Born and raised in Temba, hair guru Bonolo Ramela (31), says although he has been in the industry for over a decade, he is always learning new techniques to perfect hairstyles.
By: Boitumelo Mmakou
To make more money, my mother built extra rooms in our yard to rent out to tenants. One of her tenants was a hairdresser who used the rented room as a salon. I spent most of my weekends and afternoons there, learning how to do hair.
I started doing people’s hair to generate an income. My mother worked in Joburg while I stayed in Pretoria with my eldest sisters and younger brother. My mother could only afford the basics. So, I used the money I made from the salon to buy anything else my siblings and I needed.
After completing my matric in 2006, I went to the Tshwane University of Technology to study chemical engineering, but a year into my degree, I pursued a career in modelling. I also worked part-time at a salon in the Pretoria CBD. I soon struggled to juggle tertiary work, hair dressing and modelling. So, I quit school to focus on what I was more passionate about at the time, which was modelling.
Working as a model opened doors for me as a hair stylist at fashion shows. I used the platform to network with fashion designers and event organisers, selling myself as a hair stylist. My connections in the model industry scored me the opportunity to grow as a hairdresser.
A photo posted by Bonolo (@bonolo_stylist) on
I have worked on a lot of projects, including public relations shoots, magazine covers and TV shows. However, the greatest project I have ever worked on was David Tlale’s private fashion show launches in 2010 and 2011. Working with a big brand such as David was exciting; I was honoured to be credited as the hairstylist for his shows.
My work often clashed with my modelling, so, I left it to create a brand and good reputation for myself as a hairstylist. When I am not styling hair at shoots or fashion shows, I work at Esteem Hair, a salon in the Pretoria CBD. There, I manage two stylists who work under my wing, and 10 others who are renting stations at the salon.
This is what I get up to if I’m not at the salon
A photo posted by Bonolo (@bonolo_stylist) on
I make R22 000–R28 000 on a monthly basis. This, however, depends on the number of private clients who come to the salon and the corporate projects I do for that month.
I make a successful career from styling hair because I pay attention to my image, which is important in my line of work. Other stylists don’t understand how I built a name for myself because they don’t care about how they present themselves. Once you have a vision, and are certain of the direction you want your career to take, you need to look the part.
It’s also important to keep up with trends, to do your research and be open to learning new things. Many hairdressers limit themselves by focusing on a particular style of hair. Although I did not go to a hair-dressing school, I take time to learn new techniques; my most recent project is making lace wigs.
In the next few years, I plan to open my own salon, hair academy and do workshops. This requires a sponsor or funds, which may take time. Right now, I want more stylists to work under my wing. I want to mentor and train them to do hair the way I do, so my clients can trust them to do their hair when I am not available. Their skills could also be useful and cut time on days where I have corporate shoots and fashion shows.
