Oniipa raised him, beauty shaped him

Growing up in Oniipa, northern Namibia, Tangeni N.V. Naifo always understood the power of transformation. His earliest inspiration came from his mother, a hairdresser, and from a young age he began doing hair for family and friends. “I was always fascinated by how a simple change in appearance could boost someone’s confidence,” he says. That fascination soon grew into a deep passion for beauty, particularly in hair, nails and lash services. Now 18, Naifo is not only a fast-rising grooming professional but also a student at Tulipohamba Training and Assessment Institute, pursuing a diploma in community health education. His journey reflects a perfect blend of creativity, discipline, and care, qualities that set him apart in both academic and professional spaces.Naifo’s day typically starts with prepping his tools, ensuring cleanliness, checking bookings, and diving into back-to-back client sessions. In between, he shares his work on platforms like Instagram and TikTok (@tangeni_.nvn / @salon_nvn), using social media to learn new techniques from global beauty influencers. His commitment to staying current is matched by his love for hairdressing, especially unique braid styles, bold colours and lace melts that allow him to express both creativity and precision. But his success did not come without challenges. As a man in a field dominated by women, Naifo has often faced stereotypes. “Some people assumed beauty work was not for men,” he says, “but I let my results speak for themselves.” Over time, consistent professionalism has earned him respect and trust among a growing client base.Books and braidsBalancing school and salon life requires rigorous time management. Naifo carefully plans his week, dedicating hours to study and others to salon work, even if it means early mornings or late nights. Yet both worlds feed into each other. From beauty, he has learned to communicate clearly, work under pressure, and connect deeply with people, skills that help in presentations and group work at school. In turn, his studies in community health have taught him how to give better advice to clients, especially when it comes to aftercare and wellness. A powerful moment that reaffirmed his purpose came when a client, recovering from a difficult time, looked at her new look in the mirror and said, “This is the first time I have felt beautiful in a long time.” For Naifo, it was more than a service, it was healing.Community involvementLooking ahead, Naifo envisions launching a beauty and wellness centre that merges grooming services with community health education. His long-term dream is to create jobs, challenge beauty industry norms, and inspire young people, especially boys, to boldly follow their passions. “I want to uplift my community and show others that you can be grounded in where you come from while still reaching for more,” he says. Grounded in Oniipa’s values of community, respect and humility, Naifo is already proving that beauty is more than skin deep. It is about confidence, care and the courage to transform lives, one client at a time.

Oniipa raised him, beauty shaped him

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Republikein 2026-02-02

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Oniipa raised him, beauty shaped him

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