Profiles & Interviews

Sofia The Natural Hair Whisperer

I am a self taught hair stylist. Everything I know I learnt from observation and then I put it in to practice.

Zulu Noni

Published on

28/11/2020

Sofia Saungweme

Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce to you Sofia the natural hair care whisperer. She is the first ever hairdresser to open a hair salon that solely caters to natural hair, in Bulawayo. Here’s what we got to know about her.

Hey Sofia, how long have you been a hairdresser and how did you learn hair styling?
I started thinking of myself as a hairdresser probably 3 or so years ago but I learnt how to do hair when I was around 16. I even worked in a few salons but it was because I was bored 😂.

Which hairdressing school/if any did you go to learn about hair?
I am a self taught hair stylist. Everything I know I learnt from observation and then I put it in to practice.

Do you use organic products?
Yes, but not completely. Some of the products I use are not organic because of costs and availability. However I strive to get to a point where I only use organic.

Who is your ultimate hair icon and why?
I have many icons in the hair industry Kimberley Kimble, Nia the loc Goddess, Kuda Mpowase and Lucy from Ruutos and and and lol. All these women have different attributes that I admire from their business acumen to their achievements in the hair and beauty industry.

Summer is here, which means extreme heat and humidity. What would be your top tip on how to handle summer hair problems?
I just put up a video on my channel addressing that . I’ll put up a link. Hydrate , avoid heat , keep the styles simple, clarify and moisture, moisture, moisture.

What’s the craziest hair request you’ve ever had?
My clients literally have no drama LOL. I am still waiting for my crazy hair request to happen.

What’s one hair product you can’t live without?
This is a difficult question. I’m torn between castor oil & aloe vera.

Debunk the biggest hair myth you’ve heard?
The most common myth is there is a product out there that’s going to make your hair grow fast. That’s a myth. We are all genetically predisposed to an average of 0.5 – 2 inches a month. Diet, race, hair type, age are some reasons that will affect your growth. If you are say the average black southern African woman , you will get below 0.5 to 1.5 inches a month on average.

You just recently opened a salon specifically for Natural hair. Congratulations, Amhlophe, Makorokoto. That must be scary though… what motivated you to do so?
Thank you! When I decided to specialize on natural hair, my work has only been growing and it just felt like the next logical step was my own studio. To give my clients a space where they have privacy and can relax for a few hours while I pamper their hair .It is challenging and scary yes , but every challenge is a learning process.