Tsakani – Langaville Ext 8 resident Daisy Mbale (21), owner of a beauty salon, became a nail technician to add a skill to her line of work.
“It was more of adding a skill in my journey because, besides nails, I used to do lashes and braiding.
“My journey started when I was 19, as I have always been a fan of nails, but due to affordability, I would only get my nails done once or twice a year,” explained Mbale.
“I then decided to save some money, buy material and practice using TikTok videos.”
Mbale lost patience along the way and eventually gave up. After some time, she found a school, but she faced serious financial challenges.
At the time, she was in college and had to fund her studies herself because she was not receiving an allowance. She made extra money by braiding people’s hair and saving from there.
“When I was done at school, I was not perfect, so I dedicated myself to learning every day using a practice hand until I got it right,” she said.
She now offers nail tech classes to individuals in her community and surrounding areas.
“Offering classes in my community was inspired by the lack of beauty schools in the township, as well as the high costs charged elsewhere.
“Making the training affordable was therefore a key motivation. In a community with a high number of unemployed youth, this initiative serves as both a solution and a way to empower young people to become self-reliant,” she explained.
Mbale’s classes are aimed at people passionate about the beauty industry, especially those interested in nail art.
Through her leadership, she teaches nail care and core nail knowledge, saying people do not provide enough education on nails.
Her programmes include a lot of practical work, such as nail shaping, applying acrylic, and creating art designs.
“The theoretical part focuses more on nail preparation and product knowledge. What I usually do in order for my students to be industry-ready is to equip them to know how to do their own nails.
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“They also get to do other students’ nails in class. The impact I have seen so far has been incredible,” she cited.
“More than 20 businesses have been established, and one of my students has even gone on to open her own beauty school, where she now offers braiding courses.
“It is truly inspiring to see how many lives have been transformed through this programme.”
Mbale’s goal right now is to inspire others to pursue their dream and learn new skills to improve their lives.
Her biggest goal is to own several beauty salon branches across Tsakani to teach as many people as possible about the nail business.
She said learning to do nails is simple, but the difficult parts are patience and consistency.
“Once those two skills have been mastered, the results are massive. Having a skill is power because one has the ability to create something for themselves to better their financial situation.
“I am proof when it comes to that. Sometimes, you don’t need everything to be figured out. You just need one skill,” she concluded.
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