By Chijioke Somkene
Women are constantly struggling with hair. We all want long silky and shiny locks. So, what do we do? We peruse both synthetic and human hair and wigs from any source to satiate our craving.
The Hair Station is a newly opened outfit located at Ikeja, Lagos and it’s promising hair conscious ladies in Nigeria that it’s ready to address all their hair extension problems. Its parent company Anirah is a female-oriented hair consultancy firm which offers hair extension pieces, styling tools, accessories and hair care products thereby making Hair Station a one-stop store for all hair related needs of women. In this interview, the CEO of Anirah, Arah Nkechi defines the mission and vision of the new outfit and spoke on other issues.
Why did you venture into hair care business?
I am very particular about good hair and how it feels. I wanted to touch it and feel it. That’s the kind of person I am. I wanted to know what I can do to make the hair look better. So I asked myself, why couldn’t I start my own hair salon? Essentially , I am passionate about good hair.
Do you have any formal training in hair care?
I have not gone to hair school yet, but I know the basics. I have done my own training. I can fix and tie when it comes to hairdressing.
What is Anirah all about?
At Anirah, we dye and treat human hair and wigs, just the way you take care of your natural hair. Anirah is a female-oriented brand and we are not restricted to hair care. The first product line of Anirah is the Hair Station, Anirah being the parent. Our products include hair extensions, hair care products, hair styling tools, and hair accessories. Hair extension is our own product line and we don’t stock anybody’s products. All our products are manufactured by us. The hair come in different textures and we have sourced them from different countries.
Do you stock only human hair?
In addition to human hair, we also stock synthetic wigs and those that are partly synthetic. That is why I said we have something for everybody. If you have a budget of N10, 000, we will tell you what it can get for you although it might not be as durable as the others but you will get your money’s worth. We just want our customers to spend their money happily and be appreciated.
This business is both remarkable and competitive. What’s your competitive edge?
For us, it is not just about spending. We are very passionate about our customers. It’s more than just hair; it’s the whole package – we want you to look good and feel good. We follow up too. Before you bring in your hair for treatment, we want to advise you and we do a lot of free giving too. Our driving force is quality service.
What’s the image you’re building for your product?
We want to be seen as the home for your hair, a place where you can come and feel comfortable and relaxed. An atmosphere for you to be yourself. We are not saying this place is exclusively for the rich. There are no restrictions, no matter who you are, anybody can walk in here and feel at home.
What’s the difference between synthetic and human hair?
There are so many differences between synthetic and human hair. Synthetic hair is made from fibre but most of the time it is derived from rubber and there are different grades of synthetic hair. There are many categories of human hair too and they include Remy and single drawn. Indian Remy is cheaper and we have double drawn virgin hair. Virgin hair is thick and if you look at the bundle, you will feel the weight of the hair. It has a lot of volume and if you pull it, you will notice that strands from it will not fall, because it is properly held together. That’s how you notice good hair.
Do you attend to your customers by appointment?
We do that once a week and it depends on our bookings and the volume of our business. We have a particular hair stylist who is renowned in Lagos that handles consultations for us.
So you work with some renowned hairstylists in Lagos?
Yes.
What’s the concept of Anirah and how was it born?
As I said earlier, I am passionate about hair. Once I see your hair, I know immediately whether it’s good or fake. Most of these hair care providers don’t satisfy the need as far as I am concerned. There is a lot to our business than just selling hair. We have a blog, blog.anirah.com, where we give a lot of hair tips and advice from hair experts weekly . We suggest hair styles and how to do a whole lot of things via tutorial videos and a lot of interactive stuff. We have a lot of information on the blog. For us, it’s a continuous process. There is a lot more to hair than just hair.
Can you give us some tips on how to take care of hair extensions?
If you have curly hair or tight curls you have to use a good conditioner and you must not use a brush. You have to use a comb or preferable run your fingers through you hair. If you want to tie it back in a ponytail and want to sleep at night, use a hair bonnet. The reason for the sleep cap or bonnet is to prevent cotton rubbing against your wig, because cotton is not good for wigs. Those are tips I can give you offhand. We have a lot more on our blog.
Where do you see Anirah in the near future?
I see the brand everywhere and used by everybody and even beyond Nigeria. It’s going to go far. Anirah is a dream and we have started living it.
What are the obstacles in the hair care business and how do you plan to overcome them?
There are lots of bad hair, fake hair and shoddy customer services. Those are the shortcomings already in the market. We are trying to provide alternatives to these shortcomings. Also hair is costly , but we have very affordable ones that are good quality. We are particular about quality.
Do you give warranties?
We give a three-month warranty, depending on if you take care of it.
What if the product is deficient?
We will fix it back, we will check on it. If it is from us, we will change it for you. We value our customers here. We don’t want you to go and say bad things about us. We try our best to satisfy our customers.
How did you get the capital you needed for this business?
Business doesn’t have much to do with connection. It has to do with capital and the grace of God. I have very supportive parents. My mum is also a businesswoman and she has been very encouraging. I enjoy doing it.
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