Beauty and personal care is a $20-billion industry in Africa. Nigeria is one of the top three countries on the continent that corner the market. Its growing middle class is willing to spend several dollars a day per person on personal care products.
Makeup can be a lucrative business in Nigeria, a country that hosts several fashion shows and publishes various beauty magazines.
Makeup artists in the country enjoy an atmosphere that allows them to try new looks and the media are eager to display their work. Here are 8 of the top Nigerian makeup artists, as ranked by their Instagram followers.
Joyce Jacob goes by the handle Joyce Jacob Beauty (JJB), which is also the name of her company. JJB has styled the likes of Tiwa Savage, Wiz Khalifah and Wizkid. She has been doing makeup and makeovers since 2009, worked on several commercial sets and editorial spreads, and has been featured in OK! Magazine, StyleMania and several other beauty publications. Jacobs is currently working on creating her own cosmetic line, according to Joycejacob.com.
Banke Meshida Lawal: 42,800 followers
Banke Meshida Lawal goes by BmProMakeup on Instagram, for her brand Bm Pro. Bm Pro offers training for aspiring makeup artists plus a line of cosmetics for sale. Bm Pro artists have done makeup for Miss Nigeria and Tiffany Amber, as well as several other actresses and models. The brand’s work has appeared in several beauty magazines including WOW and The Sun, according to Bmpromakeup.com.
Zainab Azeez: 51,500 followers
Zainab Azeez goes by the Twitter handle ZainaBazeez, and she is a beloved makeup artist in the wedding planner and bridal business community. In fact, Lolabrides.com recently interviewed the artist and revealed that she has only been doing makeup full time since 2014. Azeez says that what makes her style different is that she has a “go-with-the-flow mood.” Azeez made headlines when her husband proposed to her at—quite appropriately—a wedding expo, according to Bellanaija.com.
Dimma Umeh: 55,600 followers
Dimma Umeh goes by the Instagram handle ThatIgboChick and has been featured on several top beauty blogs and websites including Melaninmakeup.com. Bellanaija.com did a write-up on the artist’s signature “neon flush” look. Her Youtube channel enjoys over 74,000 subscribers who tune in for her makeup tutorials.
Omon Akhetuamen: 57,300 followers
Omon Akhetuamen’s Instagram handle is BeautyCookStudio. Her website, Beautycookstudio.com, is one of the most trusted Nigerian online sources for reviews of beauty products, makeup tutorials, and insight into new makeup trends. The artist recently got a full write-up on Beautygeekng.com, which highlighted some of her best looks.
Elaine Shobanjo: 61,800 followers
Elaine Shobanjo’s Instagram handle is Shomya-Lag, for her international makeup brand ShoMya. ShoMya has a salon and makeup studio in Lagos, Nigeria and the woman behind it all—Shobanjo—has had her work featured in Essence magazine, FAB Magazine and Pride, to name a few. Shobanjo has also done makeup on several models, as well as the newscasters at the Arab News Network, according to Shomya.com.
Jide of St. Ola: 78,900 followers
Olajide David Okerayi goes by Jideofstola on Instagram and is a self-taught makeup artist. One of Nigeria’s few top male makeup artists, he has gained a loyal online following and is regularly featured in beauty blogs. The founder and CEO of St.Ola Makeup Studio, he has a growing client base in the wedding industry and did the makeup for President Goodluck Jonathan’s daughter’s wedding, according to Loveweddingsng.com.
Fati Mamza: 95,000 followers
Fati Mamza goes by MamzaBeauty on Instagram and is the makeup artist to the Nigerian first lady, Aisha Buhari. In an interview with Citypeopleng.com, Mamza said she purposely leaves photos of the first family off her Instagram to respect their privacy. Mamza is a regular speaker at beauty conventions, including the Makeup in Nigeria conference.