That more men are involved in the hair-dressing vocation is really no news. But that there is one who says he is fulfilling his destiny, making women’s hair is noteworthy. In a chat with Joy Anyim of The Nigerian Xpress, Michael Akinolu disclosed how he became a groomer of women’s hairs.
A woman’s hair is presumed to be one of her most prized assets. It is one physical feature that enhances her beauty, which explains why it comes first on her beauty regimen.
Whether simple or classy, no woman, some decades ago, would allow any man touch her hair in the name of a hair-dresser.
“What for? Is my hair some toy or what that he would be playing with? Even as a female stylist, you must have been tested and proven before you can come near my hair, not to talk of a man. Is it like the ridges in the farm or what?” remarked Madam Kate Obi, a 71-year-old grandma.
Like Madam Obi’s reservation, in some culture, then, it was a taboo to have a man touch a woman’s hair. A violation of that rule was automatically seen as an assault on the woman. A strict sanction was instantly imposed on the male offender.
But that was then. These days, men are not just found in the hair-dressing vocation, they are even training ladies in the art.
One of them, Michael Akinolu, said the decision to be a hair stylist was made by his uncle. Although this initially did not go down well with him, he had no other option but to yield to the directive of the man.
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“I am from a humble background and had started hustling at a very tender age, way back in Ajegunle. I worked as a teenage factory worker but left the job after I had confided in my uncle, who was then my guardian that I wanted to learn a handwork. In 2009, I had suggested learning barbing but my uncle did not agree with me. He wanted me to learn hair dressing.
“I was shocked at his choice and I told him I have never seen a man, who is into the profession. But he succeeded in convincing me that it was a good business. He enrolled me at Jerry Hair Salon owned by a man which, to a certain extent, encouraged me to learn the profession. I spent one year learning and another two months serving my boss. Because I wanted to learn more, I went to the street to get more experience. I also learnt manicure and pedicure, spa and other aspects of the beauty business,” he said.
Owning his own salon didn’t, however, come immediately. It took Michael eight years after his apprenticeship to start up his own business.
“I worked as a hair stylist in different salons in Lagos and Abuja before I could be on my own. The experiences I got helped me to set up my own business in 2017. Although it was hard, as I had to raise the money for rent, which was then N25,000 in addition to the money to also buy the needed equipment to work with, I was focused and that helped me a lot,” he said.
Speaking about the challenges of the job, the 32-year-old owner of Donsels Hair Salon said he was initially resisted by some women, who doubted his ability to perform as a male hairstylist. Recalling one of such times, he said: “I can remember a certain lady in Abuja, who had walked out on me in the salon because she doubted the possibility of a man making her hair beautifully. I was patient and did not fight her over it. I later on became her preference just like others like her.”
On how he is coping in the vocation dominated by the females, who are also the major patrons, Michael said, he thrives on his patient and friendly nature. “The business is saturated because we have many people in it, but then it is my attitude that makes my customers to keep coming back. Personally, I don’t take the world too seriously. I am a Christian and I believe in treating others the way I would want to be treated. I won’t deny the fact that women are difficult to satisfy, but I can assure you that they are good people. Without them, the beauty industry cannot be.
How often do men do their hair? Besides, all you need to do is to go by their rules and if you are a patient man, this won’t be any problem. For me, satisfying my customers is my top priority. This has helped me build a growing customer base. As for others in the industry, I am not in any way threatened by the women or men who are my competitors. We all have our customers,” he told The Nigerian Xpress.
Like any other line of business in the country, Michael said things could be better for hairdressers, if some challenges were surmounted.
He noted the most pressing challenges: “Inadequate power supply is crippling this business gradually. For example, I spend N2,000 daily on petrol to power my generator. That is aside from the expenses I incur when the generator is faulty. Government should make power supply stable and constant. The rent charged is also something that needs to be looked into.”
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The young hairdresser also has a huge dream for the future. He said he hoped to travel abroad to learn more of hair grooming and become an internationally recognised hairstylist.
“I had tried once to travel abroad to learn more of hair making but was denied visa. I hope to try again soon and possibly get it this time. I want to make Nigeria proud in this profession. I also want to have a building to lease out to different hairstylists at a very cheap rent. This is because rent is a very big issue for those of us in this business,” he said.
Asked for his advice for youths like him, Michael said, “I will like to encourage young men and women like me never to look down on any job. Whatever you find your hands at doing, give it your best; you never can say which one you are destined to do to make money. Take my case for example, if I had not listened to my uncle, I probably might have remained a factory worker. But now, I am fulfilled in this vocation. I make good money, I am an employer, I have two stylists that I pay daily and three apprentices. I do my job effortlessly so much that I can say of a fact that I am treading the path of my destiny. So, look for your path and invest in it.”
