Part 3: Instafamous Salons for Naturalistas in Nairobi- Aluta Continua!

Dive back in with me into the twisted yet fulfilling journey of nurturing and growing natural 4C type hair in Nairobi.

Where it all started

To say that I am amazed by the popularity of the first 2 blog posts I published on my experience at some of the Instafamous salons in Nairobi would be an understatement.

Almost 4 years down the line and these posts have been read close to 1,500 times. Not too bad for a blog post that was mostly written out of frustration and disappointment.

Just in the last 30 days, the two posts have received over 70 views. Each day there will be multiple people visiting our website just to read these two blog posts. Part Two, where I mostly talk about my first and last experience at Spritz Hair Lounge, is definitely the crowd favourite.  

Thank you to the Day Ones and Welcome to those that have just come. We promise to always keep it honest, useful and entertaining. 

The last 4 years of my natural hair JOURNEY

Now, let's get into what's being going on with my hair for the last 4 years but if you would rather skip this part and jump right into my experiences at different natural hair salons in Nairobi, click here.

I'm staying right here!

Since the last time I blogged, I have continued to look for a salon or salonist that I can entrust my intentionally nurtured curls to. Honestly, no lady wants to keep hopping from one salon/salonist to the next. We all just want to know that ukienda kwa nani, you will leave with your hair looking good and feeling nurtured.

Especially us naturalistas who have done (or maybe still do) 18hr wash days, wipe our hair with t-shirts and not towels, and are diligent in reading the ingredients in EVERY HAIR PRODUCT before we buy it.

You wouldn't want anyone to undo the years you suffered through the awkward length stage, spent hours in the middle of the night detangling your transitioning hair and even suffered the stink of putting onions or raw eggs or whatever else you've tried on your hair- all to get to where your hair is.  

There have been some promising prospects in the last 4 years and one that actually stuck, but the journey has not been easy.

I will admit that I have been part of the problem because I have a level of attachment to protecting my hair that some may call excessive. Kusema ukweli, I would silently dread my hair being wiped with a towel when I would go to the salon. I would imagine that because of that, my hair would fall apart. 😂🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

But we are older and wiser now. I'll be sharing from that cup of that wisdom as you read along. So, let's talk natural hair salons.

All about two strand-twists

So, at some point in 2021 or 2022, I decided to make two-strand twists my default hair style. I wanted to ditch the braids because I didn't want to keep straightening my hair every 3 to 4 weeks. Plus, the tension on my hair due to the braids, I knew, was just adding to the problems.  

I had tried plaiting the twists myself and let's just say, everyone has their strengths and, when it comes to my hair, my strength is to pay the people who can actually plait two-strand twists.

Me, defending myself after plaiting my own twists the night before.

My journey to finding a natural hair salon that could execute the two-strand twists without applying heat started at the estate salons (salon za mtaa).

I had vowed to not go back to the salons that were popular on social media because of the underwhelming or just bad experiences I had had before. Unfortunately, I didn't find anyone at the estate salons that executed the twists well and, at the time, they would insist on straightening my hair first. 

4C Hair Chiq 

I was forced to go looking online for someone who can execute the twists well on my damp hair. I found 4C hair chiq on Instagram, who provides at-home services. I had seen her posts on Instagram a few times and although I wasn't a fan of being braided at home, I decided to give Milka a try. I was definitely enticed by the photos and videos she had posted of her own hair that looked healthy and luscious, with and without twists. So, I reached out to her and set up the appointment. You can click here to read my full review of my experience with Milka. 

The twists looked good but at the time, since I wasn't used to them, I wasn't such a fan. Nikajiambia, “I'm doing the right thing for my hair even if it doesn't look as cute as braids.” 

I would still braid my hair on and off around this time. 

Unfortunately, when I was ready to get the twists done by Milka again, she was booked solid for like 2 months and I wasn't willing to keep having to align on dates and calling months in advance for my hair to get done. She also seemed more keen on doing microlocs and sisterlocs. Thankfully, she didn't leave me stranded. She recommended that I go to Afro Siri and even suggested a few braiders at the salon that would do a good job. 

I had heard of Afro Siri and would categorize it as an Instafamous Salon targeting Naturalistas in Nairobi. Iwas skeptical but I was also desperate, and the photos on their page looked like they were doing a good job. Plus, I would pay the same as I was paying Milka anyway (KES 2,500). So, why not?  

Afro Siri 

I bit the bullet and gave Afro Siri a try.

As usual, I had already washed and treated my hair. So, all I went in for were the twists. I called ahead and asked for one of the braiders from the ones Milka had shared with me but she wasn't available so they gave me another one.

My first experience was good and I really liked how the braider executed the style. I went again and, still, I had no complaints.

The thing I really like about going to a salon compared to an independent braider is the structure it offers.

Most salons have set operating hours. The braider reports to someone e.g. the owner, so there are systems to keep them accountable and more importantly, professional.

As I said earlier, I just wanted to have the peace of mind that when it comes to making my hair, ni huku na ni huyu. I also really liked that they would open on Sundays because I would sometimes be held up on weekdays and Saturdays. 

Unfortunately, the braider I was used to left to become an independent braider. I chose to move from Afro Siri with her and we had a good thing going but, this meant that I was back to that structureless system where ni kukubaliana.

