Business spotlight: cutting edge sALON
Charity’s story is one of quiet determination, unexpected mentorship, and a deep love for her craft, and this week we are honoured to spotlight her journey. Long before she became a respected hairdresser in Harare, her talent first revealed itself in the heart of a busy home filled with six sisters. Styling hair wasn’t a profession back then; it was simply something the girls needed done, and Charity and one of her sisters quickly became the family experts. What began as a practical chore slowly blossomed into a passion, even as she continued with school, she was always looking forward to weekends where she could indulge in the joy of working on hair.
When she finished her O-levels, her father encouraged her to pursue secretarial work, as he believed it to be a secure and respectable career path. But deep within herself, Charity knew it wasn’t where she belonged. She followed her instincts and stepped into the world of hairdressing, starting at the very bottom by sweeping floors and shampooing hair at Headlines Hair Salon in Harare. It was there that she met a man who would change the trajectory of her life; Martin Lightfoot, owner of the salon and, as it turns out, the late father of our very own colleague, Brittany.
For Charity, Martin became a mentor who recognised her potential long before she had the confidence to see it in herself. He promoted her from shampooist to apprentice, nurturing her talent with patience and unwavering belief within her! While others her age rushed to qualify as quickly as possible, Charity chose a different path. She asked Martin for an extra year of training, wanting to perfect her skills and build the confidence she knew she needed. His influence on her was so profound that even now, she says she thinks of him, even on most days when she wakes up, when she eats, and whenever she puts food on the table. His guidance lives on through her, shaping every step she has taken since.
Before opening her own salon, Charity committed herself to learning from others. She spent time working under different salon owners, including Chris and the highly respected Beth Deverson, and even ventured briefly to South Africa, absorbing lessons from each place she worked. She was intentional about understanding what she admired in each person that taught her and influenced her, and what she would do differently when her time came. These years were about building a foundation for the kind of salon that she hoped to run herself one day, one deeply rooted in care, professionalism, and a genuine love for people.
In 2014, after years of learning and refining her craft, Charity sat down with her best friend Dorothy and decided that it was finally time! She didn’t open her salon out of frustration or ambition, but out of a deep feeling that growth was calling for her. She wanted to create a space where everything she had learned could flourish. For her, the heart of business has always been simple: look after your clients, love your staff, and lead with kindness. She believes that people come first, always, and that philosophy is put into every aspect of the salon she now runs.
Charity’s journey is the most beautiful philosophy to live by due to patience, mentorship, and the courage to follow a calling even when the world expects something completely different from you. She is a woman shaped not only by her own determination, but by the people who believed in her along the way, but no one more deeply than Martin Lightfoot. Through Charity’s hands, his legacy continues to touch so many lives, reminding us all of the power of guidance, generosity, and genuine human connection. This is why Charity stands proudly as Soul Media’s Business Spotlight of the Week, representing the kind of passion, humility, and heart that define Zimbabwean entrepreneurship at its very best.
To book in with Chairty pop into her salon on Ridgeway North or call to book an appointment.
Address: Cutting Edge Hair Salon, 68 Ridgeway N, Zimbabwe
Phone: 077 278 2186
