A DAY WITH NOZIPHEPHO MDHLULI..

It's Wednesday and I haven’t been having the best week but there’s a little glimpse of happiness at the end of the week, I am supposed to be shooting the first video for Magique’s YouTube channel. It has been postponed for two weeks now and I cannot contain my happiness that tomorrow it is finally happening. I call the nail technician I am supposed to shoot with so I can get the final confirmation on the time and I receive the worst news ever. She has decided to cancel and I do not think I can take another punch to this horrible week so I beg for an afternoon slot instead, she agrees and I say a little prayer.

It’s a beautiful sunny Thursday and I take a taxi to Daantjie, Enkomeni to meet my star nail technician. I am so excited to celebrate her new milestone, she has opened her own nail bar so I bring with me some appetizer as a substitute for champagne because she does not consume alcohol. We get there before the videographer and I fill her in on the how and the why and we quickly fall into our routine and catch up.

I have known her for as long as I can remember and I saw it very fitting to pick her as my first cover girl. She’s a beautiful soul inside out and her energy is just so contagious, she is what I would call an underdog because her work speaks volume but she is shy so we know this is going to be an amazing story.

Q: Congratulations on this new milestone, how does it feel to own your space?

A: Its very peaceful, for once I get to have peace. I don’t wish to have it in any other way

Q: Can you briefly tell us what made you fall in love with nail artistry and how long have you been in the industry?

A: I started when I was in matric (2012) and I even did my own nails for my matric dance (laughs), they were ugly but I was determined. I was introduced into this industry by a neighbor I use to watch do nails and I was intrigued. I asked my family to buy me a kit and I taught myself. I started charging R60/R70 to my family members and grew from there.

Q: Has the journey been easy?

A: No, it hasn’t been easy just like all businesses, you need to know that the nail business is seasonal. You might work all week then not work the following week. You need to understand your business and clients.

Q: If you weren’t doing nails, what would you be doing?

A: Probably a government job (laughs), kidding I would probably be doing other businesses.

Q: What advice can you give to a beginning nail technician on how to deal with competition, the anxiety of not finding clients and making a success of your business?

A: Focus on your own business, the nail business is seasonal and understanding that will help you cope with anxiety. Patience is key, no business is easy.

Q: How do you always keep up to date with nail trends?

A: Instagram honey!!

Q: How much money does a nail technician make?

A: (laughs) they will rob me; I will answer based on when I was renting in town (laughs) from R1500-R2000 can be per day to per week.

Q: What is your favorite between gel and acrylic?

A: Because I am self-taught, I will say acrylic is the queen because gel can be quite tricky, the same gel that dried today might not tomorrow.

Q: What is better working from home or renting in town?

A: Definitely working from home, less stress related to rent and being able to manage my time.

Q: I always say that location doesn’t matter as long as you can align your prices with the target market of that area, did you have to lower your prices because of your location or have people accepted your prices?

A: I value quality over anything, I haven’t had to lower my prices even though I did during lockdown. My work speaks for itself and people respect that.

Q: Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

A: (laughs) maybe I will divorce nail artistry.

Q: Last but not least, a question that affects a lot of business owners. How do you deal with family members?

A: Just like I said, my family bought me a kit and they have proven to be very supportive. All my family members pay when they sit in this chair.

Q: Lastly, can you please run us through your pricelists and how can people contact you?

A: My acrylic full set is R200, I am not on Instagram but I am Noziphepho Mdhluli on Facebook or you can contact me on 079 289 2622. I work Monday to Saturday but on appointment.