Mane Matters with Osemhen Akhibi

Hello Naturalistas,

We bring to you this week the beautiful engineer and writer, she blogs here {www.eurekanaija.wordpress.com} . Hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

2007

AN: Can you tell us who you are and what you do?

I'm Osemhen Akhibi, an engineer and writer. Lagos born, Lagos bred. :)

AN: Thoughts on natural hair?

It's beautiful when taken care of. I'm more of an advocate for healthy hair, though. And healthy hair means clean, moisturised and strong hair. It's easy to make the mistake of thinking that natural =

healthy, or the best way to keep hair healthy is to hide it under weaves forever. But I don't think that's true.

July 2012

AN: Why did you decide to go natural?

Short answer: my hair was never healthy relaxed and I realized I had no choice. Long answer: I was natural for 15 years and then I relaxed because I was curious about the whole experience. It backfired. My hair weakened significantly and broke off but I kept trying to manage it. I always

used the Dark & Lovely kit but still my hair couldn't stand it. It took me years but it finally dawned on me that if I kept relaxing, my hair would always be damaged. I had no choice really. So I started transitioning.

In a weave

AN: Did you Transition or Big Chop?

I tried to transition for 4 months. I cut my hair in stages. 6 inches in December 2011, and then loped the rest of it off in April 2012. Transitioning was the most difficult part of my hair journey. I couldn't comb my hair without wincing.

AN: What was your biggest Fear?

I was afraid of big-chopping because I wasn't sure what I'd look like. I addressed that by cutting it in a high-fade. The sides and back were lower than the front and that suited my round face just fine.

March 2013

AN: Do you think this is for the long haul or a phase?

Honest answer: I don't know. My hair grows fast and has no bounds and I worry that a time will come when I simply won't have time for it. I doubt I'll relax again, but I will need to find a way to keep it stretched for long intervals. I just started threading it and that works. I may lock it. I may big chop again. I really don't know. Ask me again in 3 years' time :)

Wild Afro 

AN: Whats your hair Regimen?

My hair, unfortunately, has no interest in forming coils or curls. It's just one cottony mass. The good thing is that it makes my routine uncomplicated. Daily routine: dampen hair, mix a little conditioner

and oil in my hand and run through. I also weave my hair a lot because my job requires a low-maintenance grooming routine. So I do mini-twists, shuku, patewo etc. Once in a while, I'll braid with

extensions or fix a weave but no more than 3 times in a year, and I never keep the attachments in for more than 2-3 weeks. I wash when I feel it's dirty. I'd say every 3 weeks. In between, I'll co-wash

once/twice because it softens my hair. I do a protein treatment every 6 weeks. I try to always use products that I can easily buy at the nearest supermarket/Tejuosho/Lagos because I don't want to get hooked on some exotic product that'll be hard to replenish. I never comb my hair dry. To combat shrinkage, I thread my hair overnight before I sleep.

AN: How do you deal with negative comments?

My aunt used to be extremely critical of my hair when it was shorter (about this time last year). And I can tell that was because I didn't have a lot of styles I could do with it so it looked unkempt. But now

she loves it, and she wants to go natural too, and her daughter is already transitioning so all's good. I've never really gotten negative comments. Everyone around me likes my hair, and the fact that it's

unique.

October 2013 in a bun

AN: Must have product and accessory?

Product: Shea Butter

Accessory: Hair-pins and a elastic band. I can do anything to my hair

with these and a bowl of water :)

AN: Advice to those who want to ditch a relaxer?

Natural hair is an uphill task if you don't remember what your natural hair looks/feels like. You'll need patience. Visit natural hair blogs often but also manage your expectations. You may have a different texture/growth rate than you imagine so don't give up easily. It's immensely rewarding to master your hair. It'll always be worth it. :)