Study and Entrepreneurship: When Study and Hairdressing are Intertwined

Bruno Zinsonni, a first-year English student, is a well-known figure on the IDS campus. He has set up a small space on the ground floor of Building B to accommodate his customers, mainly students looking for a stylish cut at an affordable price. When we met, Bruno was cutting hair. In his makeshift studio, almost hidden in a corner near the stairs, he has a small table with scissors, sponges, mirrors and many other tools.

“For me, hairdressing is not just a hobby, but a way to earn a living while continuing my studies,” he explains as he adjusts the contours of his hairstyle. Bruno started doing hair more than five years ago, when he was a fifth-year student. It was his elder brother who passed on the knowledge to him, which allowed him to turn it into a business. Upon arrival, he quickly realized that this skill could be a source of income for university. “With the pressure of student life and daily expenses, it is difficult to survive without an additional income. Hairdressing helps me relieve this pressure,” he confesses. Not only does cutting hair keep him going, it also alleviates the heavy photocopying expenses during university.

We are not satisfied with FONER

On the other side of the university campus, Mathieu Sommet leads a similar life. Mathieu, also an English student, discovered hairdressing out of necessity, but soon became interested in the art. He set up his own space in a corner of the courtyard. Mathieu emphasizes the importance of good time management in a busy everyday life. “Between classes, homework and hairdressing courses, you have to be rigorous and well-organized. But it’s worth it because, in addition to improving my hairdressing skills, I can support myself without having to rely entirely on my parents.” The English second-year student learned to use a lawnmower on the heads of his classmates and brothers in junior and high school. “In high school, I did my classmates’ hair, so when I got to university, it was easier for me to carry on this activity,” explains the young hairdresser. In the inner city, Mathieu says, there is no competition. Everyone has their own customers and the atmosphere is good. In addition, Mathieu often has his hair done by his comrade and colleague Bruno, and vice versa.

“For students like me who left their villages and came to the capital, I feel it is difficult to rely on parents. You have to be independent and try to do something. If you have a little money, you can even send it to your parents to meet their needs. Therefore, I advise my classmates to find a small job that does not affect their studies,” he said. The student hairdresser added: “We can’t just be satisfied with FONER (National Education and Research Fund) because it takes too much time to have FONER. You can wait five to eight months to get the money. Personally, it doesn’t help me, but at the same time I can make up for it through hairdressing.”

He and his colleague Bruno charge no more than 500 CFA francs per person. The hairdressers also offer shaving and hair coloring.

Challenges, but also opportunities

These students make no secret of the challenges they face. Hairdressing in college is far from ideal. Space is limited, tools are rudimentary, and conditions are not always optimal. Plus, juggling class schedules and client appointments requires a lot of discipline. But here, school takes priority. Hairdressing remains a way to protect yourself from want.

However, Bruno and Mathieu overcame the obstacles with their ingenuity. They made arrangements with their clients, and things went smoothly because the latter understood their reality. There was no need for advertising here either. Word of mouth on university campuses was their best ally.

Useful activities for city students

The work of these young barbers goes far beyond simple economic activity. Their presence on the university campus creates a real sense of community. Students, usually away from their families, find in these makeshift lounges a space to talk, relax, and sometimes even forget the pressure of studying for a while. The two barbers’ customers are mostly students, trainee teachers, and some residents from the surrounding areas of the city.

One of Bruno Zinsonni’s regular customers highlights the quality of his hairdresser’s work. For him, the presence of hairdressers in the city makes his life easier. He doesn’t need to burn fuel to go out, and the prices are good for him. “His work is good, and many students appreciate it. He is very talented and I thank him when I finish my hair. Sometimes I advise him to make a little more effort so that this activity is not limited to the campus but can be carried out in other places. I hope he does not give up and sticks with it, because everything is possible. When we say entrepreneurship, it means having multiple activities, having multiple sources of income, even if in the long run he has another job besides hairdressing, he can do a salon and then hire people”, says Aimé Zoundi, also a student of the second year. Those who were in the English department that year were loyal customers of Burno.

A promising future

Despite the difficulties, these young hairdressers do not lack ambition. Bruno dreams of opening a real hair salon after completing his studies, while Mathieu plans to invest in the field, but not necessarily be present. For Bruno, hairdressing is more than just a means of making a living, it is a door to a better future, where he can combine his passion for the art of hairstyling with his academic skills. Read more