GBADE and his friends are hanging out at one of the malls in Lagos. Gbade stares at the milling crowd. In the crowd are a number of young and old women sauntering past or stopping to admire window displays or chat with friends or siblings or partners. Gbade shifts restlessly in his seat as he gawps at some of the passers by. Can you believe this! he exclaims suddenly. What is it Dayo, his friend asks. It is these women. Look at their heads, Gbade replies. What is wrong with their heads Dayo asks. Gbade stares at his pal as if he (Dayo) is a clown. He hisses and then speaks. Why do women have to wear miles and miles of Fake hair It is so unnatural. The sounds of laughter fill the air, and both men turn to see who is laughing. Chike, another friend who is drinking with Gbade tries to control his mirth. Efe another friend is trying to make sense of the conversation and the laughter. Whats your own Chike Dayo asks. Sorry Guys, Chike begins, but I find it all funny. Why is Gbade so upset. Whats wrong if women want to impress us with long, Oyinbo hair. Efe interjects, Who says they do it for us Chike continues, If it is not for a man they why would a lady wear a dead persons hair. Dead persons hair No, it is not possible, Gbade says in disbelief, his eyes round with shock. Just then, Nneka a young female friend of Efe comes into the restaurant with a couple of friends. They are all dressed up in the latest trends and have human hair extensions flowing richly from their scalps. Chike opens his mouth and starts to howl with laughter. Nneka thinks he is happy to see her and she comes to the table, smiling broadly at Chike and then saying a chirpy hello to his friends. Hey chike, fancy meeting you here, whats up asks Nneka. Chike cannot reply. He doubles up laughing harder. Whats up Chike, share the joke, a slightly embarrassed Nneka says. Efe asks the ladies to seat down and compliments their hairstyles. Thank you, the chorus in delight. The girls are introduced to the group and then they seat down and rinks are ordered. The girls settle down and then Gbade hones in for an attack. He stares directly as Nneka, smiles at her and asks Why do you have such long hair Is one of your parents an Indian Nneka recoils as if a snake dropped on the table. She sniffs and then replies haughtily, Every woman who knows the trends carries this kind of style. Gbade is unmoved. So tell me, how can a Nigerian girl have such long hair You havent told us if you have Indian heritage. Efe, Dayo and Chike are shocked at his direct attack on a woman he hardly knows. Ever the diplomat Efe tries to smooth things over. The hair makes you look sexy, he says. Fati, one of the young ladies smiles and says, Thanks. All the ladies smile at Efe in relief. Chike has regained his composure and he gets into the fray with a question that pleases the ladies. Where does this hair come from, it is so long, he says. Imade another member of the girl group pipes in brightly, Brazil of course.Brazil! Dayo exclaims. How do you know it is from Brazil he adds.The salon where we buy it is first class and they sell only the best products, says Edna, apretty petite lady who has been silently listening to the conversation. Gbade comes in again guns blazing, I am sorry but with all due respect this hair is so fake. The ladies exclaim in shock. Nneka begins to stand up, dragging her chair backwards. Chike, I will not be insulted by your friend, she says angrily. Imade also stands up and signals to the others to stand. Efe tries to calm frayed nerves, Hey, ladies please do not go. We are enjoying your company. Gbade, look what you have done. Gbade is amused but he gracefully apologizes. The ladies sit again but they all glare angrily at him. Dayo reintroduces the topic but this time he is discreet. He asks the women why they wear extensions. Some say it makes hair care more manageable. While Edna insists that her fiancé thinks it makes her look more attractive. Imade says she loves to follow trends. Efe frets about he high cost of these human hair extensions, because he thinks his wife spends a lot of her income, (Which she should save towards our capital project on this hair business). Nneka says the means justifies the end, as the expensive extensions can be used repeatedly, do not shed easily and do not demand high maintenance. It also makes her look younger, more efficient and more beautiful, she explains. The conversation goes on for another hour as the women try to prove that the hair is just fine, and that it is sourced from people who grow their hair, cut it and sell it for the purpose of making wigs and extensions. In the end some of the men claim to like the hair but wish it was not so long and obvious. Chike plays moderator, while Gbade argues that hair from some dead Brazilian or Indian is not attractive. What do you think of long hair extensions Are they worth what they cost or should women return to a more natural look.
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