Benson David: Zimbabwe’s loss, Botswana’s gain

5 April 2024

After completing his Cosmetology training (the study of Hair and Beauty) and Marketing, PR and Advertising Diploma, Hair Essentials owner Ben David threw himself into building his name in the hair industry.

He caught the eye of the wife of the Kenyan ambassador, who was a regular customer at the salon where Ben worked. Impressed with Ben’s professionalism and fresh skills, the lady would later invite him to give a speech at a prestigious fundraising event for the Diplomatic Women’s Association of Zimbabwe. 

At the event, Ben impressed a Black Like Me representative so much that she invited him to go around schools teaching young girls how to care for their hair using Black Like Me products. With business booming, Ben’s work and passion for hair was creating a buzz, and his loyal following was exploding. The sky was the limit! But the winds of change were moving in. Due to an unfortunate turn of events, Ben would soon find himself seeking greener pastures beyond Zimbabwe’s borders.

To conclude our interview with Ben, we found out more about why he left Zimbabwe and how he has fared in Botswana, particularly where the hair industry is concerned.

YB: Things were really taking off. What made you leave the salon in Harare?

BD: I got a job offer in Gaborone. My boss was on her knees pleading with me to stay. But in the end, I couldn’t stay because of how bad things had got at the salon. I needed out, and what better way to not only change salons but leave the country altogether?

“Relations had soured, culminating in a total lack of trust. I had to leave, and nothing could change my mind. My boss feared she’d lose all the prestigious customers I’d brought in and was keen for me to stay. But there was no coming back from the fallout at the salon.” 

“Too much had happened that meant I couldn’t work there anymore.”

Gaborone: New beginnings

Once in Gaborone, I started with the iconic Roses & Lilies Salon. Sadly, it soon became clear that the owners and I had different ideas about the creative direction and operation of the business. I can’t go into the details for obvious reasons. While at Roses & Lilies, I was approached to join a Ministry of Education project, which involved designing the Hair and Beauty curriculum for tertiary colleges.

During the curriculum design project, I met Andre, my former boss and former owner of Hair Scene at RiverWalk. At first, he thought I worked in a school. So when he found out I was a hairdresser, his interest was piqued. He invited me to come work for him at Hair Scene. 

Interestingly, I’d previously asked someone at Hair Scene about a job, but they’d told me they weren’t hiring. So, after Andre made me an offer, I went to work for him because he was very keen, and so was I. The decision would prove beneficial because I absolutely loved working at Hair Scene under Andre. 

“Andre was great to work alongside. It really boosted my personal growth. Our relationship went beyond that of boss and employee. 

When I broke away from Hair Scene to set up my own salon, Andre came to see how I was getting on at Hair Essentials and was genuinely delighted for me. 

We continued working together even after that. He would come pick up products whenever his deliveries were delayed and vice versa. Andre now lives in South Africa, but we are still in touch; we chat on Messenger and Facebook.”

I eventually decided to leave Hair Scene because I craved growth and stability. I now had kids and yearned for more. I wanted my own thing.

YB: What challenges, if any, do you face in Botswana’s hair industry?

BD: The biggest challenge is the inability to retain staff. You put a lot of yourself, your time and resources into training staff with hopes of strengthening your workforce. But as some progress, they up and leave to set up on their own. You can’t grumble at that because we all do what we do to get ahead. But it can be frustrating, nonetheless. 

YB: Where do you draw inspiration from?

BD: My inspiration doesn’t always come directly from the industry. But if I were to name one industry giant I look up to, it would have to be British hair expert, Paul Mitchell. 

The way he operates resonates with me, but obviously, I have to tweak  my implementation in line with my target audience. I generally look to a person’s work ethic and how they operate their business, and Paul Mitchell is up there with the best.

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YB: What would you say is the best lesson you’ve, so far, learnt as a hairdresser?

BD: I’ve had a few over the years, but the one that’s always stuck with me is that consistency is key. I’ve seen some of my former colleagues lose their way because they became distracted and didn’t stay the course, eventually crashing and burning. 

You absolutely have to be stable, remain consistent and focus to make it in business. It’s particularly important in the hair business. If you drop the ball, you lose clients. Simple.

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YB: And your proudest moment?

BD: Hands down, it has to be being called upon to be the Key Stylist on the set of the star-studded Hollywood movie The Creator. I sat down with the producer and Head of Department to discuss ideas, but ultimately, I had total creative control. The fact that the movie makers put so much faith in my ability and creativity was epic. The experience was unparalleled.

The second one was when I was engaged in the design of the Hair and Beauty curriculum geared towards Botswana’s Vocational Training Centres, which I mentioned earlier. I got a call saying some higher-up had recommended me for the job, and I was truly humbled. To this day, I don’t know who put in a good word for me. The person who rang said I came highly recommended. I can only hazard a guess it was a government official who wasn’t looking for praise or anything in return. 

I was made chairman of the task force from 2004-2010. I’d never done anything of that sort before. But the caller assured me I’d be working with experts from Scotland and New Zealand who would provide guidance and a framework of what needed to be produced. 

Working alongside those experts made the job a lot easier than I’d expected. We were responsible for using the framework to develop the units, performance criteria and credits.

Later down the line when I decided to set up Hair Essentials, it was so labour-intensive, I had to make the difficult decision of choosing between the project and my new venture, Hair Essentials. So, I took the leap of faith and left the role to pursue my business aspirations. I’m glad I did. I haven’t looked back!

YB: So what’s on the horizon for Hair Essentials?

BD: I’m considering a few ideas to scale up Hair Essentials into more than just a hair salon. Top on the agenda is a training centre, the initial focus of which will be hair and haircare. These are exciting times ahead for Hair Essential, but for now, all I’ll say is watch this space!

Written by YourBotswana Writer