I shuttle between my beloved London and new darling Lagos and so far, it's been an experience and a half! One of the major things I found hard (maybe still do) is the lack of boundaries that exists in this part of the world. I can't count the number of times total strangers have walked up to me and put their hands in my hair in an attempt to feel out my "weave". This isn't a huge problem because I know that Nigerians are warm and loving people.
I get asked a lot what I do to my hair and end up having full blown conversations about hair care and maintenance. This usually leads to email addresses being exchanged to carry on the conversation. So I figured I'd blog every now and then about hair care and point future enquirers to this site instead.
First and foremost, I'm a natural head; but I'm not an activist for everyone going natural. I believe healthy hair can be achieved with both natural and relaxed hair. I chose to become natural because I missed the curls I had as a little girl. I chose the big chop route which means I barely transitioned. I did for a couple of months, but still ended up cutting it all off.
To some degree, it was both a difficult and an easy decision for me to make. It was difficult because I had no guarantee what my hair would look like and how long it would take to grow back, if it ever did. But it was also easy because I was sincerely tired of watching my hair sizzle in the hands of hairdressers and their beloved straighteners and tongs, only to have undergrowth within a couple of weeks.
If you do want to go the natural route, here are a few thoughts:
* Once you cut it off you can't go back; so be sure you know what you're in for and mentally prepare yourself for it.
* If you transition, you still have the two options available to you.
* Arm yourself with research. You've got a whole world of knowledge at your fingertips on the web. Make use of it.
* It's ok to admire another person's hair but you have to get to know your own curl patterns and love them. Otherwise you'll be in for a really miserable journey desiring curl patterns that can't be attained.
One thing you can rest your mind on is this; your hair will grow! Be patient and give yourself time. Just like everything else in life, given time and the right attention, growth is sure.
Here are some pictures of my hair progress. Do share yours with me on Instagram and Twitter (Tag @moadegboye).
