Different things can inspire women on the career paths they embark on.
For some, it may be the need to earn some money on the side. For others, it may be a desire to fix a problem from their childhood and yet for others, it may be born out of a need to explore a new side of themselves.
In our latest listicle, Urban Woman Magazine asked some women who are hair stylists what led them to that career.
Read their responses below.
EB
I only style my own hair, and those of loved ones, these days.
I’m not formally trained. I’ve just loved playing with hair since I was a little girl.
I did it for money in 2018/2019. Took on home clients, even made braided wigs and sold them abroad.
Nowadays, I mostly style my hair myself because I don’t trust someone else to give it the care it needs. Yes, there are natural hair salons, but surprisingly, for the largest black nation, these aren’t commonplace. Sometimes it’s daunting when you have to constantly teach people how to handle your hair, so you just do it yourself. The beauty is in watching your hair flourish when you advocate for it.
I take care of my hair 90% of the time, and I love to teach others how to do it and love their natural hair as much as I do.
CB
I have always loved hair. As a child no one taught me how to weave. I learnt and became perfect just by weaving my mom’s hair.
I learnt different styles by looking at style magazines and calendars; gradually I learnt to braid and fix weaveons.
In all of this I always had a feeling that there’s something missing in our regiment because looking at foreign magazines and watching foreign movies, I knew something was missing. So I had this dream of going to America to learn more about hair, then come back to Nigeria and open the biggest hair salon that treats and style hair as it should be.
Well fast forward to many years later, Nigeria reshaped my dreams, but God led me to work for one cosmetic company that has a Trichology Institute; sometime in 2016 I was granted a scholarship, that’s how I became not just a stylist but a certified Trichologist.
I was able to set up my dream hair clinic sometime in 2023 called Majesty Hair Clinic. Well I left that to run for my life as I was in an abusive relationship. My lowest is right now because during the duration I had my business, I was doing great and my clientele increased greatly.
But since I left I have barely been called for home service, nor do they want to drive down to my new residence because of distance. Also, there’s the issue of aesthetics and certain equipment so I understand them. For the moment I am training on other things to add to my knowledge and skill. Will bounce back soon.
MA
I’ve always loved hair and everything about it.
For me, hair has always been more than just “hair.” It’s been a personal journey, one I’ve mostly walked alone, with a lot of googling, trial-and-error, and late-night research rabbit holes guiding me.
I transitioned by myself after spending months learning everything I could about natural hair. No big chop appointment, no professional hand-holding; just me, my scissors, and the stubborn determination to understand my own texture. And honestly? It was one of the most empowering choices I’ve made.
Growing up, I was always that girl who insisted on doing her own hair. Not because it was easy — it wasn’t then, and it definitely isn’t now — but because I liked understanding what my hair needed. Even now, when the process feels daunting and exhausting, I still take care of my hair myself. It’s a form of self-trust I never lost.
I even did hair for a few people back in 100 level; twists, simple styles, and basic installs. Nothing big, but enough to show me that I genuinely enjoyed caring for hair, experimenting, and helping people feel beautiful in their own texture.
I don’t call myself a professional stylist (yet), but hair has always been something I return to – a skill I built with my own hands, and now I want to keep learning so I can become better at what I love.
Angel Nduka-Nwosu is a writer, journalist and editor. She moonlights occasionally as a podcaster on As Angel Was Sayin’. Catch her on all socials @asangelwassayin.