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The Hair Tip Love Story (10 Tips For All Naturalists)

The warmth of the morning sun gently caressed Nancy’s chocolate skin as she turned lazily in her bed.
After a few minutes, she forced herself to wake up, said her prayers and immediately rushed for the bathroom. She had to be in school in the next thirty minutes.

Taking a slice of toast, she decided to take a mental peep into her day. Nothing special was happening today. Everything was going to be the same; long hours of lectures, tests, lunch and of course the usual taunting from her friends; Tolu, Leila and Oyin. They made it a point of duty to torture Nancy because of her “anyhow hair” like they called it.

Nancy is part of what we call the “Naturalists”. A term used to refer to ladies (mostly African) who keep their natural hair without applying relaxers or any form of softener.

Nancy loved the natural hair but wasn’t the best model for it. Hers always looked a mess.
Thinking of how Tolu and Leila would once again compare her hair to Oyin’s made Nancy cringe as she took a bite into her toast.


Oyin, another of her friends was also a naturalist but very different from her. Oyin’s hair always looked amazing and well kept. Most ladies in their class envied it and always looked forward to the new ways Oyin would style the hair.


Oyin’s hair was an issue for Nancy because it made her own “bad hair” very obvious and their other friends made sure to point it out to Nancy.
She hated comparison but she was gradually getting used to it because there was nothing she could do about her hair.


Or was there?


She had seen a lot of people with hair goals she had always dreamed of and her mum always told her that her hair was the talk of the street when she was a little girl but life just happened and she became a nonchalant teenage girl who wanted to have great grades and make her parents proud.
“I mean how does having a great hair help anyone?” she thought out loud.
“Well that is not my goal but I admire what they carry and how effortlessly they make maintenance look”. She scoffed.

Picking up her bag, her hair styled in her usual bun – packed to conceal her hair’s shortest part ( the middle) -Nancy headed to school.


She was ready to face her group of friends today and she had a watchword to aid that ” Ignore them” And ignoring she did but that didn’t help.


After the weekend gists were laid on the table and heartfelt laughter was shared on their glowing faces, Oyin came and everything changed again. Everyone began to “wow” and “aww” at Oyin’s beautiful hair.
Nancy didn’t have a problem if it stopped at that but they went on to bring her hair into the discussion.


“But Nancy nawa o. See Oyin’s hair. Please do something about yours”


And for some weird reason, their remarks got to Nancy this time even more than the previous times. Sadly, she walked away from her friends.
She was depressed half the class time, and couldn’t wait to get home to her mum – her safe and her happy place.

After what seemed like forever, the bell rang for the day, Nancy hurriedly grabbed her stuff and walked out of her class. As she walked out, the determination to work on her hair was subconsciously building gradually.


She rode on her bicycle slowly reminiscing on the day’s chatter.
As soon as she got home she ran to mum, hugging and narrating her ordeal almost at the same time.

Mum cupped her face and said, ‘You change by the information you hear my dear’. That didn’t make much sense to Nancy immediately until she woke up from her nap.

Mum was doing the dishes when Nancy walked up to her holding a note pad and a pen and began to ask questions.
What did my hair look like as a child?”
“What made people like it?”
“What did you do to keep it so beautiful?”


And with eyes filled with love, mum answered all her questions. And from all the answers, Nancy deduced a one word theme – LOVE so she asked

“How does love translate to a good hair?”

“Whatever you love, you pay attention to, you care for and you groom. So if you love your hair, you will pay attention to it, care for it, water it, trim it, wash it, do things that make for health for it, ask questions and be sure to put it to work”


Nancy’s face lit up with smiles.

“Thanks mum”.


She had gotten information, now it was time for change and with that she decided to implement all she had learned for the next three months and then go for more information.
She was determined to follow them through till she saw changes.

She would need more clarity, so she got mum’s phone, got on the internet and began to google hair stuff.
She was shocked when she saw that the natural hair was even a big deal that had a trending market. She read from diverse blog posts, articles and books and came up with her own Natural hair 10 Commandments:

*1. Always moisturize your hair. Water is the base product of any product. The hair thrives on water, drink a lot of water and moisturize with lot of water too.


*2. Avoid heat as much as possible.


*3. Know your hair type so as to know the products that would work for you.


*4. Eat healthy: A healthy meal reaches all parts of the body and extends nutrients in the right proportion. Fruits and vegetables have strong vitamins and minerals that the hair and body needs thus, a must for beautiful hair.


*5. A clean scalp makes for a healthy growth so wash your hair properly always, weekly or biweekly.


*6. Deep treatments and conditioning – This is a deeper practice of hair maintenance. It penetrates the hair shaft and reaches to the scalp and hair making it healthy and rich.


*7. Be patient with your hair. The same way it takes time to build a house, build a business, it also takes time to see your efforts manifesting. The journey would not be easy but enjoy it.


*8. Trim your hair when necessary. The ends of the hair are the weakest, when split ends and brittleness set in, it’s important to trim to avoid breakage.


*9. Protective styling is necessary to avoid breakage and retain length. Styles like bun, twists, cornrows and the use of wigs would help.


*10. Prayers and positive confessions – If you can pray about anything then the hair is no exception. Pray for your hair and say positive things about itself to it. Shut the naysayers and speak righteous your hair.
… And Nancy’s hair grew!

Written by Rachael Abershi Doji
Natural hair enthusiast

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The Younger Generation Needs More Positive Influence – Precious Chika Emmanuel || Black Girl Magic Interview

Welcome to Dupe’s blog ma’am.


Thank you so much, I’m honoured to be here.

Let’s meet you.


My name is Precious Chika Emmanuel, A lover and follower of Christ. I’m a Nigerian, with origin from Imo state, born and brought up in Kaduna state. A graduate of Human physiology from ABU Zaria with a career in Event planning.


