Getting to Know Maryssca, From Duella's Founder

Pictured: From Duella

We sat down with From Duella’s founder, Maryssca, to have a chat about her history, how she formulates her products and for some curl advice.

From Duella is a curl care brand focused on elevating and nourishing natural textures. Their products are formulated for all curl types and are made in Australia.

Let’s get to know Maryssca!

Tell us about yourself. What’s your background and how did you get started in the curl care industry?

“My cultural background is in Seychelles and I moved around before settling in Australia which let me see a lot of different cultures and kept me open minded to new things and experiences. I studied fashion design and business as a teen, then completed my marketing bachelors so I’ve always had an interest in the creative and business side of things.

I started in the curly hair industry when I was around 20 years old. I remember researching what products were healthy for my hair and how to take care of it. During my transition to growing out my natural hair which had been relaxed up until I was 17, I noticed a gap in the market for naturally curly and coily textured hair. This was what inspired me to start From Duella and led me to where I am now.”

What inspired the name ‘From Duella’?

“When I say from, I don’t mean comes from, I mean starts from. Duella is the name of my younger sister and to me the brand signifies the start point of fully embracing and taking care of natural hair with love and without any pressure. After feeling I had to change my hair to fit in whilst growing up, I wanted to make sure my sister and others like us could always look after and be proud of our hair types and this name is a constant reminder to me of how important it is.”

How has the natural hair community inspired you?

“I’m continuously inspired by how much the natural hair community has grown within Australia. We have diversity in background and hair texture and are committed to embracing and sharing that!

At the start of my journey, I needed to learn about things like my curl pattern and having to manage two hair types as I transitioned from relaxed straight hair to my natural coils, without the knowledge or peers.

Seeing the community now gives me faith that through support, the journey to confident, well cared for curls will happen more easily.”

What are your favourite ingredients to formulate your products with?

“Vitamin E, mango extract and butter, glycerin and aloe vera water. I love how these ingredients can be applied to different formulas and can be used individually in different ways. They are also all natural and combine well together. I love including them in my formulas.”

What’s your personal From Duella routine?

“When a routine works, it works! I use my Leave in Conditioner every morning for styling and also during my wash days.

I use the Curl Refresher Spray every third day and it’s great with my Leave in Conditioner – it’s perfect for reviving my curls when they get dry.
The Pomade is amazing for different styles as it adds shine and is essential for when I want to slick my hair back.

The oil is massaged into my scalp whenever it’s dry and I love using it on my ends on wash days.”

What message would you like to give the natural hair community?

“EMBRACE, CARE and HAVE FUN with your hair. You decide how your hair should look and keep your mind open. Every curl texture is different, beautiful and will respond to products and routines in different ways. Find what works for you and flaunt it.”

What is the future of From Duella?

“I’d love for From Duella to be one of Australia’s most well known brands for curly hair and eventually expand globally. I also want to expand my range to include more hair products and to add accessories in the near future.”