Sallah: Kebbi housewives make brisk business braiding hair
Following a renewed craze for traditional hairstyles among the women folk, housewives in Kebbi State are making brisk business this Sallah season.
The traditional hairstylists, majority of them in purdah, enjoy patronage substantially from young girls as they operate from their matrimonial homes.
The turn of events from modern to traditional hair styling may not be unconnected to the financial hardship faced by many families in the state as salons charge higher prices.
Before now, only the elderly sought the services of these traditional hair stylists, and even at that, it was not frequent as many could stay with a particular style for a long period.
However, this festive season, young women are seen trooping to these traditional hair stylists.
Kuluwa Miko, a 27-year-old housewife, said after getting married eight years ago, she learnt traditional hair weaving because it was a trade that required little or nothing in terms of money to learn.
She, however, said even after acquiring the skill three years back, her economic status did not change as patronage had not been encouraging.
Malama Kuluwa who is so pleased with the change of events this year, said the patronage of their services began to appreciate since last Sallah, adding that for the fact that she did not prepare for a high turn up of customers during the period, the work became so tasking; coupled with her household chores.
She explained that, “The charge per head depends on style; as there are many of them. The age of a customer and of course the nature of her hair matter. We charge between N300 and N500. Depending on the turn up of customers, if we start early we weave as many as 10 to 15 women a day. We make as much as N3,000 to N6,000 in a day.”
Speaking to Caliphate Trust, 13-year-old Sakinat Saka said she preferred traditional styling because she did not weave to flaunt it as she wore hijab, adding that based on that there was no reason for her to spend a lot or waste time plaiting expensive styles.