We are in the era where blackness is celebrated across the world. People of colour are beginning to wear their culture proudly and standing tall against all forms of racial discrimination.
Also, the 1st black president of the U.S, Barack Obama, will be stepping down later in 2016 after 8 years in office. As expected, this has to be the most talked about topic of the year.
Chimamanda Adichie, being very vocal about political issues, spoke about Barack Obama’s election and his amazing wife, Michelle.
However, this doesn’t mean women who choose to not wear their natural hair are any less. It is not a battle about what type of hair is better.
For those who were reaching, it’ll be nice to not forget that she also said an afro should only be regarded as normal hair which is only right.
If a 3-year-old child, Blue Ivy, was getting backlash especially from black people for wearing her natural hair, what do you think would’ve happened if Michelle wore her natural hair?
Share your thoughts on this in the comments section.
The African hair industry rakes in about 1.1 billion dollars annually in sales of only hair lotions and shampoos but most women still find it difficult to locate the best products for their hair.
If you have been having struggles with locating high- grade natural hair stylists and products on the go, this recently launched app for Naturalistas is here for you.
Yas!
Developed by the trio of Esther Olatunji, Priscilla Hazel and Cassandra Sarfo from Nigeria and Ghana, Tress was launched at the 2016 Social Media Week held in Lagos.
The three software entrepreneurs met while studying at the prestigious Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology, Ghana which has successfully incubated other startups such as meQasa and Kudobuzz which have collectively raised over $600,000 since 2015.
Tress is designed in such a way that the users conveniently find useful information on how to style their hair, products required for various hair textures, where to locate hair stylists within and around Ghana and Nigeria while building an online community of African hair-loving women.
Users who are familiar with Instagram will relate to Tress because the images appear with  likes while information of results were designed with a slight touch of Pinterestâs detailing.
Efforts to make booking of hair appointments in salons via Tress are currently in the works.
The app is available for download on Google Play Store and is set to lauch on iOS platform soon. You can keep up with Tress on Twitter for quick DIY tips and giveaways here.
*Note: Weaves here means âwigs, weavons and braidsâ.
1. Having your hair touched by random people. Without permission.
Stranger: âYou look good girl! Is this all your hair?â *goes ahead to touch your hair*
2. Being able to feel your scalp.
You can actually touch and feel your scalp. No weavon tracks. Your scalp is not air-deprived, you can actually feel breeze in your head.
3. Not having to do this.
No weave-patting for you.
4. You seriously loath Wash Day.
Get ready to spend two hours making sure your hair is properly cleaned and deep conditioned and moisturized.
5. Your edges are still young and thriving.
Nothing is pulling them back to the past.
6. You when it’s about to rain.
Because you know your twist out is about to be destroyed!
7. The nastiness of a smelly weave is not your portion.
Carrying your hair for two to three months? God forbid!
8. You get bad hair day sometimes.
When your hair just refuses to co-operate with you.
9. You get good hair day most times.
When the deep conditioning and moisturizing brings out the best in your hair.
10. You unknowingly causing trouble.
When you sit in front of people with your big hair.
11. You at night and during the day.
When you have to put your hair in twists before you go to bed versus taking them down in the morning.
12. Being a product junkie.
Water, anointing oil and all other liquids are not your enemies. When you see a new hair product, you just have to try it out.
13. Thankfully, you never have every weaveaholicâs recurring nightmare.
When your extensions part ways with your scalp.
14. The actual condition known as âweave addictionâ isnât something that affects you.
A great option for protecting your hair from breakage while transitioning.
2. Faux locs
Donât want to be stressed and want to know if youâll look good with real locs without the commitment? Then try the faux locs. Theyâre quite easy to install. Just make sure you go to a quality salon to have them done.
3. Jumbo twists
You can have your hair in twists, then tuck them into a neat, simple style.
4. Twistouts
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBh5aK6saRf/
Take down your twists to get these bouncy curls or coils!
5. Braidouts
https://www.instagram.com/p/d-CNyEQ1kt/
During the transitioning phase, Black hair has two different textures, the processed part and the natural part. Braidouts are great for blending your two textures. You can have them in cornrows or do single braids. Leave them in overnight (on damp or dry hair) for the best results. To keep strands from frizzing, protect your braids at night by wearing a silk scarf or bonnet.
6. Afro Wig
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBgxXWfnQSM/
Yes. This right here is a wig. You can purchase it at online or have it custom-made by Ifeyinwa of Nazuri Curls or Esther Otomi of Game of âFros.
This hairstyle is great for days when you want to keep it really simple. A hair band, comb, brush, hair gel and silk or satin scarf will help you achieve this look.
8. Goddess braid
If youâre worried about âwork appropriate hairâ, this is for you. And itâs fast and easy to do too.
9. Turban
https://www.instagram.com/p/BAgje0_y86L/
In a hurry? Canât be bothered with styling or just feeling lazy? Just throw on your scarf and go. Watch tutorials here.
10. Bantu knots
This style isnât for everybody obviously. If you like to make fashion statements, like Ri Ri, then this is for you!
And guess what? When you take down the knots, you get these gorgeous-looking curls! Double whammy!
12. Thread
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBadbDPg0VK/
This classic Nigerian hairstyle isnât just for school girls! And itâs really affordable too.
