Issa Harerimana a.k.a Kashiffre is a hair stylist at Olympia Saloon in Nyamirambo. He started this job in 1997 when he visited the Democratic Republic of Congo and washed people’s hair in his uncle’s saloon.

After a short time, his uncle and some colleagues taught him to treat and style women’s hair. He also went further and started applying makeup on women clients.

"It’s always difficult if you are not determined to become a hairstylist but once you have the passion to learn, it’s as easy as the alphabet. The first customer I served noticed that I was just a learner but surprisingly tolerated me and showed me how to wash hair,” he recalls. 

Today he is capable of styling women’s hair, shaving it too, applying makeup on customers in addition to braiding. He also travels from one place to another as he gets various appointments.

"When I had just started out, people were pessimistic. But after seeing the increase in the number of customers that came into the saloon daily or the calls for appointments, things changed,” he said.

"There is no such thing as a particular job for a particular gender. If people are talented and they have the skills to do whatever it is they want to do, then they shouldn’t be downcast,” says the beautician.

Kashiffre has worked in DR Congo and has managed to travel to Tanzania, Zanzibar and now Rwanda because of his unique beautification skills.

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