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How much do you know about that anime character you claim to love? Well, identify these characters by their hair and we shall see.
Watch Denrele Edun discuss the journey to freedom with his hair in newly released video by Jäegermeister.
Beyond every braid, curl, loc and strand is a unique story for some individuals — and even though it’s just hair, there’s so much more than meets the eye. In celebration of #WorldHairDay which coincides with Independence Day (October 1st), premium liqueur brand, Jäegermeister has released a video which showcases the ability to express oneself, creativity and independence through hair.
The video sees media personality Denrele Edun, a member of the Meisters Tribe (a group of dynamic individuals who represent the spirit of the brand) open up on how he dares to be different and express himself through his hair. He recounts how he was discriminated against by his family members and the church for choosing to express himself through his looks, especially his hair.
Click this link to see the full video.
Whichever style we choose to wear does not define our humanity and This independence & World Hair Day, Jäegermeister encourages all to be Kuhl, Dare to be different and Be the Meister!
Jäegermeister is a premium liquer to be enjoyed responsibly by people above the age of 18 years.
Follow and stay glued to @jagermeisternigeria on Instagram for exciting updates and experiences.
Every naturalista knows that caring for natural hair is not beans. If you’re not going broke trying to buy the right products to control your mane, you’re figuring out how to style it without using up five working days. It’s a struggle.
These eight easy-to-recreate styling ideas will save you time:
Image source: Hairstyle hub
Twist-outs are a natural hair staple because it involves relatively low effort. You can easily do a twist-out after wash day (and a full detangle) with little or no products. Get an easy tutorial to follow here.
Image source: African American hairstyle videos
A low bun is another perfect simple hairstyle for the stress-hating naturalista. It’s great for both formal and casual occasions, and even if you have short hair, you can always include hair extensions yourself if you want a fuller look.
Here’s a simple tutorial that I found.
Image source: Adanna Madueke (YouTube)
If you’re looking for a longer-lasting protective style, then you should try the fauxhawk. It’s a chic look for a fun night out or if you just want to switch up your style for a few weeks.
I found this tutorial, so you don’t have to try explaining this style to a hairdresser who will only end up doing something different.
RELATED: Is It Time to Break Up With Your Nigerian Hairdresser?
Image source: stylecraze
The beautiful thing about bantu knots is that I’m yet to see anyone that doesn’t look good rocking them. You can do them with your hair or add some extensions if your hair isn’t long enough to make the knots.
This tutorial will show you how to style your bantu knots.
Image source: rayann410 (YouTube)
Tired of simple bun styles but still need to leave home in ten minutes? Then you should try double puffs. As promised, this won’t stress your life, and you can experiment as much as you want. Win-win.
You can also use this tutorial for reference.
RELATED: Ten Things You’ll Relate to if You’re a Naturalista
Image source: Chizi Duru (YouTube)
Finger coils are easy to style, but be warned — this is one of the more tedious ones on this list, depending on your hair’s fullness. You’ll probably want to try finger coils during the weekend or when you have more free time.
I found a finger coils tutorial that’s quite straightforward.
Image source: Thrive Naija
The afro always works, and if you want to do something different with it, just add a top bun.
All you have to do for this style is section off the top part of your hair, moisturise and style it in a tight bun, then finger-comb the rest of your hair into an afro. This quick style works for casual and semi-formal occasions. Here’s a simple tutorial for reference.
Image source: healthyafrohair
You can never go wrong with a simple high puff. For a little razzle-dazzle, style it with a cute head wrap, and you’re good to go.
If you have short hair, you’ll find this tutorial helpful.
ALSO READ: What Your Favourite Type of Braids Says About You
I need all Nigerian men to be more experimental when it comes to dying their hair. Instead of always blonde or light brown, try these hair colours listed below.
They say charity begins at home, abi? That’s a good enough reason to dye your hair green. This is a chance to confidently represent Nigeria. Although, with the way this country is going, there’s not much to represent. So maybe dye your hair the colour of money, green, to show that money is entering your account.
Why do one colour when you can do seven? Plus, it’s a great way to show you’re an ally of the LGBTQ+ community. And you’re being creative and adventurous. Take risks and try this.