Tell us more about you.


Im intentional about setting good examples and standards for the younger generation especially Ladies. I enjoy talking (meaningful talks sha ooo) lol. I love learning new things, and I’m interested in Fashion and looking good. Music is indeed food for my soul.


Do you think having mentors and role models is a necessity and why?


Oh yes, it’s very necessary to have Mentors and role models, this is because for every path you choose to tread in life, someone has been there before, so they help you develop skills and knowledge required for the path you’ve chosen in life by sharing resources, experiences and networks. A role model serves as an inspiration to motivate you and see that who you emulate is achievable.


What are your thoughts on influence to the younger generation?

The younger generation needs positive influence. They are already torn between what is right and what is in vogue. The society gives them little choice as to what and who influences them. A young boy growing up already relates success to plenty girls, and extravagant lifestyle. It is necessary that good models rise up and show them the right way to go, narrowing their choices to what Is right.

Do you think we have enough good influence out there these days?


Yes, we have a lot of good influences out there but unfortunately, they are outnumbered by the wrong ones. Hence, the need for better models to arise.


How can a young person trying to navigate through life find the right people to follow?


Who to follow is a choice we have to intentionally make. The first step is understanding/ knowing yourself, what you really want, why you need a mentor/role model, what you need motivation for. Then find someone achieving the results you desire or someone who has gone ahead of you in the path you want to go. But it should be kept in mind that, it’s important to preserve our uniqueness and not become a duplicate of who we choose to follow.

Who are your role models and how have they influenced you?


There are a number of people who influence me and who I look up to both from afar and more closely. However I’ll mention; My Parents, Mr and Mrs Emmanuel Enwere, Mr and Mrs. Elisha Mamman, Pst. and Mrs. Adegbeye, Apostle Joshua Selman and Pst. J.T. Bakare.
They have influenced me by showing me that it’s possible to live a balanced and fulfilling life and become a force to reckon with.


Give a word of advice to someone out there who is already influenced wrongly.


I’ll start by stressing on the fact that who influences you has an effect on your decision making and life at large, so make a decision to cut off every source of wrong influence and intentionally follow the right ones. Also, find and become part of a company of people who are under the right influence.
Lastly, the need for more right influences can be met if after being rightly influenced, we work to become good influences ourselves and reach out to the younger generation.

And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.
Titus 2:7‭-‬8 NLT


Thank you for your time ma’am. We hope to have you again.


It was a pleasure. Thank you for having me. I look forward to it. God bless you.

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Black Girl Magic || Interview with Seunbabara Oluwadare on Modest Dressing

Your physical appearance is most times, an expression of your mind. What you wear, and how you wear it, represents your inside. For out of the abundance of the heart…
Dressing modestly involves being decent and appropriate and should be done by both the man and the woman.

Today, Oluwaseunbabara Oluwadare a fashion entrepreneur, specialized in women’s clothing talks to us about modest dressing for the woman.

Welcome to Dupe’s blog ma’am

Thanks a lot. It’s a privilege

Tell us about you.

I’m Seunbabara Oluwadare; a bundle of light and joy to many generations; living for an audience of One.

What do you do?

Hahaha.. This will be a long list;
I’m a fashion entrepreneur. I run the label “O’BABARA” which specializes on bridesmaids dress and wedding gown.

With a sister brand called JUST SKIRTS NG that specializes only on Skirts

I’m also the Ministry Director at The Wholesome Girl Network; a network for teenage girls to be thoroughly equipped within and without.
I’m a graduate of Project management from the Federal university of technology Akure.

What do love most about being a black girl?

The power of resilience in the black girl that she’s able to thrive even in the midst of difficult situations and circumstances.

What, in your opinion, is modest dressing?

Well; Firstly I will like to address dressing as a way of showcasing who you are on the inside.
So, who you are on the inside will be visible in your appearance. Its about being modest on the inside then it shows in your dressing and vice versa. So I will say modest dressing is exemplifying our true nature as believers which is Christ.

What are the disadvantages of immodest dressing?

To analyse immodest dressing; it means dressing inappropriately or “exposive” dressing.
To think of it, dressing immodestly is not about any other person first but about the wearer.
So it’s actually about yourself.
Immodest dressing will ALWAYS ATTRACT immodest people to you. It’s important that we are cleared on the type of people we want around our lives. Because really the type of people around our lives determines how far we will go.

Why do you think ladies no longer want to wear “modest” clothes or see them as “boring”? And what can be done about it?

The world is actually pushing nudity as the norm but the world should not be our standard neither should trends dictate our dress sense.

And modest dresses doesn’t mean boring dressing. One can dress modestly and still be classy.
People want to trend and be the happening babe. But modest dressing comes from a place of understanding who you are and whose you are. This will definitely give a change of perspective; Identity is one area the enemy tries to mar and because people don’t know who and whose they are, they opt for just anything.

I’ll quickly do a reminder for the Ladies: You are the King’s Daughter; An eternal excellency; You are the joy of many generations; this means that you bring joy to many generations beyond your generation.

So it’s important we don’t give in to the dictates of the world trends because trends will certainly come and go.

As someone into women clothing, do you think it’s possible for women of different body types to dress modestly all the time and still look good?

Oh Yes.
Its absolutely possible and one doesn’t even need to look too far to see that there are people that dress modestly and still look good.

Can you give few fashion tips or examples of modest clothing for ladies?

Embrace your shape(embrace who you are and how you were made. Avoid comparison)
Always check out the rear view (this is super important because those behind you, look behind you so ensure the panty lines are invisible)
Avoid exposive dresses.

Thank you so much for your time ma. We hope to have you here again.

Thank you. It will be my pleasure

You can find Oluwaseunbabara on Instagram and Facebook