Our Crowning Glory

Rukee Kaakunga

Jacques Mushaandja Musician and scholar

We also spoke to two men who tell us exactly what goes through their minds when they see women who either have a weave, natural hair, or dreadlocks.





Elizabeth Valomboleni

Model



This leggy model has been wearing weaves for four years and recently started using lace-wigs over the last year and a couple of months. She sees nothing sinister in how society perceives women based on their hair. “I pretty much think that women in Namibia can have their hair however they desire without having the stigma of wearing weaves or any other type of synthetic hair,” she says.

Maintenance is very low on lace wigs says Elizabeth, who spends N$500 on products alone. She washes and styles her hair herself, avoiding salon costs which tend to be high.

The big spending is usually on the hair itself though, Elizabeth once spent a whopping N$12 000 on a lace wig from the US. “Huge amount, I know, but it’s quality 100% human hair and the longer the hair the more expensive. Density also has a huge impact on the price,” she says.

What do you think your hair says about you?

The use of hair extensions or weaves in my opinion can be used to enhance the beauty you already have or just provide a change from the previous hairstyle you had. I feel glamorous when I wear my long hair and I believe having good looking hair says a lot about you and you appear more attractive.







Zodidi Jewel Gaseb

Events Management and Planning Officer



This natural hair enthusiast has worn her natural locks for two years. Her love for wearing her hair naturally has inspired her to host Namibia’s first ever natural hair events where people share ideas on natural hair care. She says that society’s perception of women who wear their hair naturally varies. “One finds people who still have a narrow minded view on natural hair which is sad really, because it’s natural hair, something you’re born with... Some people think it’s not neat enough, or uncivilised or they even go as far as thinking that when one wears their hair naturally, their way of thinking changes completely,” she says.

She adds though that society and work places are more accepting of natural hairstyles today. “Women have more confidence somehow and younger girls look up to such women which I think is the beginning of positive self image and acceptance of one’s self,” she says.

Maintaining her natural hair has become increasingly affordable says Zoey. After experimenting with various products, she now knows what works best for her hair and tends to lean more on natural options such as banana, avocado, honey and eggs which condition and add protein to her hair. Products are generally not cheap says Zoey but she adds that creativity goes a long way in finding alternatives.



What do you think your hair says about you?

My hair and style have become more a part of me than I could have imagined. When people see me they immediately refer to me as that natural girl or afro lady! My hair says that I’m confident, comfortable and accepting of who I am. It is my crown and I wear it proudly.





Erna Chimu

Musician



The story behind this soul sister’s dreads is as unique as the beautiful voice her fans have grown to love. After the death of her husband and as per traditional requirement, Erna had to wear a doek for about a year. It was during this mourning period that she started to grow her dreads and six years later, she still wears her locks with pride. “Before I started with my dreads, I had bad experiences with chemicals which led to hair loss and I also hated to comb out my hair which was quite thick,” she says.

Erna admits to having had some bad reactions from people solely because of the way her hair looks.

“Sometimes I don’t want to attend church because of the way people will look at me. They just assume you smoke weed but don’t realise that for some of us, this is just a hairstyle,” she says.

She also relates that wearing a wig has crossed her mind on some occasions. “I don’t always want to go to a place and have people staring at my dreads.”

Caring for her dreads is quite affordable says Erna who spends about N$150 on her locks every month. “Sometimes I choose to wear my dreads in whatever way feels comfortable and I can also twist them myself which is cheaper,” she says.



What do you think your hair says about you?

That I’m down to earth and friendly but people are different you know, maybe not everyone has the same perception.





What the Men say...

Cheeze AKA KBVDP

Radio personality

“I don’t have a big issue with women wearing weaves but wearing it all the time means that you don’t like your natural hair and you are uncomfortable with your race. If she’s wearing a wig then she’s just plain lazy and no African man in his right mind wants a lazy woman,” says the outspoken Cheeze.

Natural hair, he says, is beautiful. “When I see a woman with clean natural hair my first impression is that she is beautiful and takes time to take care of herself. If it’s all over the place then it just doesn’t look good. Dreadlocks are a no. No, no, no! It doesn’t look good on a woman at all, I mean dreads are dead hair so that says everything.”





Jacques Mushaandja

Musician and scholar

“Weaves means she is modern and very inspired by modernism, natural hair means she is a soul sister, often very proud of her culture. Dreads mean she is an intellectual, feminist and activist,” says Jacques. “These are my generalisations and they are not 100% correct please note, but that’s what I often see,” he adds.





At the end of the day, opinions will vary on what hair is the ‘best’ but in the end, all hair IS the best hair. As long as it suits you and you are comfortable with it then you can rock whatever style suits you.