HAIRSTYLES played a significant role in the culture of ancient African civilizations. It symbolised one's family background, social status, spirituality, tribe, and marital status. As early as the 15th century, different tribes used hair to show one's social hierarchy.
I have dreadlocks as a hairstyle, and to me they symbolize my deeper rootedness in my self-expressivity as an artist and also African. But I have realised that for women, hair remains something that is of significance and of importance as I see them adorning different hairstyles and artistic designs every day.
The most noticeable part of a woman’s beauty is her hair, it certainly enhances her personality. This makes a woman’s hair become the most crucial, yet important part of her entire look.
A nasty hair day is simply a nasty day, and this — I have seen in some social media status updates where they say they are having a bad hair day.
I am fascinated by hairstylists and how they are able to turn the “bad” hair into a nice piece of art, and Veronica Chrispina Madambi is one such creative hairstylist who uses her handy craft nature to beautify the heads of different women in and around Bulawayo.
“I consider being a hairstylist as one of the natural gifts that I have. As an individual from a young age I would experiment with simple hair styles known as “mabhanzi” using wool and I learnt how to do freehand using lawn and grass when I was in Primary school. From a young age, I realised that I had a passion to use my hands and with the advent of the internet and television I have now become more exposed to more and diverse hairstyle designs," Madambi said.
Madambi further explained how hairstyling is an art form that requires a combination of skill, creativity, and technical know-how. It is a profession that requires a great deal of training and practice to master, and it is not for the faint hearted.
“Hairdressing is similar to any form of design or art and many elevated kinds of artwork as it is more of craft. But for me when I do it I seek to accomplish the best, hence I incalcate elements of artistry as there is an aesthetic value attached to it because I am bringing a vision in my imagination into a reality. I am following a pattern and combining different hair colors and textures.”
In this view hairstyling as an art is something that never limits the stylist with regard to material requirements as Madambi epitomizes the creatives who in a great many times seek to transcend their limitation. It is a field that is differently defined but equally is viable in the long-term in the sustenance of livelihoods as in a great many times hairstylists make a living from that.
“Through my hairdo business, I was able to support my family and pass through many turbulent times. I remember how during the economic turmoil of 2008 I would plait hair during the day and in the night bake scones which I would give to my husband to go sell at work so as to supplement our income as he was a teacher and the pay could not get us through. It was, and it is through this business up to date that I am still able to support my family and supplement the remittances my husband sends to me from South Africa, as I pay fees and give my children bus fare.”
Madambi described the art of hairstyling as a good and viable hustle in the context of Zimbabwe as we are living in an environment that pushes for an entrepreneurial mindset where one has to use their hands as a tool of self-sustenance.
In as much, she also described how she was also involved in buying and selling, but had resorted to hair styling as it was a business that had no essence of profit or loss. This response with regard to the issue of profit or loss got me thinking of a recent viral clip of a young girl who had her hair cut off after failing to pay at a salon.
“Well the loss comes in when I purchase the hair pieces myself which becomes a problem as I would have supplied, and the client fails to pay. Hairstyling is easy in that I only provide labour. The clients are the ones that cater for the transport and other logistics, so I am not at loss of any form of profit. At times as hustlers and business people we have lost a sense of ubuntu and humanity, which has led to us witnessing scenes such as those from that viral clip. Another reality is that hairstyling is a very competitive industry and it is about establishing your market and being good at your craft."
Grooming and maintenance of hair are other critical factors that play an influential role in having good and healthy hair.
“One of the ways of having healthy and good hair is to use a shampoo with quality ingredients. This also means that one has to learn to apply a proper hair conditioner. For hairstylists it is important to use the correct styling product for the correct look you want to achieve. A critical point is don't overdo it and remember to be natural and buy a really good comb and use it," Madambi said.
There is a demand for hair services since a large percentage of the population happens to have hair.
Hairstylists' income alone helps the economy because it allows them to have purchasing power just like everyone else. They use this money to pay rent, buy homes, feed their families, buy cars, take vacations, pay for their children's education and the list goes on.
- Raymond Millagre Langa is a musician, orator, writer and the founder of Indebo Edutainment Trust Follow Millagre Ray Langa on Facebook #Millagre Ray L, e-mail millagrepapaito@gmail.com. You can reach out to Indebo Edutainment Trust on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter indebotrust@gmail.com