I specifically said toilet roll white, so you know the exact type of white I’m talking about; clean, plain white. A lot of men tend to underestimate how sexy white hair can look on them. Besides, for those who have a few white strands here and there, this is a chance to go all out and just dye everything.
ALSO READ: Beginner Tips to Know Before Dyeing Your Hair
Yes, Nigerian men dye their hair pink, but not bubblegum pink. The type that’ll make people notice you from across the room. If you’re trying to catch the eye of your crush, use this colour. They’ll notice you immediately. Take it from me.
Speaking of being noticed from across the room, this is another colour to try. Fanta represents enthusiasm and excitement. This is a way to tell people you’re fun and the life of the party.
There’s a difference between white and grey hair dye. Grey is a lot more subtle. Try this if you don’t want something too daring, and especially if you’re wearing a three-piece suit. I guarantee that people will be in awe of how stunning you look.
When you’re trying out this colour combination, please make sure you’re not living in your Nigerian parents’ house. Because they’ll immediately think you’ve joined some kind of cult.
Turquoise is such a gorgeous sexy colour that’ll look so great on dark-skinned men especially. If there’s any colour you should try on this list, it’s this one, or at least, start with this one. I feel like your skin glows with this colour.
Purple isn’t so bold. So you can try it when you want to do something unique with your hair but don’t want to stand out too much.
You may also read about the men struggling to grow their hair in this article: 14 Things Every Guy Struggling to Grow His Hair Can Relate To
Love it or hate it, braids are an intricate part of the Nigerian female beauty experience. Protective hairstyles are all the rave now. There’s something about not having to bother about styling your hair for weeks that makes up for all the stress of getting braided hairstyles.
What does it cost to get your favourite braid styles, though? We asked six ladies in six Nigerian cities.
— Ortega, 23
People in this city spend crazy amounts of money on braids, but I never reach. I usually get regular box braids, which cost an average of ₦8k to ₦10k (including hair extensions and service charges) in a local saloon. But if you’re feeling bougie and you go to those fancy places, it can cost up to ₦20k — maybe ₦15k if they’re kind. Braiding natural hair is even more expensive.
RELATED: The Secret Life of a Nigerian Hairdresser
— Cynthia*, 29
I’m a knotless braids girl, and it costs me an average of ₦50k to braid my hair. My salon has fixed prices for everything, and here’s the breakdown: I usually get a hair treatment before braiding which costs about ₦20k, and the braids and hair extensions cost about ₦30k. I think it’s a reasonable price because they also take out my old braids, and the salon has a superb ambience.
RELATED: 7 Ways to Spot a Rich Nigerian Woman
— Joke, 25
I recently moved here, and while I don’t exactly love the city, I definitely can’t hate the budget-friendly hairstyling prices. I do all kinds of braids — kinky, cornrows, even ghana weaving and I typically spend between ₦7k to ₦8k, including hair extensions. Honestly, extensions take the bulk of the price because they’re more expensive here than in Lagos, but I can’t complain.
— Tope, 24
My go-to braid style is definitely knotless braids, and it costs me around ₦10k to get them done. I use two hair extensions that cost ₦2,200 each, and the service charge is usually within the range of ₦4k to ₦5k. This doesn’t include relaxer application or washing, though, as that can involve an additional ₦2k.
— Maria*, 31
I can’t be caught dead braiding my hair at a salon where I have to be “giving” the stylist hair extensions. So, I’m happy to shell out around ₦18k for simple cornrow braids (including hair extensions). It’s pretty expensive, but I’m paying for my comfort, so it’s worth it.
— Favour*, 22
I’m not much of a braids person. The most I’ve done is crochet braids, and that’s because I hate sitting in one place for too long. The price for every braid session varies depending on the type or number of hair extensions I use, but the service charge is always around ₦3k to ₦4k. If I factor in hair extensions of maybe ₦5k, my total budget would be around ₦8k to ₦9k.
*Some names have been changed for the sake of anonymity.
NEXT READ: Give Women One of These Eight Things and They’ll Love You Forever
This one is for the sweet babes who love — and amazingly don’t mind — getting braids and living their best protective style lives.
So, whether you prefer knotless braids or the multiple other braid styles available in the black girl universe, read what your favourite type says about you below.
You’re either a Gen Xer cosplaying as a younger person, or you don’t exactly like change. Everything in this life would stay the same if it were up to you, and $1 would still exchange for ₦65.
