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CONGOLESE Martha Makuena never thought her background in fashion design and expertise in hair styling would prove useful when her husband was transferred to Wuhan City, central China’s hubei Province, 13 years ago.
Today, the owner of Paulma hair salon specializing in afro hairstyles, which opened in april this year in downtown Beijing, employs three professional hairdressers from africa. she has three children, all born in China.
Makuena arrived in Wuhan in 1999 and found she was often asked by people she spoke to online to provide hair care for africans in China. Intuition told her opportunity was knocking.
“It is difficult for a Chinese hairdresser to meet the [hair care] needs of our african hair. When we go to a local salon, they can’t do our hair. Local people’s hair is oily, but our hair is dry,” said Makuena.
Makuena began to provide a hairstyling service at home and she soon built a good reputation in the local expatriate community.
Getting started
The burgeoning sino-african relationship has seen an increasing number of africans going to China. although exact figures are hard to come by, Makuena has seen a big expansion in her customer base since the family moved to Beijing in 2003.
“My wife has a diploma in hairdressing and fashion design, and she knows these things. Thus, the idea came up: Why don’t we set up a standard, upscale hair salon in Beijing to help africans?”Makuena’s husband Paul Luyeye, a senior engineer, told ChinAfrica.
But, the road to success was not without its problems.
“It was not that easy,” said Luyeye. he said that the process to set up a foreign company in China was a long one, and as it was not his first time to go through the process he knew what was at stake.
The couple went back to their hometown Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic republic of the Congo, to recruit local experienced hairdressers and helped them apply for work permits. staff are given about 4,000 yuan ($635) monthly salary and free accommodation close to the salon.
“Skilled staff are key to the success of business,” Luyeye said, adding that he has invested about 450,000 yuan ($71,428) into the salon, which is the only one of its kind in Beijing. he also promotes the business to show other africans that it is possible to open up businesses in China.
Variety of styles
Paulma afro hair salon is opened to everyone. Services include a wide range of styles for all hair types, from hair extensions to braiding, relaxing to cornrows, hair coloring, haircutting, and hair treatment.
Some styles take two hours, but others can take up to eight hours, topping the price list at more than 1,200 yuan ($190), according to Makuena.
“Chinese and african hair have different textures and needs. african hair is essentially curly and thicker,” she said. “We have special haircare products like shampoo, creams and relaxers that are imported from the United states, europe or africa.”
“Everyone is welcome. We cater not only to the african, but to Chinese and other foreigners, who come for either a regular haircut or an afro style,” explained Luyeye.
Since the salon opened early this year, customers from as far afield as shanghai and hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, have walked through the door and the salon has quickly established itself as the favorite place for africans to have their hair done.
Jesus ela from equatorial Guinea has been a loyal customer for several months. The overseas student at University of science and Technology Beijing trusts Makuena so much that it is the only place he will have his hair cut.
“I am afraid that Chinese hair stylists don’t know how to handle my dry, curly hair because they’re not used to it,” ela told ChinAfrica. “But, Paulma can meet my needs.”
Chinese are also curious to try the salon.
“I would go for african micro-braids if I have opportunity. It sounds quite interesting as Chinese people with straight, long hair cannot get these type of braids themselves,” said Yi Yi, a film producer, “but perhaps, eight hours [to do hair styling] is too long for me.”
Luyeye suggested that Chinese try an african hairstyle as it is fresh and can make a fashion statement. “They are curious about it,” he said.
Ability to adapt
Encouraged by customers’ enthusiasm, Luyeye plans to soon open branches in shanghai and Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province, respectively.
The african entrepreneur noted that understanding Chinese culture as much as possible is an advantage to do business in China, but it is much more important to properly position yourself for future advancement.
“I would like to have my hair salon first serve africans, but of course, as an entrepreneur, I would certainly like to see a return in five years,” he said, adding that he also expects this venture to have long-term effects on foreigners looking to start a business in China.
Having worked in many countries worldwide, Luyeye sees China as a land of opportunity. he works here, lives here and invests here, and his family speaks fluent Chinese, which makes the integration much easier.
Luyeye believed his late father’s words helped him to adjust quickly in new places. “My father told me: ‘My son, if you arrive at a place where you see everyone dancing with their left leg, you do the same thing. Don’t think you are special.’”
