Christmas ‘inflates’ hairstyle fees
HIGH COST OF HAIR DO Aside from the rising cost of food stuffs and other commodities, residents of Abuja who spoke to this medium complained of the arbitrary increment by the various saloon operators in the city. For instance, Mercy Obasi, a student at the Nasarawa State University, explained, that “I come to Wuse market […]
HIGH COST OF HAIR DO
Aside from the rising cost of food stuffs and other commodities, residents of Abuja who spoke to this medium complained of the arbitrary increment by the various saloon operators in the city. For instance, Mercy Obasi, a student at the Nasarawa State University, explained, that “I come to Wuse market mostly to plait my hair. The price here is higher than any other saloon. I am presently wearing Bob Marley braids, and usually, here in Wuse market, the price goes for N2,500.00, but because of the festive season, the price has really gone up. Now, I do the same hair style for as high as N5,000.00. It is just a reap off.” She lamented.
But a stylist at Wuse market, who gave her name as Stella Patrick, from Rivers State, told Sunday Trust that “The price of hairdo varies from style to style. For instance, for fishbone, we charge N1,500 or N1,800 but because this is Christmas season we raise our charges to N2,000 naira and above. Fixing of weaving goes for between N1,000 to N2,000 depending on the bargaining power of the customer but under normal circumstances, we charge N600.00 or N800.00. Pick and drop or feathers goes for N2,000.”
Hanging around for customers
While commenting on the nature of her job as a hair stylist in the open space at the market, Patrick said, “We hang around this market and scout for customers. When we find one, we will look for a shade or take the customers to a shop nearby. It is preferable to rent a shop where you will operate the saloon from. But due to financial constraints, we are forced to manage here. Task force officials disturb us here regularly and there is nothing we can do about it.”
While attributing the high patronage to the festive period, another stylist, Chikaodi Zacheuss from Anambra State, said that “A lot of people are patronizing us here because, its Christmas season and we charge more because of the rush. For instance, we charge N2,500, for braids but now, because of the season, we charge N5,000. Twisting goes for as high as N7,000. Business is really booming and we have lots of customers. But in the midst of all these, we receive constant threats and harassments from the taskforce officials. Whenever they arrest us, we usually bail ourselves with N4,000. Some of us sleep in the cells for up to three or four days before we bail ourselves. Averagely, on a day, I have up to six customers and also fix eye lashes and do nails, too.
nail technicians make fast bucks
Henry Nwoko, a nail technician and stylist from Imo state, enthused that “I love this job because it puts food on my table. I fix weaving for women and do their nails. For instance, a hairstyle called Rihanna goes for as high as N4,000. I don’t feel intimidated by the women, I do the job because I have a passion for it and I have been in the business for five to six years now. Averagely, I make between N5,000 and N6,000 but now because of the Christmas period, I make up to N10,000 daily. Our challenges are mostly during rainy season. Whenever it rains, we usually have problems and our clients are usually left in the open. But in order to survive, we usually beg shop owners to accommodate our customers. But the situation is better during the dry season because, all we need to worry about is protecting our customers from the sunrays and that we can easily do by sitting under a shade. On why he has been unable to rent his own shop, Nwoko explained that “the major obstacle to getting a shop is financial constraint. I don’t feel comfortably with the constant harassment I face from these task force people but what can I do?,” he asked rhetorically.
Constance Adakwu, a telemarketer from Abia state who does pedicure and manicure at Wuse market explained that “it all depends on the style you want. We have sycron, aprelis and the rest. But ultimately, the price of these styles depends on the person making the hair. For instance, the hair style I am currently wearing is called Bob Marley braids and I made it for N3,000 but my friend did the same hair style in Garki for five thousand naira, so it actually depends on the location of the saloon and the hair dressers,” she said.