Despite facing challenges, including male customers who initially refuse her services due to preconceived notions, Jartu has managed to build a loyal clientele.
Monrovia – In a country where running a barbershop is traditionally seen as a male-only profession, Jartu Nabwe is breaking barriers. At just 23, she has chosen a path less traveled by women in Liberia, running a successful unisex salon called Ducor Barbing Unisex Salon on Ashmun Street.
By Mae Azango [email protected]
Despite facing challenges, including male customers who initially refuse her services due to preconceived notions, Jartu has managed to build a loyal clientele. “I prioritize my new customers because I want to give them reasons to return and enjoy the service they paid for,” she says.
A high school graduate, Jartu has been cutting hair for six years and is among the few women taking on traditionally male-dominated jobs in Liberia. Her journey wasn’t easy; she worked for others without pay for a long time before establishing herself. “Many men came my way for relationships, but I told myself that if I started sleeping with men for money, it wouldn’t take me far. So, I decided to learn something on my own to sustain myself,” she explains.
Jartu is one of the few women in Liberia venturing into male-dominated professions. This publication recently reported on a female car-girl/bus conductor, a job usually held by disadvantaged youths known as “zogoes.” Despite the odds, she too supports her family through her work.
Jartu’s interest in hair cutting was sparked by a former instructor who encouraged her to compete with men. Initially, she aspired to be an engineer, but to fund her college education, she took up barbering. She learned the trade by observing a neighbor and then seeking formal training, despite skepticism about her choice of profession.
Despite facing challenges, including male customers who initially refuse her services due to preconceived notions, Jartu has managed to build a loyal clientele.
“He showed me how to cut hair using a small comb, which we referred to as ‘comb barbering.’ After a year, when he passed, I went to Broad Street in Monrovia in search of a job at a salon,” Jartu recounts. The salon owner insisted she learn to use a machine, training her without pay for another year. Now proficient with both comb and machine, she also offers dreadlocks and hair styling services.
Jartu receives four to five customers daily at her newly opened salon, charging L$500 (approximately US$2.50) for a haircut, with prices increasing depending on the style.
She advises young women engaged in prostitution to seek legitimate work to sustain their families. “Selling their bodies for money exposes them to diseases and other risks. They should take the initiative to follow in my footsteps and become better people. Women can do the same jobs men do and make money from it,” she says.
Jartu’s story is a testament to resilience and the power of breaking stereotypes. She encourages other young women to take control of their futures by pursuing meaningful work and achieving financial independence.
