Punda Maria-Makhuvha village. She eagerly awaits the delivery of specialised machinery tailored to process banana pseudostem fibre, anticipating a transformative impact on the local economy by creating job opportunities. Drawing on her background as a Medical Technologist, Nemakonde merged indigenous knowledge from her grandmother with scientific expertise to start Funocurls Green Beauty. The company produces plant-based hair, skin, and body-care products using indigenous botanicals like moringa, marula, baobab, and Kalahari melon, serving local markets and beauty establishments. With the assistance of the dtic, Nemakonde has also showcased her innovations at international trade exhibitions in Egypt, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, further expanding the reach of her environmentally friendly products.