Diaspora | Updated Apr 17, 2025
Science Meets Sustainability: The Visionary Founders Behind NUELE Hair
Meet Anne Cheatham and Dr. Christine Martey-Ochola, co-founders of NUELE Hair, a clean beauty brand redefining luxury hair care through science, sustainability, and social impact.
What began as a shared passion for health, nature, and innovation has evolved into a celebrated brand in the beauty industry. Backed by a combined 60+ years in biochemistry, food science, medicine, and clinical research, Anne and Christine are more than beauty entrepreneurs—they are pioneers fusing rigorous science with an ethical business model designed to uplift women and communities around the globe.
Where Clean Beauty Gets Its Brains
At the core of NUELE is a simple but powerful idea: “We wanted it all.” That meant healthy, glowing, manageable hair—without chemical compromise. Their answer? A revolutionary serum made from sustainably sourced, organic ingredients, formulated with the precision of clinical research and the heart of holistic wellness.
Together, Anne and Christine harnessed their deep expertise in natural ingredients, cosmetic formulation, and health science to create a line of products that are not only effective but also safe, ethical, and inclusive. Their work supports women entrepreneurs who grow and harvest many of NUELE’s key ingredients, directly investing in local economies while preserving cultural farming traditions.
Image created by NUELE Hair
Anne Cheatham, MSN, CRNA: Health Visionary & Financial Architect
Anne Cheatham is the financial and clinical powerhouse behind NUELE. With a career spanning over 25 years as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, she brings invaluable insights into health and wellness to the brand's formulations. Anne also serves as NUELE’s seed investor and CFO, ensuring the business grows with both precision and purpose.
Before launching NUELE, Anne contributed to critical research in infectious diseases and plant pathology at St. Jude’s Research Hospital and IGEN Inc., experiences that shaped her nuanced understanding of both clinical and agricultural science. Her philanthropic reach is global—from mentoring minority-owned businesses to volunteering as a missionary at Yuka Hospital in Zambia.
Anne’s portfolio extends into venture investment, where she supports early-stage startups led by diverse founders. She’s a quiet force, turning personal values into business impact, and transforming what beauty means in the health-conscious age.
Image created by NUELE Hair
Dr. Christine Martey-Ochola: Scientist. Strategist. Social Advocate.
Dr. Christine Martey-Ochola brings an unrelenting spirit of innovation to every endeavor. A chemist, food scientist, and toxicologist, Christine is as much a scholar as she is a strategic leader. Her research spans cancer, public health, and sustainability, but it’s her ability to translate science into consumer solutions that makes her a standout in the beauty industry.
As CEO of NUELE, Christine engineered the company’s flagship product: a clean beauty serum praised by Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, and Refinery29, and winner of over 10 beauty awards. Under her guidance, NUELE doesn’t just sell products—it tells a story of science-backed beauty that prioritizes wellness and inclusion.
Beyond her role at NUELE, Christine serves as the Dean of STEM and Workforce Development at SUNY Broome, mentors with PACT MentorConnect, and is a celebrated Pennsylvania STEM Ambassador. She is a vocal advocate for equitable healthcare access and gender diversity in STEM—amplifying voices often unheard in both the lab and the boardroom.
Impact Rooted in Integrity
Image created by Ethos
NUELE is more than a luxury beauty brand—it is a blueprint for how science, sustainability, and social responsibility can co-exist. With every bottle, Anne and Christine are creating opportunities: for healthy hair, for ethical consumerism, and for the next generation of women leaders in science and business.
In a world where clean beauty is often marketed more than it is mastered, NUELE stands apart—intelligent, inclusive, and unapologetically rooted in the science of self-care.