Crowning glory for salon crafters
MANNEQUINS displaying handmade wigs are lined up at the entrance of an inner city salon on Market Street in Polokwane, Limpopo.
The women who make these wigs sit nearby, their fingers making quick movements as they weave synthetic hair extensions into different-styled wigs.
“Making wigs is our part-time job. We are full-time hairdressers, but while we wait for our clients [to arrive], we make wigs,” Sylvia Kamusasa explained.
Kamusasa, 51, left her home in Zimbabwe’s capital Harare, in 2009, where she was employed as a tour operator.
When the tourism industry in her home country took a downward spiral due to the economic situation, Kamusasa turned to hairdressing to earn a living.
She continued working as a hairdresser after coming to South Africa, but only started making wigs last year.
The salon is operated by 11 women from Zimbabwe, Ghana and South Africa. They all share in the responsibility of paying rent.
Kamusasa said all the women at the salon started making the wigs to accommodate people who do not want to endure the pain of having their hair braided in the conventional way.
She said they learnt the technique of wig-making from 44-year-old Vanessa Chirwana.
“She started making wigs for an order from a customer who did not have hair.
“We just copied what she was doing,” Kamusasa said.
The wigs come in different styles including twists, Afro and razor cuts. Prices range from R300 to R1 200, depending on the style.
One wig takes between three days to make. two and
Chirwana said she had been plaiting and styling people’s hair for five years before she got a client request for a wig. She said she made her first wig using a net cap, synthetic hair extensions and a needle.
“Now everybody wants our wigs and people of all ages buy them,” Chirwana said.
Audline Mbengo, 40, said the trend of wearing wigs had grown in popularity as people did not want to sit for long hours having their hair braided.
“Everyone is doing it. We also make them for people who struggle with hair growth,” Mbengo said.
Monica Chimbhungwe, 40, who was busy at her station in front of a mirror, said she had sold more than 60 wigs since she started making them.
Like the other women in the salon, Chimbhungwe lost her job as a human resources manager because of the economic situation in Zimbabwe, and became a hairdresser.
“I realised that I love it. I love seeing the end result and making women look beautiful,” Chimbhungwe said.