Proudly Natural, Proudly Nigerian.

By Hadassah Agbaps - August 07, 2012

I am a Nigerian natural hair advocate with a mission to rebranding Nigeria through hair by getting back to our "roots" *pun intended*
I'm not just about hair but like the Aussie slogan says "it's a good place to start."
I'm not cajoling anyone to go natural.
It's YOUR choice.
Just as relaxing your hair should be YOUR choice not because everybody says so. Everybody is not usually right!

Some of us have been bullied into changing ourselves to conform with what others think about us and it usually started with what our hair looked like.
In our hearts we don't see anything wrong in being natural (and being ourselves whether fat,thin,tall,short,light,dark,Hausa,Igbo or Yoruba) but the fear of being different makes us depend on relaxers even to the detriment of healthy hair and scalp.

The hair is our crowning glory.
From ages past,our hair has been part of our identity. The Nazarenes of Bible times were identified by their long locs of hair.
Beautiful people were described with healthy shining hair.
Cultures were defined by their hair texture, colour and styles.
There is no mistaking the fact that our hair has a role to play in defining our national identities.

Afro textured hair is about to be made extinct due to ignorance.
Our hair is kinky,wooly, coily and perfect.
It is GOOD hair because God in his infinite wisdom made it so.
We only need to work with it. Play up it's strengths and manage it's weaknesses. That's what other people with other textures do.

Why do you relax your hair and that of your children? It hurts me to see children younger than two years with relaxed hair. Mothers, what are you thinking?!
-Is it because you feel it's difficult to manage? You may have simply not used the right methods.
-Is it because you want to conform? Where then lies the confidence you try to imbibe in your children?
-Is it because you have no time? Make it!
Taking care of your hair and that of your child is time well spent in bonding. Carve out time on weekends to bond with yourself and your children through hair.
-Is it because there seems to be no info in the media encouraging "nappy" hair...that's sad but things are changing and you can be a catalyst.
Instill a sense of self pride in your children.
Make them appreciate every bit of what they were born with and you'll see them learning to work with it for the best.
Stop the negative comparisons.

Is your hair dull, scanty, discolored, lifeless even when relaxed? It means you are missing something. Start from scratch...this blog is here to help you achieve beautiful natural hair and hopefully reveal the real natural you along the way. See it as a journey of self discovery.

That's just my thoughts anyway...what do YOU say?

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