You consider yourself hip and fun, and you’ll do anything to make sure others know it, too — even if it involves spending the minimum wage on one braiding session. Seriously, where you dey see this money?
You don’t like stress, and you’re definitely not about that sitting-in-the-salon for six hours life. You laugh at the face of those that claim that beauty is pain. For here?
RELATED: The Hair Struggles Naturalistas Can Relate To
You’re very bold because that’s the only reason you wake up in the morning and decide you want to rock shuku. Did all the years of forced shuku hairstyles in secondary school do nothing to you? Don’t you need a break?
No one can convince us that your middle name isn’t Patience. Why else would you decide to stay put for five market days just to get braids? You seem like the type of person who’ll stop at nothing to slay, and we can’t even judge.
You’ve been here a while but you’re still a young babe at heart. Fashion trends don’t easily influence you, and you just stick to what you love.
You just get your hair braided so you can rest from combing and styling your hair. We feel you, sis. It’s not easy.
If you’re really honest with yourself, you’d admit that you take advantage of salon time to get out of the house. You enjoy having “me” time and you’ll do anything to get it — even if it involves sitting through seven hours of pain and torture.
You’re in the same group chat with the Senegalese twists babe, you do you at all times. You’re probably a champion for zero plastic use and sustainable environmental practices.
You’re a bad bitch, and anyone who talks anyhow is very likely to collect wotowoto. Rumour has it that you’re a closet softie, but who dares come close enough to find out?
NEXT READ: Things They Don’t Tell You about Locking Your Hair
Figuring out what to do to your hair as a woman is one of the most conflicting tasks people don’t talk about enough. Hair fatigue is a real thing for women who want to feel and look good without having to worry about their hair all the time.
The hairstyles listed below don’t require so much maintenance and are going to leave you feeling confident and beautiful.
Sisterlocks are so gorgeous and require very little manipulation. They take a long time to get done, but the time taken to get them done is usually worth it. You can wash your sister locks, style them in multiple options and wear them for as long as you like without worrying about the beauty diminishing. It’s a good way to maintain and monitor hair growth too.
The most amazing thing about crotchet is how little effort is required to get it done. You don’t have to worry about your scalp getting tugged at too hard when you wear your hair in a crochet hairstyle. Crochet hairs come in different styles, lengths and textures; there’s a look for everyone.
Wigs are definitely top-of-the-line options for women who don’t want to have to manipulate their hair so much. Some people say wigs are low maintenance because you can wear them and take them off any time. But you still have to style the wig daily. With wigs. it’s a win some, lose some.
Good old braids, the queens of maintaining beauty while also being a consistent baddie? You can have your braids twisted, woven, made in any length and any size and be assured that you’d wake every day looking good as ever. Braids require minimum effort and can be worn for as long as you like.
RELATED: 7 Hairstyles You Should Wear When Going on a First Date With a Man
Cornrows are the multifaceted queen of the hair world. They fit into every setting and need no manipulation at all. Cornrows can be done with or without hair extensions and still look good. A low-maintenance bad bitch.
Micro links do very minimal damage to your hair and leave you looking very beautiful for as long as you wish to wear them. Unlike the normal technique of installing your sew-in with a thread or some glue, micro links involves the use of silicone beads to add wefts of extensions to your hair. It’s expensive and takes a lot of time to get done, but it’s absolutely worth it.
There’s nothing more low maintenance than a low cut. You can wake up every day and pour some water on your hair to clear your head and start your day. Low cuts require nothing more than a hairbrush, except of course, you’re interested in finding more interesting ways to style them.
Locs are time-consuming to install and are also high reward hairstyles. They can be restyled and worn in multiple forms and the Bailey sisters are proof of how much beauty can be created from loc’d hairstyles.
ALSO READ: 19 Hairstyles That Will Remind Every Girl of Secondary School in Nigeria
Going bald unexpectedly can be incredibly shocking. One minute you have a hairbrush and everything is fine. And then, just like yesterday’s fried rice, everything turns sour, and you have to donate your hairbrush to charity. It sucks! Although we have been groomed to see hair as everything — I mean, there’s a reason it’s called “Good hair day” and not “Good nose day” — a lot of men are coming to terms with the fact that their hairlines will never return from war. Some are confident that with their beard, they might be able to pass for a young Lynxx, while others are scared that their vase-like heads will have them looking like Lord Voldermort. We caught up with 4 Nigerian men on going bald in their early twenties and finding hope in a barren land.