“I have always kept that in mind, and that piece of advice has helped my career success,” he said.
Today, the owner of Paulma hair salon specializing in afro hairstyles, which opened in april this year in downtown Beijing, employs three professional hairdressers from africa. she has three children, all born in China.
Makuena arrived in Wuhan in 1999 and found she was often asked by people she spoke to online to provide hair care for africans in China. Intuition told her opportunity was knocking.
“It is difficult for a Chinese hairdresser to meet the [hair care] needs of our african hair. When we go to a local salon, they can’t do our hair. Local people’s hair is oily, but our hair is dry,” said Makuena.
Makuena began to provide a hairstyling service at home and she soon built a good reputation in the local expatriate community.
Getting started
The burgeoning sino-african relationship has seen an increasing number of africans going to China. although exact figures are hard to come by, Makuena has seen a big expansion in her customer base since the family moved to Beijing in 2003.
“My wife has a diploma in hairdressing and fashion design, and she knows these things. Thus, the idea came up: Why don’t we set up a standard, upscale hair salon in Beijing to help africans?”Makuena’s husband Paul Luyeye, a senior engineer, told ChinAfrica.
But, the road to success was not without its problems.
“It was not that easy,” said Luyeye. he said that the process to set up a foreign company in China was a long one, and as it was not his first time to go through the process he knew what was at stake.
The couple went back to their hometown Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic republic of the Congo, to recruit local experienced hairdressers and helped them apply for work permits. staff are given about 4,000 yuan ($635) monthly salary and free accommodation close to the salon.
“Skilled staff are key to the success of business,” Luyeye said, adding that he has invested about 450,000 yuan ($71,428) into the salon, which is the only one of its kind in Beijing. he also promotes the business to show other africans that it is possible to open up businesses in China.
Variety of styles
Paulma afro hair salon is opened to everyone. Services include a wide range of styles for all hair types, from hair extensions to braiding, relaxing to cornrows, hair coloring, haircutting, and hair treatment.
Some styles take two hours, but others can take up to eight hours, topping the price list at more than 1,200 yuan ($190), according to Makuena.
“Chinese and african hair have different textures and needs. african hair is essentially curly and thicker,” she said. “We have special haircare products like shampoo, creams and relaxers that are imported from the United states, europe or africa.”
“Everyone is welcome. We cater not only to the african, but to Chinese and other foreigners, who come for either a regular haircut or an afro style,” explained Luyeye.
Since the salon opened early this year, customers from as far afield as shanghai and hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, have walked through the door and the salon has quickly established itself as the favorite place for africans to have their hair done.
Jesus ela from equatorial Guinea has been a loyal customer for several months. The overseas student at University of science and Technology Beijing trusts Makuena so much that it is the only place he will have his hair cut.
“I am afraid that Chinese hair stylists don’t know how to handle my dry, curly hair because they’re not used to it,” ela told ChinAfrica. “But, Paulma can meet my needs.”
Chinese are also curious to try the salon.
“I would go for african micro-braids if I have opportunity. It sounds quite interesting as Chinese people with straight, long hair cannot get these type of braids themselves,” said Yi Yi, a film producer, “but perhaps, eight hours [to do hair styling] is too long for me.”
Luyeye suggested that Chinese try an african hairstyle as it is fresh and can make a fashion statement. “They are curious about it,” he said.
Ability to adapt
Encouraged by customers’ enthusiasm, Luyeye plans to soon open branches in shanghai and Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province, respectively.
The african entrepreneur noted that understanding Chinese culture as much as possible is an advantage to do business in China, but it is much more important to properly position yourself for future advancement.
“I would like to have my hair salon first serve africans, but of course, as an entrepreneur, I would certainly like to see a return in five years,” he said, adding that he also expects this venture to have long-term effects on foreigners looking to start a business in China.
Having worked in many countries worldwide, Luyeye sees China as a land of opportunity. he works here, lives here and invests here, and his family speaks fluent Chinese, which makes the integration much easier.
Luyeye believed his late father’s words helped him to adjust quickly in new places. “My father told me: ‘My son, if you arrive at a place where you see everyone dancing with their left leg, you do the same thing. Don’t think you are special.’”
“I have always kept that in mind, and that piece of advice has helped my career success,” he said.