If I want to knock a story off the front page, I just change my hairstyle.
Hilary Rodham.
Lo and behold, Maryam did just that. After taking a Twitter poll, with most voting go bald, she took that opinion and off with her hair.
Maryam Awaisu, author of three books, Nigerian Arewa Me-too movement Activities, sickle cell advocate, extremely wicked féminist and a YouTuber who walks and talks about women’s right, development and growth, sits with me as I seek answers to why the locs had to go?
1.— What’s your earliest memory of your relationship with your hair?
As a child of about 4. People always admired it since then. Their comments first made me realize it was something to be admired, and I decided I liked having it.
2.— Tell me about your hair texture.
Very soft and curly, with insane shrinkage. I never ever relaxed my hair. Firstly, I didn’t need to, because it was long and soft. But looking back, there was a lot of pressure to relax it, despite that. Both kids and adults kept telling me to imagine how my hair would double in length if I did. It was tempting, but I felt that it was so final. Like, I would just lose the afro for good? I did not want that. I’m so proud that I stuck by what I wanted. Also, shame on all those adults. A more impressionable person would’ve been pushed into regret.
Very soft and curly, with insane shrinkage. I never ever relaxed my hair. Firstly, I didn’t need to, because it was long and soft. But looking back, there was a lot of pressure to relax it, despite that. Both kids and adults kept telling me to imagine how my hair would double in length if I did. It was tempting, but I felt that it was so final. Like, I would just lose the afro for good? I did not want that. I’m so proud that I stuck by what I wanted. Also, shame on all those adults. A more impressionable person would’ve been pushed into regret.
3. — when did you decide to go on locs?
In 2018.
In 2018.
4.— how long have you had your dreads before chopping it off?
I had them for 4 years. Shaved everything a few weeks after their 4th anniversary.
I had them for 4 years. Shaved everything a few weeks after their 4th anniversary.
5.— compare life with locs and no locs.
I gravitated toward locs for ease. I stopped plaiting my hair in 2013 because the stress just wasn’t worth it. I started braiding my hair myself, into just 10 braids each month. It felt too stressful. I went all the way to one large braid each month. Then I turned to artsy coiffures, with lots of pins. Felt too stressful too, so I turned to locs. Getting them to lock was quite stressful, especially because of my hair texture, but maintenance was easy. I relocked my hair myself all those years, so it was at my convenience and cost next to nothing. I settled for a monthly wash and relocking once in two months, which was really not stressful at all. I also combined my locs from 63 to 21, which made it much easier still. I trimmed them only once a year. Very very stress-free in general.
I gravitated toward locs for ease. I stopped plaiting my hair in 2013 because the stress just wasn’t worth it. I started braiding my hair myself, into just 10 braids each month. It felt too stressful. I went all the way to one large braid each month. Then I turned to artsy coiffures, with lots of pins. Felt too stressful too, so I turned to locs. Getting them to lock was quite stressful, especially because of my hair texture, but maintenance was easy. I relocked my hair myself all those years, so it was at my convenience and cost next to nothing. I settled for a monthly wash and relocking once in two months, which was really not stressful at all. I also combined my locs from 63 to 21, which made it much easier still. I trimmed them only once a year. Very very stress-free in general.
6.— your hair has reached quite a length, will that be attributed to genes, luck or intentional grooming?
It’s definitely largely genes. My hair always reached half my back and before I locked it, it was almost to my butt. There were long periods where I did nothing to take care of my hair. A lot would fall each time I combed, yet the hair never thinned or lost length. Then there were times I took care of it and used natural oils like peppermint, moringa, lavender, and also steamed and conditioned it, all with natural, home remedies like onion extract, ginger extract, avocado oil, etc. It very easily remained the same, I’d say, although people around me claimed it got longer during the time of care. I think it’s mainly genes, to be fair. It remains more or less the same length and fullness that you naturally have over the years.
It’s definitely largely genes. My hair always reached half my back and before I locked it, it was almost to my butt. There were long periods where I did nothing to take care of my hair. A lot would fall each time I combed, yet the hair never thinned or lost length. Then there were times I took care of it and used natural oils like peppermint, moringa, lavender, and also steamed and conditioned it, all with natural, home remedies like onion extract, ginger extract, avocado oil, etc. It very easily remained the same, I’d say, although people around me claimed it got longer during the time of care. I think it’s mainly genes, to be fair. It remains more or less the same length and fullness that you naturally have over the years.
7.— now at what point did you feel the need to go bald (was it due to weather, location, trend, comfort).
