Growing up in Lagos, one of my not-so-fond memories (especially during my primary school years) was going to the market on weekends, to get my hair braided in preparation for school the following week. As you already know, I was not alone. Both me and my sister had to go through this ordeal week after week. Of course there was the usual compare and contrast twins undergo with strangers, market women included. Fun Apeere (For Example):
Market Woman (addressing the young, shy and scanty-haired Relentless): "Why is your own hair so scanty and your sister's hair is full?"
Relentless (At least, what my response should have been): "I don't know! Ask God!"
But that would have earned me a good slap from the said market woman, and even more slaps and a good round of caning by my mother, if she heard I had committed such an "atrocity." The conversation did not end there though, as you shall see.
Market-woman-turned-dermatologist (addressing both of us): When you get home, tell your mummy to use *Adi-agbon (coconut oil) for your hair.
Relentless (thinking to herself): Adi-agbon ko, Adi-agbado ni!
Without boring you with any further details of my childhood, or going into details of the various unsavory "post-wiwi" odors I had to endure, all in the name of plaiting suku or kolese on my head, I decided to compile a list of hair styles that are common amongst school girls. Of course, you had to do these hair styles WITHOUT any attachments, i.e. hair extensions. That was reserved for holidays. (N.B: I might compile a similar list for boys later on, but so far, the only entries I have are "Tyson" and "Gorimapa")
I had primary school and secondary school students in mind for this post. Here are the contenders (in no particular order):