Osione, 27
Omo, I’m still traumatized! My hair loss started from the middle of my head, and with thick hair surrounding a massive hole, my head looked and felt like a football stadium. I tried to hack it for a while, but what can you do when nature decides to show you pepper? I’m not a part of team #BeardGang so the whole process was pretty daunting for me, as I was worried I would look like a baby. Anyways, one day I gave up and cut it all off. Enough was enough. Because I’m a gym rat, I don’t look like a baby. People think I’m a bouncer, and one chick told me I could pass for a dark-skinned Vin Diesel. Then again, women lie a lot when they want to smash.
Kunle, 24
I always tell people my hairline packed up and left like a thief in the night. I can’t even remember the year or how it happened. All I know is that I was at the barbershop one day and the barber was really struggling to “carve” my hairline. He looked like he was in distress writing a further math exam or something, so I just told him to shave it all off. The look of relief on his face was the confirmation I needed to leave my struggle hair behind.
These days, my bald head has become my signature look. I can’t even imagine myself with hair because it would probably look like one of those filters on the internet. It’s amazing when you actually feel cold water touching your head. By the way, I changed barbers sha. My old barber struggling with my hair was indicative of his limited skills, and even though that didn’t matter to me anymore, I only want the best of the best touching my head.
Clinton, 29
I love being bald! Do you know how nice it is not to bother about what haircut you’re going to get next? We act like we don’t care about these things but just like women, our hair is important to us. If not, why would you spend almost forty minutes getting a “shape up”?
For some people, it’s their hairline taking one or two steps back. In my case, it started when I turned 20 and began noticing bald spots on my head. It looked like rats were feasting on my hair while I slept. By the time I noticed the third spot, I went to see my barber and he cut everything off. Did I mention that girls love my bald head? They like to kiss and rub it like it’s one of those magic 8-balls, and I like it too. It’s therapeutic for all involved.
Caleb
I started losing my hair at 14 and by 17, it became really noticeable as my forehead had become prominent, and my hairline had receded seriously on both sides. I grew up with really black and curly hair, so it felt like I was losing something central to my persona. Have I accepted it? – Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Losing your hair, like a lot of other life events, is a huge change. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten to talk about it. Sometimes I’m angry that it happened, and other times, I’m angry that it happened so early. I’m lucky I have a full beard, so it fits perfectly. But would I change it if I had the chance? Yes, I definitely would.
If you’re one of those people who never know what to do to their hair, don’t worry. Take the quiz and we’ll help you decide.
You probably know a guy that has been struggling to grow his hair for years but is still competing with RMD in terms of hair length. Send this article to them. It’ll hit very close to home, which will be hilarious and totally won’t end with them knocking your teeth out in anger. Go on, do it.
You wake up and go on Instagram to see men with cool hairstyles. Every guy around you has plenty of hair. Even all your friends are braiding their hair and getting dreadlocks.
You start having flashbacks. Wait. Have I ever had hair before? Does my hair even grow?
If they haven’t done it in your face, they’ve done it behind your back. They’ve also said you’ll be bald by 28., and it hurt. Do you know why? Because deep down, you know it’s true.
This hair? Na all of us go carry am last last.
Midway through your third video, you decide that all these oyinbo people cannot understand your problems the way your real-life friends do.
Everyone has that one friend that grows out their hair and is a total badass at it. They probably should collect money for the premium advice they’re about to give you, but you beg them to just give you for free.
In no time, you start hearing things like shrinkage, breakage, deep conditioning, elasticity, 4a, 4b, and 4c hair, and you’re just there like, “Did I come to grow my hair or to learn how to become a hairdresser?”
“Daily routine? To grow out my hair? I cannot sleep with my hair on the pillow just like that?”
Essential oils, leave-in conditioner, shampoo, moisturising conditioner, detangler… ahnahn! Is it not just hair?
This is where most guys check out. That small bottle of leave-in conditioner is ₦5000? I don’t really need hair like that, please.
Am I cursed?
Let’s gooooooooooooo!
