By Blessing Uchendu
When you think hairdressing, you naturally think women.
It however still remains a mystery how men could become better at dressing a woman’s hair, a vocation that is traditionally female gender based.
But that is not the case anymore as more young men continue to give female hairstylists a tough run for their money.
One unique, perhaps, strange thing to be noticed when you visit male salons is that women would prefer to queue up and wait for the male workers to make their hair, fix their eyelashes, nails among others.
Perhaps there are so many motivations why men venture into hairdressing; defying both the stereotype and complexity of a job that requires a unique sense of style.
Speaking to the ABS, a male hair stylist in Awka, Mr Ebuka Nweke, who has many female apprentices learning from him, said that he loves the profession, and has other outlets in different towns in Anambra State, with the aim of helping youths to be self employed, noting that what makes male hair stylists special is that most men have the ability to listen to their customers, give them what they want and as well as follow trends.
Another male hair stylist, Mr Gabriel Ezeiekel, who specializes in making ladies wig and fixing of weave-ons, said that for one to go higher in any profession, early discovery of one’s talent and passion to do the job are paramount, and noted that ladies both within and outside the state patronize him because he is always ready to give them the best and advised youths not to sit and wait for white collar jobs, when they have the chance of maximizing their talents.
He noted that some of the challenges facing male stylists were sexual harassments coupled with the fact that they are often seen as gays in extreme cases, noting that the only way to overcome the stereotypes is focus and self control.
Another male hairdresser, Mr Chidiebere Agwoeke, runs his business in partnership with his wife, Mrs Favor Agwoeke, said that he specializes in fixing nails, lashes, weavons, while the wife do more of plaiting, saying that all the apprentices with them learn fast, and, together, they strive towards expanding the business and help reduce unemployment.
On why they prefer male hair stylist to the female ones, some customers, Nzubechukwu Okeke and Chioma Dike, said that male hairdressers pay more attention to details and that they are always ready to give their best.
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