The amazing world of male hair stylists

For anyone unfamiliar with Cash Plaza near Ikeja roundabout, Lagos, it may depict a place strictly meant for serious financial transactions. But alas, a visit to the plaza reveals a different world.

Right from the gate, dark, full and luxuriant hair of women beckons, with busy hands of male stylists performing ‘surgical operation’ on the hair of young women determined to look good in this hair clinic.

Though the business of bringing out the beauty in a woman’s hair cannot be said to be the sole business of women alone, many agree it is a business  largely dominated by women. But one feature of the plaza that can’t be missed is the preponderance of male hair stylists. Their signature here is, whatever a woman can do, a man can do much
better.

Olusoga Omotayo studied Accountancy at the Lagos State Polytechnic. He does not see himself working in an accounting firm or any blue chip company anytime soon. His visage exudes joy and contentment as his hands settle on what he knows how to do best while  the blast  of  music got his head moving in different  directions.

The philosophy of Omotayo is, financial prosperity lies in the things that give
expression to the individual’s passion.

Born to a hair stylist mother he assisted as a student during his days in high school, eking out a living from what was his favorite pastime is not an accident. “My mother was a stylist. I can say she inspired me. I helped her whenever came back from school and that kindled a light in me. However, I realised I needed to read more,” he told The Daily Times.

Omotayo revealed his pleasure for the work is not money. “I really have passion for this job. I’m not doing it for money, and that was what encouraged me to acquire more knowledge on the job.’’

Another male stylist, Samuel Johnson, says his life has witnessed a tremendous turn around since he discovered what he called “the game changer’’.  Samuel, who has been working as a stylist for nine straight
years, said he was influenced by a friend whose life was an open testament to a goldmine he never knew.

‘‘I had many options to make money but I have this guy, a friend who is a super stylist and, just watching him at work got me thinking,” he told Saturday Times.

“Besides making me love the job, I saw he was doing very well. I told myself that I could do it too so that decided me. I threw myself into it and got all the training I needed and here I am. From that time till now, I can say my story has changed in no small way.”

Exuding confidence and fulfillment, Johnson said he had never regretted his decision. “I am happy doing this and I am proud to tell you I feed myself with this job, feed my hangers-on and I don’t see myself quitting anytime soon.’’

A third amazing male stylist in a woman’s world is a Mechanical Engineering student of the Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso, Oyo state, Adediran Adedeji.

Saturday Times gathered that the human instinct for survival propelled him into the hair making business. Adedeji believes that styles and curls are heavily dependent on calculation.

“Making hair for a lady involves a lot of calculation and creativity. The beautiful styles you see on women are created by people,” he intimated our correspondent.

“I can stay here and create styles that no one has ever seen and people will wonder and ask: ‘who did this?’ So, basically, it’s about calculation that births creativity.”

But much as he is enjoying his work, the engineering streak in him refuses to be dumped for hair styles.

“Much as I love what I am doing, the truth is, I’ m not staying long on this.  I will do it for some time; after I leave school, I plan to hand it over to someone. Though I love the creativity that goes into female hair styling, engineering is my natural call and I am going for it,’’ Adediran said.

The lures and feminine challenges

Saturday Times learnt firsthand that being a male hair stylist exposes the guys to advances from their female clients.

Olukoga Omotayo intimates that he is not one to easily give in to overtures from the opposite sex when it comes to his job.

“The challenge I face now is that I am constantly faced with temptation multiple relationships from my clients. If you are not focused and lack discipline, I tell you that you will end up making hair for many women free of charge. I have many customers falling in love with me – or so they say, but I am wise about it. When they show interest, I discourage them by paying little or no attention them.’’

He recalls some of his colleagues in the business who doesn’t know how to separate business from pleasure and the indiscretion has made many bankrupt.

Samuel Johnson admits he was in that error at a time. “But now, the time to fool around with customers is over. Time there was when I offered free services to my female customers because they offered to be my girl friends, but not anymore. I later discovered if I didn’t stop, I would not make any progress. That’s in the past anyway.

“I had to resolve that if my girlfriend wants my services, she must pay for it. That’s the new rule and it has been working for me,” he said.

Why do women prefer male hairstylists?

“They take their time to work on your hair,’’ says a marketing executive with a leading insurance company. Bisola says before she got married, she would always go for a male stylist, but her husband was not comfortable with it.

“That forced me to get a female stylist. Otherwise, I’m more comfortable with men and how they make my hair. My husband didn’t like the fact that another man is touching my hair. He’s the jealous type. So, I had to stop. I don’t want trouble in my marriage.”

Among scores of career ladies and business women who prefer men stylists to women, one business woman, Ajoke Akinpelumi was an exception. She has something against men stylists besides her religious background.

She told Saturday Times:

“I am a Muslim. Islam does not allow men to touch our women’s hair, but besides that obstacle, I find that men are too slow when they make hair. If I have a party and I need to get my hair done as quickly as possible, I can’t patronise a male hairstylist, even if my religion allows it,’’ she said firmly.

Ladesope Ladelokun