Amazi Nail and Beauty Bar in Wynberg

Treat yourself at this affordable and accessible beauty salon in the Southern Suburbs

“Beauty has been pitched as a luxury for years now,” explains Divya Vasant, director of the newest spot in Wynberg’s Maynard Mall: Amazi Nail and Beauty Bar. “And we’re basically here to say and prove that beauty care should be for everyone.”

That is, at the helm of Amazi’s offering is affordable and accessible beauty care (we’re talking manis, pedis and everything in between) for people from all walks of life. The idea for the store came after Divya joined forces with Sorbet CEO Ian Fuhr who had already spearheaded the formation of Sorbet Empowering Women (SEW), a training academy devoted to equipping and upskilling women from previously disadvantaged backgrounds to join the tough-to-crack beauty industry.

“After the women got trained and upskilled, many of them went on to join the many Sorbet outlets across the country, but we wanted this to be a lot more impactful in terms of numbers,” explains Divya. “So I approached Ian with an idea to create a distinct brand that solely hires women from SEW. ”Then, after three years of conceptualising and planning, Amazi’s first store opened its doors in December 2015.

The funky and bright-coloured brand deals with everything to do with the hands and feet. Those looking to treat themselves can choose from a wide variety of offerings: manicures, pedicures, gelish (a UV nail gel that is applied using multiple layers and steps), nail art, nail sets (natural or French tips), acrylic nails, massages, foot filing and more, at affordable rates. “There’s a misconception that affordability comes at the price of skimping on quality, and we’re proving that that it’s viable to be a business that offers an affordable product and service and still be absolutely obsessed with quality,” says Divya.

The affordability-meets-quality ethos is also fused with another important factor: accessibility. Amazi’s location is on a popular commuter route (the train station, taxi rank and bus stop are all within walking distance), making it incredibly easy to get to. Divya expresses that, “having to travel 20 kilometres just to get your nails professionally done just doesn’t make sense so we are very focused on being located either in malls that are easy to reach, or to be based directly in the community.”

Amazi doesn’t just seek to benefit those around it, but also wants to make a lasting difference in the lives of the women who work in the store itself. Prior to Amazi Nail and Beauty Bar, many of the hard-working staff had never worked in a professional beauty care setting before. Getting into the industry is an expensive task (due to the cost of training) but thanks to SEW, the ladies at the store have been rigorously trained (from dealing with theory and case studies to practicals). “The amazing thing about all of these women is that they have grown so much in skill and confidence,” explains Divya. “My hope is that some, if not all, end up owning an Amazi franchise one day.”

This means that this is just the beginning for the brand. The future of Amazi includes expanding to areas like Mitchell’s Plain, the city centre, and even Johannesburg. The offering will also expand to include services like eyebrow threading, lash installation, facial waxes and lots more. “We’re a warm brand,” says Divya passionately. “The best way to see that is to come and experience it yourself.”

Note: Amazi Nail and Beauty Bar has a retail section where folk can purchase Amazi products like body scrubs, hand creams and more.

Tip: Amazi Nail and Beauty Bar can accommodate group bookings especially for special occasions like wedding preparations and birthdays. For more information and to book, contact +27(0) 21 761 0749 or email maynardmall@amazibeauty.co.za. Also note that booking in general is highly recommended.

The Bill: Basic nail treatment (including manicures and pedicures) ranges from R65 to R220. Gelish is priced at R175, Nail art costs between R10 and R15 per nail, nail sets (Natural or French) range from R275 to R320 and acrylic nails are priced between R250 and R295. Add-ons like a hand/foot massage, scrub (and foot file) ring in at R10.

Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 9am – 5:30pm ; Saturday: 9am – 4pm ; Sunday: 9am – 1:30pm

Shop 16, Level One | Maynard Mall | Wynberg | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 761 0749

by Dudu Luthuli

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