( ENSPIRE She Did That ) Nelson Releases Hair Reducing Oil For Transitioning Men & Women Who Suffer From PCOS
ENSPIRE Contributor: Gabrielle Maya
Jasmine Nelson is a beauty entrepreneur who understands the struggles of excessive facial hair growth due to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). For those who don’t know, PCOS is a hormonal disorder in women that causes enlarged ovaries with small cysts on the outer edges, excessive hair growth, weight gain, and irregular periods. Through her beauty skincare business, Umber By J. Lenay, this organic brand offers products for individuals with conditions such as PCOS, Hirsutism, and hormonal imbalances that cause excessive unwanted facial hair growth. Through natural formulation, you can expect to reduce hormonal hair growth between 2 weeks to 2 months with the best results, leading to a complete growth stop.
In 2019, Nelson launched her Hair Reducing Fade Oil, offering different strength options to accommodate various skin types. She has provided women all over the world with relief from excessive hair growth symptoms. An advocate for women’s health, she has engaged with a community of women with PCOS, providing support through local programs, media exposure, and media presence. She has now expanded Umber By J. Lenay to help individuals in the LGBTQ community. Now, her products serve men, trans women, and trans men. The Hair Reducing Fade Oil has become a bestseller, where Umber’s mission was to become the first brand in the hair removal industry with a hair inhibitor made for everyone.
Nelson is a beauty trailblazer who helps individuals with unwanted facial hair. She discusses how she created Umber By J. Lenay, her advocacy projects, and her contributions to the PCOS community. In addition, Nelson explains the Umber quiz used to find the right products for someone’s PCOS and Hirsutism and explores the best face care routine.
When and how did you decide to create your business, Umber By J. Lenay?
Throughout my teenage years, I struggled with excessive facial hair, ingrown hair, and dark spots. I didn’t know what it was called, but I eventually learned that I had Hirsutism, a symptom of PCOS. I underwent several electrolysis treatments and tried laser, but neither worked for me. While these treatments can be effective for others, they didn’t work in my case. Determined to find an alternative, I spent years experimenting with different ingredients. After seeing promising results in solving my problem, I had my sister, mother, grandmother, and friends test the product. Then, I extended my testing to other women facing similar issues, and the response was incredible. In 2019, I officially founded Umber By J Lenay. Their encouragement inspired me to create an eCommerce platform, making this solution available to women like myself who couldn’t afford or access laser or electrolysis treatments.
How have you engaged with the PCOS community, and what programs have you done to advocate for these individuals?
Recently, I attended the Empower & Illuminate: A PCOS Advocacy Event, hosted by PCOSAA (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association Awareness) and Milan Laser. I had the privilege of speaking with and listening to community members such as Lilli Health, SleepyCys, PolyCs, and Gemmi Talks and connecting with influencers like Sarah Infinger, Cash Arroyo, Samantha Milton, and actress Jaime King. It was an incredible experience to engage with PCOS advocates who focus on various symptoms of the condition, allowing me to broaden my understanding of PCOS. Being part of this event gave me a much broader perspective.
Can you share your experience with PCOS, how you navigated ways to formulate products to reduce hair growth, and what hardships led to your success?
PCOS is an ongoing condition. While it can be managed, there is currently no cure. I still experience ruptured cysts from time to time, particularly during ovulation, and there’s a possibility I may need to have my ovaries removed in the future. However, with managing the hirsutism associated with PCOS, I have that under control. One of the biggest challenges in developing a product that has helped so many was starting and continuing to refine it from there. After creating the product for myself, I had it tested by many others and developed multiple variations to accommodate different needs. My goal was for no one to feel left out and for everyone to experience the same relief I did. This was especially important to me, as there wasn’t anything specifically designed for women of color then.
Surprisingly, no changes were necessary for the product to work effectively for men and trans women. Its formulation has been versatile enough to address excessive hair across different groups without needing any adjustments. However, I recognize that some individuals may have unique needs, particularly when tackling more stubborn issues like ingrown hairs and scarring. I plan to develop a new line designed to accommodate those needing different solutions soon. I have a lot of exciting ideas in place, and I believe future users will appreciate the personalized approach these new products will offer.
Could you explain the Umber quiz and the types of questions catered to PCOS and Hirsutism?
We plan to enhance the Umber quiz to go beyond simply recommending products for our customers’ issues. Our goal is not to make it seem like a product alone can solve challenges like excessive hair, ingrown hairs, and scarring. Those who struggle with these issues must understand that they need to implement additional methods to achieve optimal results.
For example, the way you remove hair, aftercare, the tools used during the process, and even what to avoid are all crucial factors. Additionally, diet and exercise can play a role in achieving better outcomes. We’re working on making this information readily available to help educate viewers on managing excessive hair and how to care for their skin without causing damage.
Based on your Umber products, what is the best face care routine to help replenish skin and decrease hair growth?
Everyone’s skincare routine varies, and what works for one person may not work for another. I drink plenty of water and exercise regularly to sweat it out, which helps keep my pores unclogged. While excessive hair can be an issue, what’s often worse for many is dealing with ingrown hairs, which are frequently caused by clogged pores and scarred skin. Exfoliating (using my large face scrubber) while washing with our Liquid African Black Soap is essential. This helps fade dark spots and keeps my pores clean and free of dirt and debris, leaving my skin soft. Maintaining the pores clear is critical to minimizing ingrown hairs.
If I need to pluck, I always wash my face first to hydrate the hair and soften the skin. This helps prevent breakage that could lead to ingrown hairs. Afterward, I apply our Hair Reducing Fade Oil—always on clean skin. I massage it into the areas where I have hair until it’s fully absorbed. It’s important to note that shaving, clipping, using electric shavers, and sometimes hair removal creams while using the Hair Reducing Fade Oil don’t give the best results, as they primarily affect new hair growth rather than existing hair.
Finally, I applied our Facial Moisturizer and Black Girl Sunscreen. This has been my go-to routine, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. For those looking to fade dark spots more quickly, I recommend light chemical peels and using retinol as a spot treatment. However, the basics I’ve outlined here work best for me.
Umber By J. Lenay has accumulated six figures in sales. Besides reducing unwanted facial hair, Umber helps improve the health of damaged skin through ingrown hairs, hormonal acne, and scarring. Follow Umber By J. Lenay on Instagram or visit https://umberjlenay.com/ to view all products for skin and hair reduction. To join the Umber Excessive Hair Support Group, find them on Facebook.
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