Two weeks later: Routine in the mud.
Locs and braids are kuku for small boys. Rich, mature men are bald, please.
Dreadlock styles- Whether you already have locs or you’re contemplating going against your parents’ wishes and locking your hair, this article is for you. We’ve combed through the internet to find the best dreadlock styles for you to rock and stay sexy.
Thank us later.
Of all the dreadlock styles in this post, this one is our fave. The locs are short, but not so short; rough but no too rough; and tangled but not too tangled. Fire.
Tell me you’re not looking at this man and going, “I must make my hair like this ASAP.” Short dreadlock styles are already sexy, but when you dye them, you’re just going round stealing people’s partners.
The advantage of having long dreads is that there are tons of way to style them, and then you can cut them whenever you feel like. Watch out for people that have long dreads; they’re probably tech bros.
If African looks are your thing, you should probably explore knotted dreads. They might not be so comfortable when you first try them, but after some time, your scalp will loosen up to accommodate them and it’ll be the best decision you ever made. If you’re feeling frisky, you can throw some dye on there too.
This style is for people who want dreads but would like to keep it simple. You don’t even have to dye it. An advantage of this is also versatility of choices.
This one is a no-brainer. Braided dreads, whether long or short are fire.
Did we pick this one because of the dreads or because of the man wearing them? We really can’t tell. Can you?
Hair lice are tiny, wingless insects that live in the hair of humans. They feed on tiny amounts of blood they get from the scalp. They spread easily from comb to comb. It is especially rampant among kids.
It’s not easy to get rid of hair lice but here are a few tips that have proven helpful.
If you have relaxed hair or you do not mind getting your hair relaxed to get the lice out. By all means, please do. It works fast.
Tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil and rosemary oil can help get lice out of your hair. It is advisable to use them moderately as essential oils can make your hair dry and cause breakage. When applied to lice-ridden hair, remember to wrap the hair with a shower cap or plastic bag. This is what will kill the lice.
Mentholated shampoo or dandruff shampoo are capable of ridding your hair of hair lice. The menthol suffocates the lice. When you use the shampoo, don’t comb until you have washed it off and applied conditioner.
This is one of the easiest ways to get rid of lice in your hair. They usually come in the form of a shampoo. It is recommended that you use it twice to make sure every last louse is out of your hair.
It is a special kind of comb with really close teeth that can help pull the lice out of your hair. If you have unrelaxed hair, you may need to blow dry your hair for combing to be effective.
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Choosing to shave your head a.k.a the baldie look can be exciting and challenging at the same time. But before shaking your ass to the salon or barber shop, here are just some facts you’re better off knowing.
Take it from a resident baldie.
Prepare an auto-response, because you will get the “WHY?” more times than you’re ready to answer. Some people will also carry the matter on their head; they can’t understand why a woman will choose to go low “like a man.”
It’ll be as if your village people are cooking food on your head. Now that there’s no hair to shield you from all the elements, you will feel the scorching sun ten times more than the next person. Getting a scarf or sun hat might help.
This is where you need the armour of confidence and breastplate of bad-bishness. You will be talking to someone and all they can focus on is your shaved head. Also, there’s the occasional cool and not-so-cool stares from strangers. Well, baldie don’t care.
Just prepare to see a sacrificial egg in the mirror.
Everything will be brought to the fore – lips, eyes, nose, brows and even ears.
Ahn ahn, fresh head. Watch out for mischievous friends, Nigerian conductors and bike riders that might give you a smack or two before you can process what just happened.
You can be having a bad day, and then then one mad breeze will caress your bald head and make you forget every stressor. That shit hits different, especially if your hair was natural and thick. Freedom!
Before they say you’re a witch and you killed your man, splurge on some accessories. Depending on your reason for going bald, you could experiment with jewelry, scarves and wigs that’ll complement your look as well. No harm in switching things up! May they not snatch your wig and embarrass your ancestors sha.
You thought you’d just shave your head and that will be it? Girrrrl, you’ll still need to care for your scalp if you want things healthy over there. This is because of the direct exposure to dust, dirt, sand and other elements.
Especially if that’s all you’ve known your whole life. You could just randomly forget and want to flip your hair before realising, “Woah, there’s nothing there.” LOL!
