BY SIPHOSETHU MABUZA
MANZINI– With her last salary, Graca Thandoe Mhlabane did not simply close one chapter of her working life she used it to take a chance on herself.
Mhlabane started doing nails in October 2023 after leaving her job as a shop assistant at a make-up and party shop. With limited equipment and no established customer base, she began practising on neighbours where she was renting.
Her decision to enter the beauty industry was partly inspired by a friend who was already self-employed in the same line of work. “I had a friend who was self-employed doing the same business and she was making a lot of money,” Mhlabane said. Compared to her previous income, she saw an opportunity to build something that could better support her needs.
Starting, however, was not as glamorous as the finished nail sets might suggest. Mhlabane used her final salary to purchase basic equipment, while her boyfriend helped her secure a salon and covered the rent as she worked towards building a customer base.
In the early days, customers were few and far between, forcing her to rely on patience and consistency. “I had to be patient until they recognised me because I kept posting on Facebook and TikTok,” she said.
Social media has since become an important part of how she markets her work. Mhlabane regularly posts her nail designs, while a friend, Mcebzee the Goat, also helps promote her services on Facebook.
For her, keeping customers happy goes beyond simply completing a nail appointment. “I make every customer leave the salon with a smile by doing my work properly,” she said. Her journey has also shaped the advice she gives to aspiring entrepreneurs. Mhlabane believes competition should not automatically discourage people from entering an industry.
“Even if there are a lot of people doing the business you want, you can still do it,” she said. She believes good hospitality, knowledge and quality service can help a small business win customers and keep them coming back.
Her journey from a final salary and basic equipment to running her own salon is a reminder that starting small does not mean thinking small. Mhlabane can be found on Facebook as Graca Thandoe and on TikTok as Moohaysau.
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(Courtesy Pic)
