Thriving Traditional Barbing Business

Fri, Oct 31, 2014
By publisher
6 MIN READ

Business

– 

Many Nigerians are resorting to the traditional mode of barbing hair popularly called Wanzami in Hausa, which is now a thriving business because of economic reasons

By Fidelia Salami  |  Nov. 10, 2014 @ 01:00 GMT  |

DESPITE the modernisation of barbing saloons with sophisticated implements such as electric clippers, razor blades and sterilisation gadgets, some Nigerians still prefer to patronise traditional mode of barbing which appears to be a thriving business now in the country. Across the country, Realnews observed that many Nigerians patronise the traditional or nomadic barbers, who are called Wanzami in Hausa, because of various reasons ranging from economic, poor infrastructure, especially power outage and convenience. The normadic barbers can render services to customers cheap and in the comfort of their homes.

The patronage of Wanzami cuts across all age groups and it has become a sustainable means of livelihood for the practitioners. This explains why some unemployed people are joining the ranks of nomadic barbers to earn a living. The cost requirement to becoming a Wanzami is very little as all one needs to start is enough money to procure the traditional knives and razor blades needed for shaving.

In Lagos State, for instance, Iyana Ipaja market provides a ready venue for a legion of Wanzamis. At the Iyana Ipaja Mosque, on a daily basis, 12 men with sharp knives and razor blades fastened to short metals ply their trade by providing clean haircuts and chin shaves to customers at varying costs, depending on how much the customer bargains. The cheapest price per hair shave is N100 but customers who are not aware pay higher.

Adamu Alkali, a Wanzami, said people now prefer the traditional approach to barbing, which the practitioners have improved as “we always sterilise our tools before we shave the hair of our clients”. Alkali said that they would still be relevant in the society as they learnt the art from their ancestors and that it would continue to be relevant, as not all could afford the expenses in modern barbing salon. He said that he has never witnessed any accident in his first decade of engaging in traditional haircuts, using knives and razor blades across many towns in Nigeria. “I haven’t had any health-related problems involving my customers because we wash our implements thoroughly with mentholated spirit, as well as with water and soap,” he said.

Some customers of the traditional barbers seem to have much confidence in the services they render and as such harbour no fears of getting infected with any diseases.  Ayinde Agbaje, a regular customer to the traditional barbers, said that the trade men’s “good service delivery” remains an attraction to him. He said that he stopped using clippers a long time ago and adapted to the use of razor blades because the traditional barbers use one razor blade for one person unlike the modern salon where the barbers use one clipper for a thousand customers even though they sterilise their equipment.

A Wanzami shaving the head of a customer
A Wanzami shaving the head of a customer

“I think they are more experienced than the other barbers that we have around and they are cheaper. In salon, it cost between N200 and N400 to get a hair cut, but here you pay just N100.” He, however, advises customers to try to buy their own personal hair cutting implements to minimise the risks of infections to the barest minimum despite the precautionary methods of both modern and traditional barbers.”

Another customer, Ikechukwu Iwor, said that he feels more protected because the traditional barbers use one razor per one man. Instead of contacting disease from the modern salon, he would rather patronise the traditional barbers who buy packets of razor blades daily for customers to use, as against barbing salons which use clippers generally for several people. Iwor also stated that there were times when he was in a hurry to cut his hair but the modern salons will not have power supply, their generators may be faulty or he may have to pay extra to get his hair cut if the generator is functional. But with the traditional barbers that is not the case.

Despite the viewpoints of these customers about the hygienic aspects of the traditional barbers operations, Anthony Okwunze, a medical practitioner, said that customers to the traditional hair cutters risked contracting diseases as the proximity of the blade cutting them is higher, because when it cuts someone, there is blood, and if there is contact, there might also be problem.

Okwunze also said although it is safer to patronise the traditional barbers considering the fact that a lot of the modern barbing salon methods of tools’ sterilisations are not adequate especially when they have many customers and there is rush. He said the best way to play safe is for customers to buy their own blades and clippers when they visit their barbers unless they are sure of the sterilisation. “Whenever an individual wants to go to a barbing saloon, it is better that he has his own razor or cumber blades instead of using a clipper that someone else has used because you cannot guarantee the sterility,” he said.

But a doctor, who wishes anonymity, said, it was good to think of hygiene, sanitation and the environment where you cut your hair in order not to catch the Ebola virus, that it is all centered on infection. He said the orthodox barbers do not wear hand gloves when cutting hair despite the fact that they do not look real clean. He also said that when there is a cut, the possibility of contacting tetanus infection is high when you patronise the traditional barbers. However, both parties stand the risk of being infected, he said. He believes strongly in people buying their own clippers to avoid being infected.

Notwithstanding these concerns, the traditional hair cutters have demonstrated the capacity to sustain their trade over the years, despite the advent of modern tools for the business. Although, Wanzami may be seen as archaic, but to some in the Hausa and neighbouring communities, the local barber knows better how to create a good and satisfying hair cut and shave which lasts for longer.

|

Tags: