Meet Anihya
Mustapha- Tell me about yourself.
Anihya- Well, I’m Jersey City-based as of now, I’m a cosmetologist, I do hair and nails, I’m trying to get into makeup right now, I do piercings, I feel like I’m an artist of many traits who is always ready to work.
Mustapha- Has being a cosmetologist always been something you wanted to do?
Anihya- Yes, I feel like it’s second nature to me, I’ve been doing it since I was a kid, literally for as long as I can remember I’ve always been braiding, twisting, doing ponytails, doing my own hair, my sisters and friends.
Mustapha- Out of all your skill sets, which comes easiest to you?
Anihya- Customer service, being nice and genuine, getting the job done, and being professional.
Mustapha- I like that you answered like that because what I meant was out doing nails, hair, and piercings, which do you feel comes easiest, but the fact that you answered liked that shows me that you're always putting the client first and at the end of the day if the client is unsatisfied did you do your job and truly showcase your skills.
Mustapha- For those who don’t know, are you certified, and can you tell us what went into that process?
Anihya- Ok, so at the moment, I’m not certified, I started going to school for six months, and then I had to take a break, but I really went to gain more knowledge but didn’t get to do the whole state board yet, but it’s an easy process as far as going to the school and signing up, financial aid help you a lot.
Mustapha- So you’re in the middle of getting fully certified?
Anihya- Yes
Mustapha- So, how has the process been so far?
Anihya- Honestly, it’s been stressful because when I first started school, I thought I was going to be working on my cosmetology doll, but it’s more of anatomy, sanitation, blood pressure, dealing with color theory, so it wasn’t all fun and games like I thought it to be it was more that went into it than I expected.
Mustapha- What are your views on colorism, and do you feel that the beauty industry can do more to address those issues?
Anihya- I feel like there is a lot of colorism, especially with the skin tones; darker shades of women don’t get glorified or have as much exposure as lighter skin tone women, and I feel like in the beauty business, it’s been getting better because of Rihanna and Fenty Beauty. She has different shades of foundation, and they have different products for less-represented hair types, like 4c hair, so I can see the baby steps the beauty industry is taking to represent all women fully.
Mustapha- Do you find it a little messed up that it took a black woman to get into the beauty industry for darker-skinned women to find suitable products?
Anihya- Honestly, I do find it messed up, but we probably would’ve had to do it first because they probably wouldn’t have been able to accommodate us the way we needed because they’re not of our color, and they wouldn’t know how to help us fully express our beauty.
Mustapha- Do you feel like there’s a stigma against men who work in the beauty field?
Anihya- I believe that hair and makeup are for everybody, to a lot of other people and me, it’s about maintenance, and it has nothing to do with one’s sexual orientation, I feel as though it’s about what you like, and how you like to do it because being a barber is a masculine job, but even if I were to do it, I wouldn’t want anyone to speculate about my sexual orientation just because of what I like to do. I do feel like there are stigmas, but that's just people being judgemental.
Mustapha- Do you encourage men to get into the beauty field/industry?
Anihya- Honestly, I do because my son has a fascination with hair, and I wouldn’t shy him away from it I’m kind of trying to get him into it more because it’s grooming and a billion-dollar business, and I want him to take after me anyway so we can have a family oriented business so I’m all for it.
Mustapha- Do you have anyone in particular that you want to beautify?
Anihya- Teanna Taylor, I’m obsessed with her she’s so close, being from New York and I’m from Jersey, so I just feel like I have to meet her.
Mustapha- Why would you want to style her in particular?
Anihya- It’s because of her fashion I feel like she’s such an icon with how she puts things together, I feel like she can rock any hairstyle and any color, she’s so open-minded, and I love that about her.
Mustapha- Is there anything that you haven’t done that you want to do?
Anihya- Other than getting my license officially, I want to invent a product.
Mustapha- What’s the product?
Anihya- You got to stay tuned.
Mustapha- Can you tell me off the record because now I’m curious?
Anihya- Ok, I’ll tell you after we’re finished.
Mustapha- Do you have a favorite client?
Anihya- I don’t because all of my clients that I’ve gained relationships with are like my sisters they always come to me, and it turned into more of a personal level than just a friend like they come to me with their problems; we’ll go out, outside of being at the salon or my house and it became like a family, I just love all my clients.
Mustapha- How do you deal with unsatisfied clients?
Anihya- Well, I always apologize; that's my main thing sometimes, I’ll refund money depending on the circumstances of the hairstyle and what they were dissatisfied with I also offer to redo the hairstyle I always try to accommodate them as best as I can.
Mustapha- and if they don’t want to get the hairstyle to get redone and they just want the refund, what's your policy on that?
Anihya- Then that's fine I always just refund them and give an apology, I like to handle situations like those with grace.
Mustapha- Is there anything people should be on The lookout for, and where can they find you?
Anihya- You can find me at 186 Danforth at Mr.T’s Nu Attitudes, and they should be on the lookout because I’m about to start selling bundles and wigs, and I did say I have a product coming out soon, so stay tuned for that, and they can also follow my business page which is called beautywith_abeast.
Mustapha- is there anything else you wanted to say?
Anihya- Well, I want to thank you for the opportunity this was fun I enjoyed it; your company and everything was professional I had a lot of fun this was my first photoshoot/interview, and I’m looking forward to more.