The End of Food in Hair Era

#ricewater #eggs #onion #mayonnaise #foodinhair

Photo by @ChristianAssembly_ (Pinterest)

There was a time around 2017 when the movement of "food in hair" started filling YouTube algorithms. This was mainly in the black community. YouTube creators targeted the black community since we are known to be "bald-headed" or a population that does not grow hair easily, like other races. Content creators with long hair carried the burden of having to explain to their viewers why their hair was so long and how they maintained it. This was a dark period for me because I had cut my hair and it was growing too slow. I kept searching for remedies and different ways one could grow long hair. When I went on YouTube and a black creator with long hair started speaking, my ears perked up with a notebook in hand.

Screenshot of Rice Water Trend on YouTube

The first food remedy for hair growth I encountered was rice water. I used it religiously for weeks, however my hair remained the same length. I got frustrated because why were other people's hair growing with this food remedy and my hair wasn't? Firstly, I have to say that the stench that came with having rice water on your scalp was horrendous. It was worse that I did not know what I was doing. I looked at myself in the mirror and tried so hard to see a difference and even convinced myself that my hair had grown a centimeter overnight. I laugh at this today because of how gullible and naïve I was. That was the power of social media. It could convince you to do the most outrageous thing and you would be convinced that it works. Because why is the influencer's hair growing and mine wasn't? It had to grow somehow. Even if it was at a slower pace. This shows that social media influences young minds easily and because a young teenager who has access to YouTube is not going to do their own research and figure out if this remedy is good for the hair or if it is just a waste of time. In my mind, as long as I saw the hair growth on the influencer's head, there was no point in doing research. Genetics were not even a thought that crossed my mind.

Photo by Siphiwe Mavhungu

My naivety did not end with rice water. There were also hair masks that were introduced, or rather popularised by celebrities such as Cardi B. Cardi B is known to have long and healthy hair beneath the wigs we usually see her in. I got influenced into making a hair mask that contained eggs, mayonnaise, virgin olive oil, avocado and other things I could find. The second I put that hair ask in my hair and let it sit for an hour as instructed, I could not stand the smell and food being in my hair. It was after I had washed my hair and saw no difference in my hair. I was exhausted and annoyed. I decided to do my research after realising that these remedies were myths, at least in my eyes based on my non-growing hair as evidence.

Photo from Buzzfeed

Despite all that has happened and the black hair community, I think that we are moving away from using food in our hair instead of products that were created for our hair. It seems as though people are now following the Indian hair care routine, as they are known for shiny, think and rich hair. After all my efforts went to waste, I began using water and oils for my scalp. I realised that the less stuff I put in my hair, the more it grew. I later decided to do dreadlocks because I was tired of having to maintain my hair and it was costly. With locs and my method of hydrating my hair with water and then seal the moisture with oil, my hair grew quicker. In less than two months, my hair had grown about two inches long. I am happy to say that my hair down my back, just above bra-length.

Photo from Unsplash

I will conclude this blog by stating what I have learned through my hair journey. Your hair is not the same as another person's and genetics play a huge role in how long our hair grows. We also have to give credit to how we maintain the hair and keep a consistent routine that works for your hair. People on social media know the influence they have on young and impressionable minds. Let us take time to listen or learn the needs of hair and not have strangers on the internet tell you about the hair that grows from your scalp. Overall, I have learned a lot about my hair during the "food in hair" era and I can proudly say that that phase of my life is over and I hope more people learn about their own hair and do what works for them.