By Agatha Emeadi
Caring for the skin is a vital component of maintaining general wellness as doing so helps a great deal in sustaining good health and ensuring longevity too.
One notable personality and advocate of healthy living and good skincare is the Chief Executive and Managing Director of Barazahi Spa and Wellness, Linda Edozie, whose father, late Professor Edozie was a distinguished economist and senior lecturer at the University of Ibadan.
In this interview, Edozie speaks passionately about maintaining a healthy lifestyle and the challenges both men and women face with bleaching.
First, tell me about your childhood and what it was like growing up.
I grew up in Ibadan under the watch of my parents. My late father was a professor of Economics at the University of Ibadan at the time. While my mother was a nurse back then. For my parent’s profession, we lived and grew up in the university premises. I attended International School, Ibadan, Oyo State and travelled out of the country at the age of 14 to pursue my Ordinary and Advanced levels. I returned to Nigeria in 1995 and worked with Amni Petroleum as the Head, Corporate Affairs. At the end of my 10th year, I left to pursue my passion in the beauty industry. So, I travelled to London and took some courses in skin care. After which, I returned to Nigeria and established Barazahi Spa.
Talk a little more about your father
My dad, Prof. Emmanuel Edozie died on October 5, 2019. He was a professor of Economics at the University of Ibadan. Later, he became a special adviser to former President Shehu Shagari and later went into oil, banking and properties before he passed on. My mother is a retired nurse and we thank God for that.
Having been raised by a professor, what was the relationship between you and him?
Honestly, I miss everything about my father. He was a kind father and he was selfless. He was very academic, so he pushed us to study to excel. As his first daughter, even that he taught us so much especially myself, he was never hard on us. He respected us and allowed us to be who we wanted to be. He was my number one cheerleader.
To most beauticians, every woman should take care of themselves. Does this saying have any implication?
I have always been interested in beauty from both the inside and outside. At 54, I love fitness and workout everyday at least five times in a week. Fitness is part of the reason many do not believe my age when I say it. I have always been into fitness, not overworking myself though, but enough to keep firm and trim. I have always been passionate and interested in beauty. The interest is not just on the physical side, but the inner part and the skin as well. I am not talking about camouflage or cover up. I am always interested in what is underneath the wigs and makeup. I want to be able to step out without those two items and still look beautiful. That is the kind of beauty I am interested in and I believe women should work towards being healthy. Let the beauty come from the inside.
What did you study in school?
I graduated from Bradford University in England where I studied Economics and went for my Master of Business Administration in Middlesex Business School in the United Kingdom. After a successful career at Amni Petroleum, where I worked as Head, Corporate Affairs, my passion in the beauty industry grew, I went back to London and got a degree from London School of Beauty and Makeup. In 2009, I returned to Nigeria to set up Barazahi Spa/Wellness in Lekki. I have been there and expanded in treatments, not in locations.
What do you think about today’s women who claim they are toning and using organic creams? Are they bleaching as well?
I have seen dark beauties, dark beautiful skin who transformed to mix-matched skin, all in the pursuit to become fair. I am fair because my mother is mixed race, not that I am bleaching. I do not bleach and do not approve of it. I approve the likes of vitamin C’ because it boosts one’s natural skin. It can also tone and beautify a woman instead of becoming completely white. Bleaching may look nice initially, but after sometimes, it takes a toll on one’s whole-body system without knowing that bleaching affects the kidneys and makes surgical procedures tedious. There are people that have died just because their skin could not be stitched properly coupled with sunny weather. It is bad for people who bleach their skin to go under the sun without a sunscreen. More importantly, use a vitamin C based cream instead of bleaching. I recommend Vitamin C because it has a very good serum for boosting both dark and fair skin while making it to pop up.
You started the beauty business in 2009. How will you rate the business?
With many people getting into the beauty business for its popularity, the economic environment in Nigeria is still a huge setback. The situation has indeed challenged beauty lovers who would love to care for their skins and do their facials, etc. Another aspect that affects the beauty business is the age bracket. There are young people who are thoroughly keeping their beauty routine regular. There is a huge difference between my generation and the younger generation. To the younger generation beauty is a lifestyle. Most of these Generation Z make their livelihood from beauty but my generation prioritizes other things before thinking of beauty. Personally, I run a beauty spa, and do not make beauty products.
How can women be consistent without breaking the beauty routine?
First of all, a woman has to set aside time for herself. At least, go for a massage once in a month. Other things to do include body scrub and body massage which are very good for both the mind and body. It is in line with exercise and fitness. I have friends that started exercising with me and dropped on the way. But with regular exercise, one does not have to do much, only be consistent.
What are the three things you must do everyday to maintain your slow aging look?
The most important is to drink water and exercise the body because the older one gets, the more the need for weight training. A lot of women think that when they do weight training, they develop muscles like men, but that is not true. The older one gets, the more weight and toning of muscles one needs. So, drinking water, exercising and watching the diet are the rules. I do not really believe in starving oneself but must be careful with intake of carbohydrates. Again, watch the protein in take as well.
Is there a gender balance when it comes to customers that patronise the spa and massage parlour?
It is amazing how Nigerian men have embraced the beauty lifestyle. Men do not just do cosmetics or skincare alone, they also go for massages, manicure and pedicure. Men are beginning to take good care of themselves. Gone are those days when men only had haircuts. Now they go to a spa.
