DISCUSSING HAIR STYLING WITH ADAUGO KANU OF DUGYKAY HAIR AND BEAUTY

NEVER UNDERMINE CONSISTENCY AND CONTINUOUS LEARNING

“My Name is Adaugo Kanu, I have a first degree in Industrial Chemistry from Covenant University and a Masters Degree in Process Systems Engineering from Cranfield University. I am Engineer turned Hairstylist.”

Adaugo Kanu smiles so warmly that you find all your misgivings melting away, yet she delivers such quality service, each time better than the last. You can guess that she was so warm when I met her at a luxury wedding vendors and brides hangout but I am a natural sceptic and it was when I saw her work that I fully settled into the conversation.

Although Ada started as a self taught stylist in 2013, her business pedigree has grown so large that one can comfortably refer to her as a veteran in the hair industry. Scratch that, Ada Kanu is an expert.

As we settled down to talk about the ‘DugyKay’ brand, I was curious about the reasons why most small scale businesses fail before they pick up. Dugy Kay was once an upcoming brand and I wanted to know how she achieved so much in a short while. She simply gave a list of reasons why businesses (especially in beauty and lifestyle) fail in Nigeria.

She said, “The entrepreneurship space in Nigeria is becoming competitive as you find a lot of Nigerian youths learning various skills and using these skills to earn a living as there are no jobs. But the reasons for business failure include:

1.       Lack of Capital as money is the life wire of a business.

2.      Difficultly In securing loans from financial Institutions. 

3.      Lack Of adequate Business advice and strategies, most people want to be entrepreneurs but they don’t know where & how to start.

4.       Inadequate organisational and management skill acquisition; you see businesses failing due to poor decision making of the entrepreneur.

These problems are almost unsolvable but Ada has one simple solution – the over-announced ‘CONSISTENCY’. I know entrepreneurs hear this alot but it is the only legitimate solution. Consistency helps you stay on track without giving up and deviating from purpose. It has worked and is still working for Ada and every single successful entrepreneur.

Ada said, “It Started with a passion in 2013, then it grew into a small business which was Self taught, over the years I have consistently and consciously worked hard with commitment to achieve mastery of my craft.

“My Brand DugyKay Hair & Beauty is aimed at restoring courage, enhancing the beauty & inspiring gorgeous ladies, through providing Bridal Makeup, Hairstyling and Beauty services,” she said.

In view of the digital age, DugyKay Hair & Beauty has tapped into technological services using the internet with the ‘DIY Hairstyling Service’.

Explaining the concept, Ada said, “DugyKay Hair & Beauty is a brand driven by innovation and creativity. We have a service which no Bridal Hairstylist in Nigeria does, it is called the ‘DIY Hairstyling Service’ where we Style Ladies wherever they are in the world irrespective of their location.”

Trust the jolly Ada to look out for fellow entrepreneurs, especially the upcoming ones. She said, “I would advise them to follow whatever they have a passion for and they should Dream Big.

“Continuous learning is also important as trends keep changing. With tenacity, hard work and commitment even for days they feel tired, they will achieve success in their various path,” Adaugo Kanu said.

(You can reach DugyKay Hair and Beauty on Instagram @dugykayhair)