Something was whispering it to me since last year. I kept ignoring it, but it wouldn’t go. I dyed my hair purple just before the locs turned 4 years, and it was absolutely beautiful, yet the whisper would not stop. So I said, you know what? I’ve never been bald before. Let’s try it! My mind said do it and I did. The fact that it’ll be a lot easier to maintain made it easy to decide.
Something was whispering it to me since last year. I kept ignoring it, but it wouldn’t go. I dyed my hair purple just before the locs turned 4 years, and it was absolutely beautiful, yet the whisper would not stop. So I said, you know what? I’ve never been bald before. Let’s try it! My mind said do it and I did. The fact that it’ll be a lot easier to maintain made it easy to decide.
8.— is this a long term hair decision?
With me, you never know. I could hear another whisper and do something else. But I’m really loving having no hair. I’ve never felt the shower directly on my scalp before and it’s addictive.
With me, you never know. I could hear another whisper and do something else. But I’m really loving having no hair. I’ve never felt the shower directly on my scalp before and it’s addictive.
9.— what happens to dreads, do you plan on selling off, donating or keeping?
It’s in my luggage, for now. I have not decided what to do with it. I’ll see if I can donate to someone who’s lost hair for health reasons, perhaps. It’s black and purple, so I’m not sure who would want that though. Lol
It’s in my luggage, for now. I have not decided what to do with it. I’ll see if I can donate to someone who’s lost hair for health reasons, perhaps. It’s black and purple, so I’m not sure who would want that though. Lol
10.— there’s a rule In Islam regarding haircuts for women, if you are aware about it, please could you shed light on it?
No, I am not aware of it. The things I hear, like a womxn not being allowed to shave off everything, has no basis but misogyny (just like a lot we’ve been told about womxn in Islam). I can and will do what I wish with and to my body. People also say she has to fast for 3 days after shaving, and even that, I’m sure is unfounded (I’m almost certain I’ve asked before and it’s not so). Both men and womxn can either grow or cut their hair. If men do not fast when they shave, why must womxn? It’s the same way we look at men with long/braided hair as sinners in this part of the world, but the Prophet (SAW) had long hair! No basis except closed minds and bigotry.
No, I am not aware of it. The things I hear, like a womxn not being allowed to shave off everything, has no basis but misogyny (just like a lot we’ve been told about womxn in Islam). I can and will do what I wish with and to my body. People also say she has to fast for 3 days after shaving, and even that, I’m sure is unfounded (I’m almost certain I’ve asked before and it’s not so). Both men and womxn can either grow or cut their hair. If men do not fast when they shave, why must womxn? It’s the same way we look at men with long/braided hair as sinners in this part of the world, but the Prophet (SAW) had long hair! No basis except closed minds and bigotry.
11.— on a scale of rainbow colors, how happy are you with your decision?
Black. It’s a solid black of giddy happiness. And black is the most beautiful; that’s why it’s too majestic for the rainbow. It swallowed all the colors. 😊
Black. It’s a solid black of giddy happiness. And black is the most beautiful; that’s why it’s too majestic for the rainbow. It swallowed all the colors. 😊
12.— mention 3 ways you can fashionably rock your head.
Plan is lowcut for now. Doubt I’ll do much more than perhaps use some curling gel when it becomes a lowcut. Ease, ease, ease. I might get ideas, but nothing comes to mind for now. Don’t forget that I always cover my hair anyway; so these changes are really just for my eyes. I love coloring my hair and might resume that (my locs went blond, gray, purple and blue, blond again, then purple). I might also do a hard part, but I may be too lazy for that.
Plan is lowcut for now. Doubt I’ll do much more than perhaps use some curling gel when it becomes a lowcut. Ease, ease, ease. I might get ideas, but nothing comes to mind for now. Don’t forget that I always cover my hair anyway; so these changes are really just for my eyes. I love coloring my hair and might resume that (my locs went blond, gray, purple and blue, blond again, then purple). I might also do a hard part, but I may be too lazy for that.
13.— should we be expecting a bald character in upcoming books?
There already is! And she was created years before the whisperings in my mind to go bald! I’m just realizing this. Lol. Maybe she was whispering to me!
There already is! And she was created years before the whisperings in my mind to go bald! I’m just realizing this. Lol. Maybe she was whispering to me!
*****
Maryam was such a sweetheart and she thought this interview was fun.
HAIR TIP!
Appreciate your hair at any length and volume. You have to Show it love by moisturizing especially and tying a silk scarf to protect hair.
Pearls On The Scene 