Photo of the Week Contest 08 | Sharing my best Photo of the Week

MY AFRO HAIR

One of the best parts of my day is when I get to style my afro hair.

We also call it natural hair.
‎
‎For context, I have a black, medium length, afro hair that flies wherever the wind blows. Have you seen this hair? It is so thick and beautiful. In this post, I'd give you a sneak peek into some of the experiences I encountered while growing it.
‎

‎Behind the Scene…

‎It can be difficult to comb and style an afro. Since it has never been relaxed or stretched, I often spend an average of 10 - 15 minutes trying to detangle the roots, before carefully combing it into whatever style that pops up on my mind.
‎
‎Before everything is done, we must have recorded not less than 45 mins of mirror time.

‎ Washing and braiding	Morning glow. Almost thought of rocking the hair like this after combing.

Washing my hair is a different ball game put together. My hair is like a camel that tanks up with water; it takes pails of water for it to get soaked, let alone reach the scalp.

I also have to use some special shampoos and conditioners to make the hair soft and comfy. Once this is over, my hairstylist helps me braid them neatly. I do this immediately because it becomes painful to plait when they dry out.

Rocking my afro hair unperturbed

Click!	Click!

Last weekend, I had to do my hair. It's my policy to visit the salon every two weeks. This gives me a fresh look and helps me save time on combing and styling the hair. But when I called my hairstylist, she informed me that she went on a 2-day business trip. I was caught between visiting another hair salon or allowing her workers to do the job.

Thing is, I prefer when she braids my mane herself. She gives me neater cornrows at an affordable rate, compared to other natural hairstylists.

The money charged for washing and braiding natural afro is super expensive, particularly for young people who are just starting out.

That weekend, I decided to style my hair into two big braids and a bun. I started by parting it in the middle then plaiting both sides singlehandedly into neat cornrows before tying it into a small, lovely bun.

On stepping out, I received so many compliments. Isn't it beautiful? 🥰

I had to rock the hairstyle again today. Oh, how my colleagues loved it!

One of them later called me aside to ask why I rarely add extensions to my hair. I get this kind of question every eke market day. However, I still do not understand why some people think it is compulsory to attach other items to the hair. What's the need of these hair extensions when you already have a super long and healthy hair?

Also, do you think that this slowly becoming a custom?

I'd love to know your thought on this. Thank you for reading through! ❤️

All photos are mine.
Specially inviting @kyrie1234, @yuceetoria and @tammanna to participate in @m-fdo's contest

_{Written by @ukpono on 20 June 2025}