Oloori Funmi Akinyemi, otherwise known as Lafunky, is one of the popular Naija beauty experts in America. She started her beauty business in America called Lafunky Beauty Skin Care two years ago with a few delivery services to Nigeria. Last week, she opened another beauty spa in Ikorodu, Lagos to celebrate her birthday. In this interview with BUNMI MUSTAPHA, Lafunky opens up on why she started a beauty business and why many people think she is very controversial especially on social media.
Can you tell us why you went into beauty business?
The beauty business has been part of me for a long time. I’m a beautician. I went for a course on beauty for two years in America. From there, I went into medical line, as a pharmacy technician, but I love making people beautiful; I love to take care of people’s skin and I have passion for the profession.
You were doing well in this business in America, why did you decide to bring the business to Nigeria?
There is a saying in Yoruba adage that “returning home is a must after a journey.” There are lots of things you can do in Nigeria. I just want people to benefit from what I do because I mixed the cream I used personally when I was in America, and people asked me what I used that was making my skin glow all the time, and they asked me if I could do it for them. That was how I started having clients asking for my services. At that moment I told myself I could do this, considering the fact that I have professional experience and passion for it. That was why I decided to come home to set it up with the support of my man; the love of my life. He helped me pull this through. When he came to visit me in America and he saw me doing it for a few friends and clients, he said I could actually do something like this in Nigeria.
Can you share with us what Lafunky Beauty Skin Care offers, apart from mixing creams and all that?
We do facial treatments, we have a barbing and hair dressing salon. We do spa, we do steam bath, we provide sauna, we do skin waxing. We do a lot of things to make you beautiful and take care of your skin. What I found out is that a lot of people don’t really pay attention to their skin. Some do, but don’t know how to go about taking care of their skin. They pay more attention on shoes, clothes and the rest. I do get a lot of compliments about my skin, especially when I am in Nigeria, because people who live abroad, when they come home, they have different skin problems like sun burn, and skin change because of the weather, but that doesn’t happen to me, because we have a cream that you can use that will clean up your skin. We don’t mix chemicals; all our cream are organic and natural.
How is business going, considering the fact that your business is in Ikorodu, and most businesses like yours are on the Island or other parts of Lagos?
I thank God for the good turnout because I myself was thinking Ikorodu was a bit far, because most people have their beauty shops in Lekki, Ikorodu, Surulere, and I came down to Ikorodu because I have confidence in what I am doing. Like today, we have made more than four hundred thousand naira. People come for facial treatment, massaging and to buy cream, and I have clients whom I deliver to. My cream is also affordable; a set is from thirty-five thousand Naira. I have eighty-five thousand Naira set too. If I have clients that come for four of that set in a day is something. I’m so surprised people from Epe, Lekki and all over, come here. I have even had two clients from America today. They came for massage and creams. so the turnout has been good.
A lot of people think Lafunky is controversial, especially because of many of your posts on Facebook. What do you have to say about that?
It happens to a lot of celebrities too. It’s a common thing. I am not a controversial person, something brought me on Facebook and I know a lot of people are saying I’m pompous. If you really know me very well you will know that I am a sweet lady that you can walk up to anytime, but there has been some fracas and I’m grateful for the fracas because they brought me fame and limelight. A lot of people now know Lafunky because of the fracas, and they saw my skin and fell in love with my skin, which has brought me many clients. I started building my beauty shop here in Nigeria two months ago, and here we are today, all these are not by my power, but God’s. And the man behind my success, which is my husband.
Why did you open you beauty shop on your birthday?
Every year I celebrate my birthday in a unique way. Last year, I had it at Landmark. So when we finished building my beauty shop in January I had to travel back to get my equipment shipped down to Nigeria, which took some time and I told myself I should celebrate my birthday with the opening of my beauty shop, to make it a double celebration.
Your products, are they strictly organic?
Yes, they are all organic. In America, we are not allowed to use chemicals, except organic materials and my company is registered in America. When I’m in America I mix my cream, when I am in Nigeria I mix creams myself too. I started the business two years ago in America and you can see where we are now. In two years time, I see this my business having branches all over the world. Although, I have distributors in different countries; I have in Dubai, I have in London, Canada, Chicago, Indianapolis, Atlanta, New York, New Jersey. I have in Lekki and in Ikeja too. In two years, Lafunky’s name is going to be all over the world.
