Today dear friends, i watched with lots of admiration how my wife put in some much energy but with a smile to earn a little income through plaiting or braiding. From our home in Mankon-Bamenda in the North West region of Cameroon, even though trained as a hairdresser and braider she hasn't been able to own her own Salon due to financial difficulties caused by the sociopolitical upheavals in my Country. That's why she chosed to work from home, why specializing in little children hairdo, most specifically the hair plait ( a hairdo formed by braiding or twisting the hair ).
° A hair plait, also known as a braid, is a hairstyle created by interlacing three or more strands of hair. Braiding is a hairstyle that has been used for thousands of years in many cultures around the World. And my wife decides to do it because it doesn't demand much unlike hairdressing that needs space and other items. From her parlour or veranda she can achieve her objective, by completing the task and earning her pay.
° Her customers love and adore braid because it is the commonly adopted style to protect naturally thick and tightly curled hair from the effects of her heat and humidity. However, in western societiesu such hair type has been a source of discrimination, so now many people of African heritage are reclaiming the hairstyle as part of their heritage.
° Infact there are many reasons people braid or plait, especially Africans. Many African groups braid their hair to identify with their tribe. Braids indicate wealth, marital status, beauty, power and religion. Slaves used braids to communicate escape routes, while slave holders forced slaves to shave their head and keep a tidy appearance. However, today in most societies like mine, people plait for beauty. Different braiding styles bring out their beauty and great facial looks and they appreciate it. In my own Community for example most young women and children have adopted braid styles because it is quite accommodating and easy to manage. My wife can testify to this because it is her profession and she deals with different customers everyday. And most schools in my Country now, instead of female students shaving, the school authorities would rather have them plait than shave. Moreover the female Bororoes in my Community don't shave, their tradition obliges them to plait
°It is healthy to plait because it makes the hair to grow, and does help in maintaining hair health by preventing breakage and retaining moisture.
√ This creates a healthy environment for hair growth, ensuring your hair can grow long and strong without being hindered by damage.
° In a broader perspective, people plait their hair, also known as braiding primarily for cultural reasons, using braid patterns to signify tribal affiliation, age. marital status, as a protective hairstyle to minimize damage to their hair, especially for those with naturally curly or thick hair and also because of beauty and ancestral heritage.
° Hairdressing or hair braiding can be a lucrative business. But you have to have the potential to earn money by starting your own African hairdressing or braiding business. As a business owner, you set your rates and control your schedules. Clients are willing to spend hours in a salon chair and pay well for perfect set of braids. However my wife chose to do her business from home to minimize cost. She gets her clients but not like in a regular salon space. But she is happy with what she is able to get at the end of the day to assist in the family upkeep considering the family's dwindling financial situation. Our daughter who just turned 16, helps her in the business because she has also learned hairdressing
during her holidays and weekends. Aside from assisting the mother my wife, she also does braiding as a side hustle apart from her academics.
° You may like to know if hairdressing or braiding requires any qualification. Infact hairdressing and hair braiding is open to all students and have no formal entry requirements..To study the hairdressing and hair braiding course, all you need is a passion for learning, a good understanding of English. And you must be over the age 16, however this may also depend on the physical morphology.
° I have encouraged my wife to expand her business by creating awareness for more customers or clients despite the fact that she does it from home. I have told her to use the social media which is the most important platform for attracting new clients. I have also advised her to create and share high quality videos of her work, and then monitor her engagement, and use search hashtags for our City and share her looking app link so that new clients can easily spot her availability and book for her services.
° I must tell you here without mixing words that the benefits of having a braided hairstyles is that you do not need to manipulate your hair daily. And your hair is protected from environmental factors such as heat or water exposure which can lead to damaged broken hair and frizziness.