At times, I was left at the mercy of her availability, which would not always be convenient for me. Needless to say, there were some growing pains. But mnyonge hana haki.

Wueeh!

So, I let some things slide but it got to a point where I felt like I had looked the other way enough. I had to let her go. Ladies, we all know the heartbreak of losing a good braider or manicurist or mama fua or fundi.

She had really mastered how to do my hair in a way that I loved and I was seeing my hair growing longer and healthier. I had almost completely stopped straightening my hair before I braided it.  And when I did, she would do it so well- in sections and with minimal heat. 

I thought I finally had found THE ONE. 

On one of those occasions when she inconvenienced me, I desperately went back to Afro Siri to get the usual twists. It was a Sunday and they were open and able to get me a braider at the last minute. Unfortunately, it was a very disappointing experience. I left in pain and unsure if I had been overcharged. Find the details of my last ever experience at Afro Siri here. 

My hair thriving in twists. I had slightly straightened my hair here.

Aluta Continua! 

A tall, dreadlocked angel called Griffins 

Fortunately for me and my sanity, it's not all been toiling and frustrations on this natural hair journey.

Somewhere along this journey, I met Griffins. I met him when I needed to get my hair straightened and trimmed. In a casual conversation with my friends, one of them recommended Griffins to me and I decided to give him a try [The power of word of mouth].

I was all kinds of skeptical and worried because of what me and my type 4 hair had been through in my past attempts at getting a good silk press done in Nairobi. Also, the friend who was recommending him has relaxed hair so I wasn't sure if Griffins knew the intricacies of working on type 4 natural hair. 

When I sat on Griffin's chair for the first time I hoped that he felt the weight of the trust I was putting in him. I also hoped he could somehow read my inner thoughts about how very privileged he was to have the honour to be in the presence of the hair that (I thought) I had carefully nurtured, mostly by myself, since 2016.

So, when I started telling Griffins about my natural hair journey, I did it with humble pride, almost schooling him on all the things that the DIY natural hair YouTubers in the West had taught me is the way to nurture type 4 hair.

I didn't wipe my hair with a towel. I only finger-detangled and avoided combing my hair. I rarely used heat on it. I also had a 10-step wash day and I avoided applying too much oil and product so that my hair wouldn't experience product overload. You see, I even had the vocabulary down. The only thing I was short of doing was cutting my own split ends, hence Griffins.  

Turns out, many of the things I was influenced into doing and using were unnecessary or misguided, and not really working in favour of my hair. 

Griffins told me in a nice but honest way to basically ditch the DIY Youtubers and do these 5 simple things if I want to have healthy hair that grows: 

Griffins was like...

• MOISTURIZE! MOISTURIZE! MOISTURIZE. My hair was dry, and dry hair is brittle. All I needed was to consistently apply leave-in conditioner and oil that keep my hair moisturized. 

• Use a comb! Finger-detangling is not enough, especially as the hair grows. Tangled hair will not only break but also cause unnecessary pain and tears. 

• Cut those split ends regularly. Griffins recommends doing it every 3 to 4 months. Those ends are only holding back your hair from growing and causing more breakage. 

• Minimize the use of heat on your hair. I know straightened 4C hair is easier to handle. I know many braiders insist on straightening it first before they braid you. I know we love how our hair looks when it's been straightened na unataka watu wajue pia wewe uko na nywele poa. BUT, that heat is working against you, girl! 

• Be patient! Yes, your hair grows daily but it also breaks daily. It takes time to see change and you will see it. Trust me.

  
  

I have unlearnt a lot through Griffins, including the thing about the towel. Phew!

By the time I left Griffin's chair that day, I was humbled but also very relieved. I finally felt that I had gotten the answers to the questions I had been looking for in the hundreds of YouTube videos I had been watching and the nappy-fluencer pages that I followed since I went natural in 2016.

I had also FINALLY found a salonist who cared for my hair and wanted to see it thrive just as much as I do.

I can gladly say that I haven't watched a video by a nappy-fluencer in a while and I stopped comparing other women's hair journey to mine. 

Last tip, this time from me, is that natural hair is a lot more resilient than we think.

So, don't lose hope if you think you've been doing it wrong for too long. Start your journey to healthy hair today and have know that your hair will respond to the TLC you give it.

This is coming from someone who once cried in church during the entire service because I had washed my hair the previous day and noticed that it had heat damage. I am not exaggerating, ask my sister. I was sneakily wiping my tears in church for about 2 hours. 

All I had to do was not apply to heat for some months and it was as good as new.

6 years of nurturing my natural hair. #IkoProgress

If you want to give Griffins a try, you can find him at The Bazaar on Kimathi Street in Nairobi. I totally recommend that you do if you're looking for someone to hold your hand on the journey to healthy hair, without breaking the bank.

With his consent, here is his number: +254 721 608025 or +254 739 608 025. Make that appointment TODAY, even if for an initial consultation!

I only go to Griffins for washing, treatment, trimming and a silk press- plus for some laughs. But, he does texturized and relaxed hair too as well as locs. He also makes and sells shampoo bars and hair oil using natural ingredients. In short, Griffins ni yule msee. 

Now, Kinky Curls Salon

I can't get a silk press every single day. I'm not sure Griffins would even allow it. So, my quest for someone to plait the two-strand twists continued...

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Part 4 of Instafamous Salons for Naturalistas in Nairobi coming soon.