Hair textures for black people vary, hence, it is important to know yours and how best to care for it to achieve optimum healthiness.
Here are 3 types of hair textures and the best relaxers to help you maintain each.
Also known as thin hair. It is the smallest diameter of the 3 hair textures. It only has two of the hair layers; cuticle and cortex.
Distinctive features:
Suitable relaxer:
If you happen to have Fine Hair texture, then the Mega Growth Sensitive Care Relaxer specially formulated with 25% more conditioning oils to provide care and nourishment will be the best fit for you.
This is also known as normal hair texture and it’s the most common type of hair. It’s diameter is larger than the fine hair texture. The cuticle and cortex are the only hair layers found in the medium hair texture.
Distinctive features:
Suitable Relaxer: If your hair type falls under the Medium category, then the Mega Growth Regular relaxer should be your go-to for retouching.
This has the thickest size of all the hair types. It’s the only hair texture that contains all the three layers of the hair; cuticle, cortex and medulla.
Distinctive features:
Suitable relaxer: For this hair type, you’ll need to opt for a very effective relaxer like the Mega Growth Super Strength due to the thickness of the hair.
If you’re wondering, “So how do I even know what type of hair texture I have?”, then here’s a quick and easy experiment you can try:
Fine hair test:
Take a strand of hair between your fingers and feel it. If it feels as if you can barely feel the hair between your fingers, then it is a fine hair texture.
Medium hair test:
It’s the same step as the first. The difference is if you can somewhat feel the hair strand between your fingers, then it’s a medium hair type.
Coarse hair test:
If you can actually feel the thickness of the hair strands between your fingers, then you have coarse hair.
No matter your hair type, the secret to healthy hair, is proper care. So show your hair some love with the Mega Growth relaxer range e.g Sensitive Care.
Pick the right relaxer for your hair type and say bye bye to stress. Go here now for the best options.
You need to pass a message with the hairstyle you wear on a first date. Just like your accessories, your hairstyle also speaks volumes. These hairstyle options are strictly for women who date men.
I am not sure if it is a jet, or a bicycle or an aeroplane. The point is to let him know that you’ll be out of his life at the first sign of discomfort. All you’ll need to get out of that date is a wheel from your hair.
He can see crazy, he can see sweet. It’s entirely up to him. You are already letting him see your different sides, so you don’t catch him by surprise when the relationship starts.
You are already planning to forget everything about the date – in case the date goes wrong. You can open and close your ears so the foolish things he might say don’t make it to your brain. Seems like a perfect and important hairstyle to me sha.
He needs to know that you already have the weight of the world on your shoulders – and the last thing you need is stress from a Nigerian man. He either takes the weight off your shoulders or leaves you alone. His reaction to your hairstyle will determine if you’ll see him again. You just have to hope and pray that he doesn’t have things weighing him down too.
This hairstyle will instil the fear of god(s) into him – no one is going to tell him not to mess with you.
You need to pass judgement once the date is over.
You are already coming to the date looking like a snack. You can also put some baba Dudu in your hair, in case the food at the date is not sweet, he’ll have the option of two snacks.
As told to Mariam
Last week, I asked Nigerian women to share their biggest insecurities with me for an article. Sandra* was one of the women that reached out to me. After she responded, I asked more questions and this is what she told me:
I was born with dreadlocks. When I was two years old, my parents cut them off. The option of not cutting the hair simply didn’t exist for me. Anytime my mother talked about it, she gave me the impression that keeping a child’s dreadlocks could result in something negative happening in the child’s life. My sister was born with locs too and they were cut as well. After my haircut, there were bald patches where my edges should be. I didn’t think too much of it at first, but as I grew older, it became the only thing I could see when I looked in the mirror. It was as though my hairline kept receding.
I was about 9 years old when it became a problem for me. People were always offering advice, and I was always eager to try. I used spirit on my scalp. I put weed in my hair cream. I bought a special hair growth cream. One time, one woman told me to use my first urine of the day to wash my hair. I was desperate, so I did it. When all the creams and concoctions didn’t work, I was accused of being a witch who was cutting her hair to torment her parents. I also used to wet the bed at the time so it was easy for them to assume something was wrong with me.
