Sending shivers of delight through Ghetto
It is said that cleanliness is next to Godliness – a quote often attributed to the Bible but actually outdates the good book, originating from Babylonian and Hebrew times.
Either way, it is a motto Thato Maphane lives by.
The 33-year-old is heavily invested in the world of physical beauty, specializing in skincare and making it her mission to make others look good.
Originally from Borolong, Maphane has spent her entire working life in the second city of Francistown, first learning the ropes as an assistant at Mary’s Beauty Parlour, where she spent six years, before establishing her own place, Ice Queen’s Beauty Parlour, in 2019.
“I felt that I had gained a lot of experience working at Mary’s Beauty Parlor and I was ready to take on the challenge of starting my own business. I have always had a passion for beauty and wanted to have the freedom to create my own vision and brand. I appreciate all that I learned at Mary’s but felt it was time to take the next step in my career and become my own boss,” explains the Gaborone Technical College Beauty Therapy graduate, a course she enrolled for fresh out of secondary school.
Ice Queen’s offer an array of services, including: different types of massages, waxing, pedicures, manicures, cleansing facials, microblading, nail treatments, brow and eyelash tinting and body detoxifying.
Spa Days are another popular option, where women can enjoy a day of pampering at the parlor.
The salon carters for the whole body, from the toes to the tips of one’s hair!
As well as the flesh, they take care of the soul, providing special gift packages, with roses, cakes, chocolate and champagne all available; with Valentine’s fast approaching, the orders are flying in!
For Maphane, this was all made possible thanks to the generosity of her grandmother, who helped finance the enterprise.
“My grandma, who believed in my dreams, helped me launch the business in a small office space at Francistown’s Village Mall. Business was good because I opened the shop during pick-up season. Brides and their bridesmaids trusted me with their hair, nails, and even massage.”
In 2021, as the world finally began to recover from the trauma and misery of Coronavirus, with people desperate to feel good again, Maphane found demand for her services was at an all time high.
In need of a bigger space to deal with the influx of customers, she moved a few streets down, finding the perfect spot behind Riverside Clinic in the city centre, where she remains today.
The businesswoman was quick to thank her husband for helping her buy bigger better machinery, enabling her business to grow.
With a workforce of four, all passionate young women dreaming of following in the boss’ footsteps, Maphane and her team attend to around seven clients on an average day, although this can reach up to 20 when it gets busy.