From human medicine to hair care: Meet Nakayiza a professional nurse turned cosmetic chemist

By Hedwig Arinaitwe

Many people envision career and development through the lens of blue-collared work practices like medicine, engineering, accounting, teaching, journalism and others. Skill based practices among which cosmetology are last opted for by majority because of low perceptions as informal, for least educated and ‘side’ income generation. And interestingly, trades like hair care are categorized as feminine and attributing saloon growth to women-led entrepreneurship.

According to a report published by the World Bank Gender Data Portal 2022, the global labour force participation rate for women is just over 50% compared to 80% for men. The report reveals that women are less likely to work in formal employment and have fewer opportunities for business expansion or career progression.

However, the Forbes Magazine 2021, observes that women fail to flourish in these businesses because of limited start capital and funding, stiff market force competition and low resilience.

The challenges and diverse perceptions around skills based and business practices are lived realities for many women. Meet Nakayiza Safina Sofi Buwembo who not only discovered hair care as a delayed dream but also glowing many whose hair has her product touch.

Who is Nakayiza?

My name is Nakayiza Safina Sofi Buwembo, the founder of Pzazrio, a hair product business. I’m childfree by choice, first born daughter, and a professional nurse who quit nursing to focus on my passion for creating things in this case, formulating and growing a hair product business.

What inspired you to pursue this particular line of business?

In 2015 when I took the big chop, I struggled with managing my hair. Also, while growing up in a society that enforces haircuts, hair among as a girl was stereotyped as a distraction and hard management. This was worsened by difficulty in finding products that worked well for me especially from large brands. This background made me realize that there was a vacuum with natural hair care thus my business venture.

When did you start?

After evaluating the business gap, I made it my mission to formulate products according to hair porosity that would ease this anxiety. I started working on this dream in 2020 by reaching out to a graphic designer to design a logo and create a brand book. Then I began looking for suppliers on Alibaba after reading about what the best plant derived ingredients were for people with kinky hair. This was very challenging because the minimum order quantities are high but everything came together with time.

What makes your products stand out?

My products are strongly rooted in African culture; I particularly use Luganda for my product naming. Secondly, the products really do stand out because of the gold and black packaging. It’s elegant and different! These products are infused with plant extracts wonderful in hair care and amazing quarteniums like honey which are softening and conditioning agents. These products were made with kinky hair in mind!

What challenges have you faced in trying to achieve your dreams as a business owner?

It’s been a struggle juggling taking care of my siblings and starting a business because as a firstborn, I am more of an assistant parent and expected to raise funds to help where there is a challenge. Uganda Revenue Authority is also unforgiving—they charged me over UGX 150,000 in taxes for every litre of a very important ingredient called radish oil that I needed for one of my products. This was very challenging for a person importing in minimum order quantities.
It’s very disheartening and demoralising for people starting out like myself. The high taxation of such an ingredient hikes the price of the end product which can discourage customers.

What has been your biggest achievement so far?

My biggest achievement has been finding other women to work with especially outside these borders. I was over joyed when; I sent a book order to Dar es Salam recently. It brings me so much joy to be able to share my products and business development journey with so many people, and transform how they view their hair because our hair is gorgeous and finding products that work shouldn’t be a struggle.

How has your business impacted women’s lives?

There are women who are stocking these products in their salons bringing in revenue from satisfied natural hair clientele and thus putting food on the table. Other women long to have healthy easy to manage hair whether it’s relaxed or natural and these products are satisfactory.

What is your give away secret?

Focus, resilience, and people with disposable income who greatly helped me bring this dream to life. I wouldn’t have accomplished this without this and so many women’s dreams remain unrealized because they have no access to the capital they require.
How can women break the barriers and take the front row seat in business?
With access to capital, women can do almost anything they put their minds to. It’s challenging to save enough capital to launch a brand. Women need access to capital. Working with women and being able to share knowledge is one way to inspire women into thriving business.

What keeps you going?

I come from a long line of go getter women who largely pushed the barriers to succeed. I believe with access and ability; the sky is the limit for any of us.