My mother would ask me if I was secretly shaving my hair to frustrate her. One day she came back from work and said that I had a spirit husband, and I needed to pray if I wanted him to leave me alone. She told me we would be going for a deliverance session when she came back from work the next day. In my head, I was thinking “Omo, what if they actually cast a demon out of me tonight?”
I don’t remember how the deliverance session went. I know there were a lot of prayers and that became a regular occurrence. My mother would always ask her pastors to pray a special prayer for me. We went for two more deliverance sessions, where they tried to cast the demon living inside me. Nothing worked — I was still wetting my bed and my front hair refused to grow.
I started dodging the deliverance sessions. I would tell my mother I was too tired or that my stomach was paining me. Sometimes she would still force me to follow her to church but I used to get very tired so I would always have an excuse to leave.
When I was 13, I went to boarding school and I stopped attending deliverance sessions completely. But things there were also bad. People would call me ugly to my face. I felt ugly. They would ask if rats ate my hair. Even though I was popular because I won many inter-school competitions for my school, my identity was still largely tied to my hair. People described me as the tall dark girl without front hair. My school only allowed us to make all-back, and it was the one hairstyle that fully displayed my alopecia so I cut my hair. Even when my hair was low, the bald patches were still obvious.
In SS2, when I became head girl, the school included a beret as part of our uniform and I heard one of the house mistresses say it was because the head girl has no front hair. As I grew older, I got used to comments and they stopped bothering me. When I finished secondary school, I noticed that random people started to compliment me on the road. They would stare when I walked past or say they liked my height, my stature or my smile. I started to wear those compliments. I started to see beauty when I looked in the mirror. I realized that I always liked what I saw in the mirror but I needed someone else to like it too. My self-esteem improved. Even though in my first year of University, people still told me I wasn’t pretty, it didn’t hurt as much.
I studied physiotherapy and I got to interact with a lot of medics. That’s how I learned the term for my hair’s condition was alopecia. I haven’t been able to see a dermatologist but it felt good to know.
I rarely go to salons because my mood sours whenever people mention my baldness and hairdressers always want to recommend something. I also don’t like when people touch my hair so I make my hair myself most times. On most days, I feel beautiful but I can’t wait until I can afford surgery because I’d like to know what I look like with a head full of hair.
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We saw a tweet asking women about their “most ghetto” experience with getting their hair done, so we asked some Nigerian women to tell us theirs as well. Who knew getting your hair done could be such a crazy experience?
So, I was getting my hair done with this woman who was either sick or pregnant at the time. I should have stopped the session when she started gagging while washing my hair with shampoo, but I carried on. After a while, she took a break to eat but then stopped eating because she felt dizzy. I asked if she could continue, but she insisted. About fifteen minutes into braiding my, she burped and the next thing I felt was some wet humongous rubbish on my head. This woman vomited on my head.
My hairdresser, while giving me life advice about how I should leave useless men, made me record the “advice” and send to my boyfriend.
One time, I used this new hairdresser and apparently my cream finished. I asked her to use some of hers and she agreed. The cream was a bit cold, so looked in the mirror to see this woman using her spit as cream. HER SPIT. I jumped up so fast, and she had the audacity to tell me I was overreacting
My hairdresser put my hair under the dryer and left because she had something “important” to take care of. I think she went to have sex, because she came back looking too half-hazard and smiley for my liking. Part of my hair was burnt and yes, I have not gone to the hairdressers since. I currently have been rocking a low cut for four years, and might lock my hair next year.
One day, at the hairdressser’s place, I was eating some chips because I was hungry while she made my hair, and this woman kept dipping her hand into my chips to eat with me. When I asked her about it, she asked me If I was the only one hungry, that she was hungry too.
According to her, the assistant general manager of the restaurant told her she was not allowed to wear her hair in a bun, saying it was company policy. The manager said her her hair had to be worn straight down.
Server told to alter hairAre you black and working in the service industry? Have you been asked to wear your hair differently on the job like Akua Agyemfra? Contact us: tonews@cbc.caPosted by CBC Toronto on Thursday, March 10, 2016 Akua sees their dress code as discriminatory. She has shared her story and been interviewed by media outlets and this has led to more awareness about Black people having to alter their hair just to fit in in the work place. She says “I’m not going to compromise my roots and edges because my employer wants me to. My scalp has a right to breathe just as much as the woman standing beside me.”
The irony.
