This happened on Sunday immediately I walked into a Pharmacy…
Lady behind the counter: “Is that your hair?” She asked wide eyed.
Me: Yes (smiling).
LBC: With both curiosity and slight concern in her tone she throws another question. “But how do you comb it? Is it not painful?
Me: Still maintaining the smile on my face, “No it’s not. I have learnt how to take care of it. (pause) It’s the opposite of relaxed hair. You comb natural hair from ends to roots.
LBC: (Confused)
Me: “Where can I find Dettol Soap please?” The reason I was in the pharmacy in the first place.
LBC: Walks slowly while keeping an eye on my hair.
As she comes closer to me, she says matter of factly, “Please go and put a relaxer on it jor.”
Me: In total shock, (I nevah experred it). “God Forbid!”
LBC: Slightly taken aback she says, “you won’t?” Silence. Then in a lower voice she says, “but your hair is fine sha.”
At this point, someone walks into the pharmacy and she gets distracted. I use the opportunity to grab the two bars of Dettol Soap I came in for, ask for the price, pay and before I leave, I give her an encouraging smile and say “thank you, bye!”
Lesson learnt– Natural hair has psychologically been associated with pain so I need to work on better ways to get women to stop viewing it that way.
5 comments
Wow, very interesting post. It’s sad that people view natural hair in his way.
LOL She knows your hair is fine “sha” but she still wants you to go relax it. I’m always quick to tell people that it doesn’t hurt if you’re combing right.
I’ll say that quickly next time. Because I know there’s definitely going to be a next time.
Yes NH has always been associated with pain and that’s not completely false because on lazy days I comb my hair from root to tip and well, breakage + slight pain.
I just hate when people say “go and relax/relaz your hair na”, oh God, aunty I don’t want to, thank you, hiss.
Nigerians need to learn how to be courteous when giving unsolicited advice/comment.
Bookie Kunlere
Haha! Every ‘aunty’ thinks its their right to give an opinion whether it concerns them or not. It’s just something I can never get used to.