Team Nacchie vs Team Relaxer

 

What in the world is this feud between natural haired ladies, otherwise called Team Nacchie and ladies with relaxed hair or Team Relaxer? Are they for real? Why would any person waste such time criticising ladies because of their hairstyle choices? Seriously??

Recently, I listened to a Nigerian writer in an interview on her new book. She was asked why she wrote so much on hair and she started about how Nigerian ladies don’t like to wear their hair natural, and went on to say in a condescending manner, how Nigerian women fix all kinds of weaves; Mongolian, Peruvian and even Funmi hair.  I ignored her comments until I read an article on tips for maintaining natural hair on BellaNaija. All was well until I read the comments section (something I usually don’t bother with) and saw that indeed there was a kinda war between Nacchies and Relaxed. The look on my face after reading was disbelief.

I had locs on for about a year shortly after youth service. And I must say growing natural hair takes a lot of patience, little wonder I felt some sentimental attachment when I finally had to cut it. However, in the 12 months I had locs on, I never for once thought I was more African than the other ladies I saw; in fact, I admired them. Neither did I think they were inferior, insecure, brainwashed, not proud of their heritage and all manner of gibberish that some Nacchies say. In fact, a lot of them think ladies relax their hair to conform to society. How about relaxing it because it’s easier to manage? You have naturally soft hair and you sit on your high horses castigating me because I’ve found a solution to taming my otherwise coarse natural hair! Just pointless!

It seems to be no coincidence that a large number of Nacchies are returnees from abroad. Like that writer, a lot of them have experienced racism first hand and maintain natural hair to rebel against the norm. Well, if your experiences define your actions and choices, should they define those of others?! And then, Team Relaxer don’t make it any better by calling Team Nacchie names like untidy, unprofessional or worse still ugly!

Really what does it matter? What does it matter if your hair is relaxed, natural, semi relaxed, cropped, locked? Your hairstyle is your choice. The most important thing is its healthy and you wear it proudly. Yes, I like to relax my hair. Yes, I fix Brazilian, Peruvian, Mongolian weaves and I intend buying Funmi hair soon. But does that make me any better than you? Of course not! Neither does wearing your hair natural make you more loyal to Africa than I.

Team Nacchie, Team Relaxer, this is a needless battle and you all are better off without it. African men already create stereotypes for us women every day, should we really add to the list?!