A Quest For A More Natural Life
For several years I have been researching and studying the effects of chemicals in our environment. I also took an interest in aromatherapy, herbs, and natural and organic products. I had always wanted to live better, and had always maintained a somewhat healthy lifestyle. It was when I became pregnant for my third child in 2000 that I decided I was going to do things very differently though. I had a completely natural birth with the help of my husband and midwife. I used aromatherapy products to help alleviate irritations during the pregnancy and also during the labor and delivery. I also decided to eliminate as many chemicals from my home as possible. This became increasingly more important to me when my teenage son was diagnosed with cancer in 2004. It was a hard switch because I was brought up on the importance of fighting germs with bleach, ammonia, and other harsh cleaning products to produce a clean home, and then also finding and making products that would produce a clean enough home for an immune-suppressed child. It is possible! I continue to work on providing a greener and healthier living environment for my family.
Dabbling
I became quite discouraged by the cost of "organic and natural" labeled products when most of the products, upon reading the fine print on the label, were not completely natural at all. I decided to research recipes for skincare and started formulating basic skincare products on my own for myself and for gift-giving. I also started to experiment with the therapeutic benefits of essential oils(aromatherapy) and herbal tea infusions. I was finding that the therapeutic claims on the herbs and oils I had read so much about were actually true and were working! My excitement grew, and I was on a quest to educate my family and friends. I started to "sell" some of my products at special holiday times, and I got great feedback from those who used them. In 2005, I started making cold-processed soap and completely fell in love with the process. Everyone else loved it too and saw great results in switching from store-bought soap to my handcrafted soap.
Business and Creativity
In the beginning of this experimentation, my son continued to go through chemotherapy treatments which required me to be home with him more often than not. Even though I still loved teaching music to young children and continued to do so, I realized that building a home-based business would allow me to be able to continue to work and take care of my son as well.
What Does NaKee' Mean?
People often ask us what NaKee' means and often think it means naked, which is a cute name for a natural soap and skincare business, but it does mean much more. Our youngest son (Keegan) called himself "Keegee" when he was a toddler, and he called his older brother (Conner), "Na" when he first started talking. And that is how NaKee' was born! Family is the most important essence in our life. We are all involved in some aspect of the company. I (Candy) am the formulator and designer of the products and print material; my husband, Jody, makes the soap dishes, displays, soap molds and also has become very good at coming up with names, descriptions, designs, and scents for soaps as well! He already has a full-time+ job as a paramedic, but is always willing to help wherever and whenever he can. The boys help out at shows and do odds and ends for me. And every one of us is willing to test the products!
Mission
The mission of NaKee' Natural is to bring you, the client, the best products; made with care and the purest, natural ingredients we can get our hands on and still be able to offer them at an affordable cost. Wonderful skincare should be affordable and within reach of the typical consumer.
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