Why male beauticians are edging out their lady colleagues
UNLIKE poles attract,†is a Wandegeya salon owner’s explanation of why women prefer male beauticians
By Sarah Muwanga
UNLIKE poles attract,†is a Wandegeya salon owner’s explanation of why women prefer male beauticians. He argued that “women are more at ease with men than with fellow women.â€
Today, many modern salons in Kampala employ for similar reasons. Besides washing women’s hair, men do the perming, styling, plaiting, cutting and trimming.
They also offer pedicure and manicure services, massage of all types, skin care and a lot more. What is interesting and funny is that their work is neat and salons where they (men) are employed have more customers.
“Women tend to despise fellow women and it is difficult for a woman to accept that the other woman is more beautiful or richer. They have that cheap competition which the men don’t,†Irene Bukirwa of Pearls Beauty Parlour in Kasanga said.
Bukirwa says that men excel more at customer care than women.
“Naturally, a man will enjoy touching a woman’s body. Some of these women they touch in the salons are beautiful and very important people. It is therefore without wonder that men handle women very well. They enjoy the job,†she says.
Some people argue that it is the market forces that have pushed men into such jobs, which were predominantly feminine.
“There is a lot of unemployment. When men look around, they see women are many and they want the services. They have no alternative but to offer the services,†Deo Mukama, a Makerere University student found at Pinkie Salon in Wandegeya, said.
But Lillian of Fancy Faces salon says: “Men of this generation are aggressive. Where there is money they go. The beauty industry is thriving today. That’s why they have infiltrated it. If women are driving taxis, why shouldn’t a man plait hair?â€
Some say a lot of rumour mongering goes on in salons where women work. That is why fellow women avoid them. But others simply think the whole point revolves around customer care.
“Women simply have a poor reception. If you find her working on herself in the mirror, she will first finish before turning around to tend to you. Some see you through the mirror, continue putting powder on their face and ask you what you want,†Betty of Triple N salon, along William street, says.
However, Betty argues that some customers, especially those working in offices look down on fellow women who work in the salons as school dropouts. “Women in the salons develop an inferiority complex which they try to cover up. In the process, the two clash,†Betty says.
UNLIKE poles attract,†is a Wandegeya salon owner’s explanation of why women prefer male beauticians. He argued that “women are more at ease with men than with fellow women.â€
Today, many modern salons in Kampala employ for similar reasons. Besides washing women’s hair, men do the perming, styling, plaiting, cutting and trimming.
They also offer pedicure and manicure services, massage of all types, skin care and a lot more. What is interesting and funny is that their work is neat and salons where they (men) are employed have more customers.
“Women tend to despise fellow women and it is difficult for a woman to accept that the other woman is more beautiful or richer. They have that cheap competition which the men don’t,†Irene Bukirwa of Pearls Beauty Parlour in Kasanga said.
Bukirwa says that men excel more at customer care than women.
“Naturally, a man will enjoy touching a woman’s body. Some of these women they touch in the salons are beautiful and very important people. It is therefore without wonder that men handle women very well. They enjoy the job,†she says.
Some people argue that it is the market forces that have pushed men into such jobs, which were predominantly feminine.
“There is a lot of unemployment. When men look around, they see women are many and they want the services. They have no alternative but to offer the services,†Deo Mukama, a Makerere University student found at Pinkie Salon in Wandegeya, said.
But Lillian of Fancy Faces salon says: “Men of this generation are aggressive. Where there is money they go. The beauty industry is thriving today. That’s why they have infiltrated it. If women are driving taxis, why shouldn’t a man plait hair?â€
Some say a lot of rumour mongering goes on in salons where women work. That is why fellow women avoid them. But others simply think the whole point revolves around customer care.
“Women simply have a poor reception. If you find her working on herself in the mirror, she will first finish before turning around to tend to you. Some see you through the mirror, continue putting powder on their face and ask you what you want,†Betty of Triple N salon, along William street, says.
However, Betty argues that some customers, especially those working in offices look down on fellow women who work in the salons as school dropouts. “Women in the salons develop an inferiority complex which they try to cover up. In the process, the two clash,†Betty says.