01 May 2018

When growing up, young Alice Moagi would just wake up to admire her aunt plaiting.

There was nothing compelling her to do such, other than the love she had for the art of playing with hair.

Today, the long love for hairstyles has given birth to Moagi’s sole source of income.

“I am very thankful for the government because I am where I am today because of the Poverty Eradication programme,” said Moagi who was assisted in 2014.

Through the programme, she was sent to Ramatea Vocational School where she learnt how to crotchet, retouch hair and to treat hair.

“Lecturers were always complimenting me for my tight stitches which made my plaiting last longer,” she added.

Through her strong will to learn, she was able to complete the course within three weeks.

And still, under the Poverty Eradication programme, she was given all that she needed to start her own hairdressing salon.

In 2017, she entered the President’s Day arts competitions and scooped position three countrywide, which showed her creativity in braid plaiting.

“I made strings from black plastics bags and plaited twist on my model’s hair. The stitch came out beautifully. After that I tied the hair to look like an African woman carrying firewood on her head,” she stated.

She said when they were given the task to do something creative, she knew then that she literally had to think outside the box in order to outshine other competitors.

Even though she is still waiting to be assisted with shelter to open up a salon, this has not been a hindrance, and today, Moagi makes enough to provide for her family.

She treats her customers with all sorts of hairstyles that are done in salons at her house.

Moagi emphasised that understanding her client’s personalities and lifestyles helped her to create the best look for each individual to satisfy them.

And this has resulted in increasing number of clients and added that she sometimes sleep after midnight plaiting many heads in a day.

As winter approaches, Moagi is beaming with smile knowing that her pick period has finally come.

“In winter I get more clients as people who had been keeping short hair would feel plaiting would help keep their heads warm,” she observed.

In order to reach out to more potential clients, Moagi said she posted her work on social media and makes pamphlets monthly that she distributes around Ramotswa and other villages.

Moreover, Moagi has built a special relationship with her reliable customers by doing their hair even when they do not have money and they pay her immediately when they have money.

“My goal is that one day be abroad styling models from all over the world giving them glamorous looks,” she said.

She encouraged the public to make use of all government aiding programmes as they can make one’s dream come true. ENDS