1. Natural hair or dreads
Adichie says hair is political. Yup. Afro, dreads, just let it grow and blossom baby. Must attend: that dreads convention each year. Must follow: Blogs, Instagrams, Tweeters about natural hair. Must do: Tell everyone just how great their hair is and welcome them to the other side.
2. Stop wearing a bra
Bras were invented by men to hold you back from freedom. Ditch bras. When people stare at you, hold them tits high by arching your back. Dazeet.
3. Attend Afropolitan vibes
Ignore all the western music and think about the live band bruh. That live band is lit. Donât forget to tweet about how the bottled Palmwine isnât fresh enough for you.
4. Visit Terrakulture at least once a month
You havenât gone to an art gallery? How are you living without the appreciation of art? Rele also holds a couple of events.
5. Tell us how awful international food is
Can we just ban Dominoâs? How dare you call chicken suya a pizza variant? *rolling eye emoji*
6. Bogobiri on Thursdays
Nigerian music is trash except when youâre bumping and grinding to it at Vapours on Friday. Bogobiriâs open Mic night is what authentic music should sound likeâââwith proper content and etc.
7. Complain about politics but donât vote
Tweet about how much light youâre not getting and how the roads in VI are bad. Donât forget it took you 6 months to register your non-profitable business. But donât vote. How can you vote in an election thatâs already rigged?
8. Tell us how Lagos is the most expensive city ever
âLagos is the most expensive city Iâve ever lived inâ. Thank you Ms. Art internship in Monaco, we had no idea.
9. Complain about the things Nigerians do
This one is really important. Nigerians donât give personal space. Nigerians eat too loud. Nigerians are too loud on the phone. Nigerians like to talk too much and any other thing you think only Nigerians are capable of doing.
10. Complain about Ubers
Nigeria just doesnât have enough Ubers bruh. Itâs always in surge pricing bruh. There are no trains in Lagos bruh. How are there no trains in Lagos?
11. Be a writer
Write sad poems. More importantly, write âAfrican fictionâ and attempt to describe the smell of Lagos. Argue about writing. Compare and contrast Adichie to Achebe and give yourself 10 marks for spotting the differences. Get into a creative writing workshop. Blame your singleness on the fact that nobody can love writers because theyâre always sad.
12. Start a blog
Lagosdosgbe.wordpress.com or a URL with a Nigerian slang will be your collection of woes, p settings and the weird thing you bought in traffic. Tell your friends about it every time you have lunch with them.
13. Be proud of your melanin
Black is beautiful. Thatâs all I have to say. Tag every picture with #Melanin and #Slay. Ugh. Slay is so important. Never forget to slay.
14. Patch everything with Ankara
How else will you define yourself and your Africanness if you donât have a lirru bit of Ankara and Dashiki pieces everywhere? Put them on your pockets, chest, forehead. Wear an Ankara bikini.
15. Join the fitfam crew
Sign up for Truppr and get on that Lekkoyi bridge. Weâre not trying to accept our bodies anymore. Thatâs so 2012â2014. You must change that body and be fit and have enough Buffality. Dazz rai. Donât forget to autopost your Endomondo, Runkeeper and Nike+ workouts. Everybody must know.
1. “Your hair looks like puff-puff.”
Are you even serious?
2. “Can I touch it?”
Can I slap your face after?
3. “Is it a religious thing?”
Only âholyâ people keep natural hair abi?
4. “Your hair is too strong, you should relax it!”
Please how is strong hair a bad thing?!
5. “And you looked better with straight hair.”
So now Iâm ugly?
6. “How do you cope with this your hair?”
You mean how do I cope with all this awesomeness?
7. “Your hair is all over the place.”
Yes, I want to bless all of you with it.
8. “Is it money? I will buy relaxer for you.”
Letâs not be unfortunate please.
9. “Why are you putting so much oil on your hair, it is already natural.”
All types of hair need oil and moisture, youâre welcome.
10. “Can you style it?”
In several amazing ways you can think of.
Like this:
Afro: The Girl With The Magical Hair was originally a short story about a girl called Oghoghotionmwantiomesiemerijie (not a typo) or O…AfrO for short.
Afro is from the far away land of Lolovita. Afro had the biggest hair in the kingdom and this hair, which was magical, by the way, helped her save a Prince from a random kingdom and kill a wicked Queen. She used oils on her hair to help her âfro grow so high.
The story was originally available on Okada Books in ePub format.
via Ofilispeaks
The story is now being made into a real children’s book and will be published by Farafina Books. Both physical and ebook versions of Afro: The Girl With The Magical Hair is written by Okechukwu Ofili.
via Ofilispeaks
Okechukwu Ofili is the founder of e-reading platform, @okadabooks, an illustrator and a blogger at Ofilispeaks. Most people call him Ofilispeaks, because he is a public speaker as well. Okechukwu has also published other books including ‘How Stupidity Saved My Life’ and ‘How Laziness Saved My Life’.
This book is particularly great because it not only celebrates the African woman and her natural hair, it is potentially laying the foundation Afro to be one of the few – or nonexistent – superheroes in literature for young black girls.
The illustrations in the book are by Sharee Miller, an illustrator who aims for bright, colorful and whimsical designs and art geared towards children. In anticipation of Afro, some of Sharee’s natural hair illustrations are:
And
Look at this one.
By all indications, the illustrations in the book will be as amazing as these ones.
These images are equally as beautiful as those by illustrator Ekpemi Anni in her book My Lovely Hair.
