In a small beauty salon in Swakopmund the sound of nail files and laughter tells a story far bigger than beauty.

They tell a story of survival, courage and one of breaking stereotypes.

28-year-old Benji Kazadi and 23-year-old Thomas Muia from Angola are among a growing number of African men entering the cosmetology industry - a field traditionally dominated by women.

For Kazadi, the journey began seven years ago with nothing but passion and determination.

But stepping into the beauty industry as a man came with criticism and judgment.

He says many people believed men belonged in workshops working on cars as mechanics, and not inside salons doing nails and lashes. 

Despite the stereotypes, Kazadi refused to give up.

" There is no job here in Africa sometime you are looking for jobs, this job is for me an easy job and symbol for me, they ask why you guys you man do nails, normal mos, like here in Namibia only women do nails if it's man I don't know it's difficult but me I love the job."

Today, he specializes in nails, eyebrows and lashes, work he says changed his life and allowed him to build a future for himself far from home. 

Beside him is Muia, whose careful attention to detail and love for beauty work has also become his source of pride and survival.

"cause some ladies when they do ladies to ladies they Argue, she might not like what her friends do and sometimes she will tell her and she will get mad but man we don't argue we make the nails as she want even if she is quraling we just tolerate it cause I know my work I know what I am doing I will just be patient some ladies when they come they say I like man to do my nails."   

Muia says doing women's nails brings him joy and purpose, adding that the work is currently his only source of income.

The two young men say the beauty industry taught them that passion had no gender and that talent should never be limited by societal expectations.