Waxaholic Studio Closure Follows Payment Diversion Discovery
Kenyan content creator That Girl Boina closed her Nairobi waxing parlour, Waxaholic Studio, in October 2025 after discovering that staff were diverting customer payments to unrecorded numbers. BBC reported that Boina opened the business on September 1, 2024, in the city’s central business district, operating with a receptionist and two specialists before launching her first international trip of the year.
The operational breach came to light a week into a two-week European holiday when a client messaged Boina on Instagram. The customer stated that she visited the studio and liked the services, but was instructed to send money to a different number rather than the official business account listed on the wall. The discovery prompted Boina to audit her finances, revealing that revenue had dropped in early 2025 despite an initial profitable period.
Financial Strain and Employee Theft Impact Small Businesses Across Africa
Boina initially attributed the revenue decline to a seasonal slump before realizing someone else was taking incoming funds while she covered operating costs and managed three dependent employees. Facing mounting financial pressure and a lack of accountability from her staff, she opted against a direct confrontation and instead decided to shut down the parlour entirely that weekend. She failed to find a buyer for the business, forcing her to sell some equipment and take remaining decor items home.
A Nairobi waxing studio with 3 staff closed in October 2025 after a customer told the owner, away on holiday, that she had been asked to send money to a different number from the one on the wall. Payment diversion like that was one of the patterns Kenyan owners described when… https://t.co/gq09sdaVZa
The financial toll left Boina unable to recoup her initial setup and operational capital, a setback she described as her worst emotional experience. In September, she detailed the closure in a TikTok video that gained nearly one million views after being reposted on X. The post drew responses from other Kenyan entrepreneurs reporting similar losses from payment diversion, stock theft, and equipment sales.
Employee theft remains a widespread challenge for small business owners across the continent, where small teams frequently manage transactions, payments, and inventory with minimal oversight. A 2022 survey by PwC found that 63% of respondents in East Africa experienced economic crime, significantly higher than the global average of 46% recorded by the consultancy firm.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Waxaholic Studio Shutdown
When did Waxaholic Studio open and close?
Waxaholic Studio opened on September 1, 2024, and permanently closed its doors in October 2025 following the discovery of payment diversion.
How did the business owner discover the theft?
A customer sent an Instagram direct message during Boina’s two-week holiday in Europe, reporting that she was asked to send money to an unauthorized phone number instead of the official business number.
What statistical evidence exists regarding economic crime in East Africa?
A 2022 survey by PwC reported that 63% of respondents in East Africa experienced economic crime within their organizations, compared to a global figure of 46%.
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