Sserwadda mints cash in dreadlocks thanks to his mobile salon

As I peruse social media I land on someone advertising a mobile salon and in one of the comments, a woman complements and recommends Kylee Joel Sserwadda as one who makes neat locks (a word commonly used to refer to dreadlocks).

This is Joel Sserwadda, an owner of a mobile salon that specializes in dreadlocks.

“I started this work in 2014 after admiring a man who was working on women. Though he was not a specialist in dreadlocks, he knew all hair styles. I fell in love with what he was doing,” Sserwadda begins his story.

Having completed his Primary Leaving Examinations at Kimanya primary school and later Nelson Mandela Senior Secondary School for both his UCE and UACE, he would later join Isma Beauty salon for a certificate in hair dressing.

He says he fellow in love with hair dressing because he felt it was unique.

According to Sserwadda, practicing with fellow students at the beauty school which also doubled as a salon made him learn the trade.

Going solo

Having got the skills, Sserwadda was now ready to go solo but this would not come easily.

“My first customers were women in Masaka but I can’t remember their names. However I had to make my job unique and made my salon mobile,” Sserwadda says.

“Because I wanted something unique and mobile, I didn’t need much money but rather only money to buy internet data. I made use of my Facebook account to start advertising my mobile salon,” he says.

Sserwadda says he chose to make his services mobile so as to break the monotony.

“There were many complaints I heard from people saying going to salons consumed a lot of their time yet they had busy schedules. I had to do something to change this narrative. I decided that I could offer services at the convenience of the customers, whether at home or at work,” he says.

He says the money he used to buy data was part of his savings he made through tips while still a student.

As they say, the rest is history for Sserwadda who now mints money out of his mobile salon, thanks to the power of internet where he posts about his services.

“I also ask friends with a good number of followers to help make posts about my salon and this way, I get customers.”

Dreadlocks specialist

The man from Masaka says he doesn’t regret the path he chose since it is now a source of inspiration to many.

“I am very proud of my work. I have gained social capital in my work and it has pushed me to another level of plaiting VVIP people and reaching out to people that I had never thought of meeting,” Sserwadda testifies.

He adds that he is a Rotaractor from the Rotaract Club of Rubaga, but owes this to the contacts got through his job as a dreadlock specialist.

 “It was through a friend who saw me plaiting then he advised me to join Rotary which has put me on a very strong and inspired stage of meeting new customers from Rotary,” he says.

Challenges

As every job has its own challenges, Sserwadda’s is not an exception.

“On some occasions, after working on a customer, he or she tells you they are sorry the money they were expecting has not come in and they give you half of what you had demanded. Despite promises to pay later, on many occasions such people don’t pay. I end up making loses,” he says.

Sserwadda has some piece of advice, especially for Ugandan youths.

“Every human being has to gain at least one skill because no one will take that away from you. One day, you might wake up when your contract is terminated but the skills will be your savior. It will ensure you become a boss of your own,” Sserwadda urges.

He also asks government to put so much focus on vocational skills to learners in the country.

Sserwadda says schools spend so much teaching theoretical studies yet practicals are what is more needed in the job world.

“No work will ask your papers instead they will be asking your experience and what you are to present.”