l love braiding hair

JOE MUTHUI, 26, a hair stylist, encroached into what was once a woman’s forte. He has  made inroads in the ‘exclusive’ club with impressive results. He spoke to ALLAN OLINGO

What does your job entail?

I braid hair. I know it’s strange because most hair stylists prefer doing locks, chemicals, weaves or hair relaxing. I love braids because to me, it is an art, which I am passionate about.

Where did you study?

I attended Endarasha Boys High School, in Nyeri County. After high school, I worked at a cyber café before moving to hairdressing. I then joined L’oreal Hair and Beauty College in 2010 to study hairdressing.

Joe Muthui. [Photos:  Martin Mukangu/STANDARD]

Where does your motivation come from?

I get motivated when I put a smile my clients’ and my employer’s faces. It is always a great feeling when your boss has faith in you. I also trust in God because it’s through His mercies that I have been able to harness this talent.

What do you love about your job?

It is fulfilling. The working environment is also quite relaxing. I get to meet a lot of new people and I am happy when I meet their expectation. Nothing makes me happy like a happy client.

How did you get into this career?

I started as a cyber café attendant but when business slowed down, I tried working at a salon. When I saw how they did the braids, I thought it was easy and requested to give it a try. Initially, I was only allowed to braid children but when I proved myself, I slowly moved up to adult clients.

Why do women prefer male stylists?

Women love male hairdressers because we are good and passionate about our job. Hairdressing is seen as a ladies’ job, therefore, the men who go for it do it because they are passionate. A gorgeous looking hair means a happy client who in turn will be sure to let her girlfriends in on the hair stylist’s prowess. That is how I keep myself ahead.

Salons have a reputation for gossip. How have you survived in such an environment?

Salons are crazy and when you get into the ‘mix’, you are finished. One has to be level-headed to make it. I mind my business. There are clients who will come in with different issues ranging from family to finances. I try not to get into their business. When they seek my opinion, I tell them to trust in the Lord. I am born-again and I believe that when you trust in Him, you will make it.

What are the challenges of your job?

The main challenge is the perception that Kenyans have about this profession. People look down upon it and think it is meant for losers. We also have clients with ill-intentions — but if you know how to draw the line between business and pleasure, you are good to go.

How do you manage to stay different within your profession?

I developed my own products because I wasn’t getting good results when I twisted African hair with the products available in the market. I created a formula through trial and error until I found the combination of ingredients that gave me the results I wanted. The process also involved understanding how African hair grows and its texture.

Your future plans?

I want to go back school to enhance my knowledge. This is a fast evolving industry and one needs to keep up with the latest trends and products so that they can deliver. I also plan to use the knowledge from refresher courses to educate my clients about good hair care. When a client walks in, they always just want to be done with, but as a professional, I believe enlightening them about hair care will go a long way too.

What do you do for fun?

I research a lot. Within this profession, you have to be up to date with the latest trend and fashion. That is why I love being online — it is the best way to be above the rest.

Any advice to the youth?

Don’t just idle in the estate listening to music all day, waiting for someone to help you. Get up and start something. Have faith in yourself. Even if you don’t have money, start somewhere, work with passion, and put all your efforts into it. Who knows, you might just exploit your talent and make it your profession.

The youth should not look down on any job or think that you must have an academic degree to succeed. People make money in different ways and once you’ve made it, people will not care whether you have a degree or not.