Trichologist? Oh No He Didn't!

NYACHOMBA:

Ignorance is an evil thing, when it affects people who influence others, its worse than satan's best friend! This afternoon we have received the following post on the Kurly Kichana facebook page from a concerned Kurlie!! Bigup to her!

So they had this hairdressing consultant guy on the Nation Television Kenya Morning Talk show talking about extensions and healthy hair in general. Then this poor girl named Carol, maskini (poor dear), calls in saying her has been natural for a year and a half now and because she doesn’t know what else to do with it, she’s been braiding, weaving and blow drying nonstop and was honestly just wondering what else she can do. I was like finally, an educated, well-spoken professional is gonna help her see the light. But alas, how terribly wrong I was! The guy had the nerve to start off by saying:

“now I don’t understand why anyone would choose to leave your hair that way? (he laughs) there’s so many new technologies to ’soften’ African hair. I hope you know that African natural hair is kinky and next to impossible to maintain!”

excuse me if it’s not a word for word quote but the jist is there. Btw, that’s not all! So what advice does he give this frustrated lady?

"GET A RELAXER OR A PERM BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION FOR YOU!!"

What the f%*k????!!! I am so pissed that this is what Kenyan women know or worst still think this is the only option! Then as a side bar, he says that he hopes that one day he’ll be able to convince the ladies he sees walking around with an afro to ‘tame’ their hair with some type of chemical?!!! I AM PISSED! I would definitely be rocking a fro today if it weren’t for these kinky twists in the hope that I would run into Muli Musyoka, praised techtologist, if that is even a ligit profession because my spell check is going nuts, just so I can give him a piece of my mind!!! I am pissed! We need a revolution. Did I mention how pissed I am?!

Upon seeing this Mary and I, were in SPARTA mode...ready to fight, swords out and all. This is the kind of thinking we are trying to banish. I mean this man is supposed to be quite learned and apparently a trichologist why then would he go ahead encouraging women to relax their hair......Hmm maybe because he endorses Haco Industries products with a Kshs 200 million budget...more marketing for relaxers, better sales for HACO and a hefty pay check for Mr Trichologist. Its such thinking that encourages self hate amongst black women, even worse african girls. As a true expert he should be objective and look at both sides of the coin..and encourage ladies to wear their hair how they want it..coz at the end of the day its a choice what to do with your hair!

MARY:

Man, where do I begin. (we had to do this post together, it's that serious yo)

First of all let me thank the natural Super Star for putting this out there. You. Are. Awesome.

Now let me give you the 'ugly' truth according to Mary... This man had the audacity to call out natural hair as some sort of slight. *Help me baby Jesus*. Mr. Trichologist and other like-minded individuals are the cause of women failing to appreciate themselves and their beauty. For all his years of education and as a self proclaimed expert on black hair care he dare speak with such folly. I say to him, "SHAME ON YOU". As a black man, who is interested in African beauty, one who has access to various media and reaches out to millions of women, how dare he speak with such authority and finality.

Just think of the other 'Carols' who saw this man stand up and disrespect African hair in such an abrasive and dismissive manner. The lies they were fed will impact them and their decisions. I am proper livid. As we've mentioned repeatedly, natural hair in Kenya still doesn't bode well with the majority of the population. If you have nothing nice to say, I implore you... PLEASE DON'T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL.

What do you guys think about this? Nyash and I are drafting a letter... too much? We think not.

Thoughts, advise, opinions are all welcome.