Connect with us

Features

Chioma Momah: Hair Love

Avatar photo

Published

 on

dreamstime_m_56706893-2“Aunty, dis your hair dey pain hand oh, why you no wan put relaxer now?” The young lady braiding my hair sounded cross. Since going natural, I had grown accustomed to such comments, so I kept quiet and paid her no mind.

When I first rocked my natural hair about a decade ago, it wasn’t because natural hair had started gaining popularity. In fact, at that time very few people I knew had natural hair, and it definitely wasn’t the big trend it has become today.
I started wearing my natural hair shortly after my dad passed. I felt I had to do something physical to cope with the pain within my soul, and cutting my hair short was very therapeutic. I immediately felt liberated and enjoyed the feeling of water running down my short ‘fro’ whenever I took a shower. It was sheer bliss!

As my hair grew, I decided to try out dreadlocks. I had always admired them on other people, and being a low maintenance girl, I felt they would be easier to maintain. At the salon, I felt my hair was too bushy for the palm-rolling method, but the loctician insisted that it would look good, so he went ahead. When he was done, some locs were fat and some were thin, and all around it was just a big fat mess! My mom saw me and told me that my hair didn’t look nice. I couldn’t help but completely agree, as I looked like a failed reggae star.

After that, I stuck to wearing my hair in two strand twists, braids or weaves. After a while though, I grew restless and decided to cut my hair à la Rihanna. And so I snipped off my hair yet again. It was daring and everyone screamed in surprise, but it was fabulous! I loved it while it lasted, but I couldn’t keep up with the frequent retouching and styling sessions at the salon, so after I while I decided to grow it out again.

Months later, when my hair had grown out reasonably, I went to the salon, and surprisingly the hairdresser refused to retouch my hair. In her words, “Aunty, your hair is like natural hair now. Kuku leave it, natural hair is good o, see wetin people dey find, you wan spoil am!” I couldn’t believe that I was hearing this in a regular hair salon. Natural hair has truly come full circle!

All trends aside, it’s good to see that people are becoming more comfortable with different hair choices. Our hair is one of many ways in which we can express ourselves – our personality, sense of style and even changing moods and circumstances. So whether it’s natural or relaxed, wigs or extensions, it’s really all about you feeling comfortable, confident and totally loving your hair.

Photo Credit: Sam74100 | Dreamstime.com

Chioma Momah is a policy lawyer, corporate strategist, author, coach, and parenting advocate. She has had an extensive career in the regulatory public sector. She currently serves as Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Guinness Nigeria. She is passionate about family life, parenting, gender, education, and communication, empowering women through conferences and coaching programs. She has worked with over 100 women globally and engages with an online community of 8,500+ followers. Chioma holds an LL.B from Obafemi Awolowo University (Nigeria), an MBA from Anglia Ruskin University (UK), and an MPA from the University of Exeter (UK). She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the Nigerian Bar Association. As an author, Chioma has written children's books like First Day at Big School and Fun Trip to the Village, as well as Wisdom for Women, a series on women in history and the Bible. She is also a literacy advocate, leading the initiative “Let’s Encourage A Reading Nation”, promoting access to quality books for children. Chioma serves on the boards of several organizations, including the Association of Children's Authors and Illustrators of Nigeria (ACAIN), and contributes to platforms like BellaNaija and Leadership Newspaper. She also shares insights on her blog, www.chiomah.net. Married with four children, Chioma is dedicated to fostering literacy, strong families, and impactful leadership. Learn more at chiomahmomah.com.

css.php