If you’ve experienced Lagos’s busy lifestyle, you’ll know why many Lagosians are unconcerned about many things.

Let’s be real. You can’t be battling between waking up at 4 AM and staying hours in traffic and still have time to finesse your outfit. But with the sun at its hottest, there are some things you must do, and one of them is taking good care of your afro.

The Lagos heat doesn’t care how many hours you spend detangling and deep-conditioning. It just wants to shine, and it comes with sweat and all the humidity to turn your sleek hairstyle into a puffball.

But well, you can still survive all it throws at you, especially if you’re a fan of sweet-looking afros. Here are all the hacks that can help your afro survive the harsh Lagos heat.

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1. Shrinkage Is Not an Enemy – Don’t Lose Yourself Running Away From It

In the Lagos heat, shrinkage is inevitable. You can stretch your hair with threading, twist-outs, or African banding, but step into the sun for 10 minutes and boom – back to baby fro. The earlier you learn to embrace this reality, the better it’ll be for you. After all, shrinkage brings a unique kind of bounce, which can be a style of its own.

2. Moisture Is Gold

The heat is real, and so is dehydration for your hair, too. Dry hair leads to breakage, and no one wants a crunchy fro. Keep a water-based spritz bottle handy, mix in some leave-in conditioner, and seal with a light oil (hello, coconut or jojoba). Moisture is your best friend on hot, dusty Lagos days, so you really should learn the best way to moisturise your hair.

3. Protective Styles Will Save Your Sanity

Sometimes, your hair just wants a vacation, too. So, you’ve got to find the style that keeps it safe without needing constant retouching. When you think about this option, think of Box braids, Twists, Cornrows, and Bantu knots

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They help retain length, reduce manipulation, and give you a break from daily styling. Plus, they’re Lagos heat-proof.

4. Satin Everything

Lagos heat makes you sweat, and cotton pillows and scarves will soak up every drop of moisture from your hair, especially when you’re out in the sun. To maintain your hair’s moisture through all these, you must find a way not to soak it up. The easiest solutions that come to mind include satin bonnets, satin pillowcases, and satin-lined caps. They protect your hair and keep the moisture on the strands, where it belongs.

ALSO READ: Natural hair care tips for the Nigerian weather

5. Salons Can Be Hit or Miss

Not every salon knows how to handle natural hair with care. Some will yank, fry, or disrespect your curl pattern in ways that should be illegal.

Find your “naturalista-friendly” salon close by or wherever. Another option is to learn some basic DIY styles to keep you in control.

Conclusion 

The natural hair journey is never for the weak, but it’s worth the stress. Join me on this journey to rediscovery, and you’ll not regret every coming.

Let’s face the fact – Nigeria is already hard enough for many of us, and the last thing we want is a stressful relationship. There’s way too much on the line for you to settle for less.

So, whether you’re dating for marriage, commitment, or just fun, you want to make sure you’re with the right person. But how can you know a person is not right for you?

Well, this is where red flags come into play. But apart from the obvious red flags—lying, cheating, gaslighting—some subtler, culturally flavoured red flags often fly under the radar.

You deserve to know them and avoid them in your relationship. Here are some of them.

ALSO READ: 10 men share the red flags they watch out for when dating a woman

We’ll Talk About the Future Later

If someone keeps dodging conversations about the future – marriage, kids, career alignment – it’s not just a sign of shyness. In Nigeria, where long-term goals often dictate dating choices, refusal to talk about where it’s all going is a big red flag. Translation? They might be keeping their options open or just with you for fun.

Constantly Demanding Unrealistic Standards 

If they’re constantly reminding you of what their mom, pastor, or village aunties think a good partner should be, run. You’re not in a relationship – you’re in an audition. Your identity is valid, and anyone who wants to mould you into someone else is a walking red flag with tribal print.

Disrespect for Your Hustle

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, creative, 9-to-5er, or small business owner, your partner should respect your hustle. If they belittle your work, say things like “you and this your small business,” or don’t support your ambition, that’s a loud red flag wrapped in sarcasm. Watch out for statements like this in arguments and jokes. If they say it, then it’s been in their mind.

Family Overinvolvement

Yes, family is huge in Nigeria, but when mummy or big uncle has a say in everything – from what you wear to where you work – it becomes a group relationship. And unless you signed up for “Big Brother: Relationship Edition,” it’s best to address it or back away slowly.

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The “Let Me Fix You” Complex

ALSO READ: 15 relationship red flags Nigerians are tired of ignoring

They see you more as a project than a partner. Whether it’s your accent, your dress sense, your dreams, or even your complexion – if someone is always trying to “upgrade” you without appreciating you first, they don’t love you. They love their idea of you.

So you see? It’s not hard to know when a person exhibits these red flags. You just have to pay attention to patterns, not just words of mouth. You deserve love that brings all the peace in the world, not chaos.

Have you ever wondered about a scenario like this? No data, no WiFi, no Google maps, no social media. Just you, nature, and your phone that suddenly becomes nothing better than a calculator.

What if I told you that was my reality for four days? I had travelled to my village for my brother’s traditional marriage. Since the event was at the bride’s village, we had to stay in a place without a mobile network.

While we all panicked at first, we soon found ourselves adjusting to the harsh realities we had to face. But something surprising happened—we lived!

Who would have thought I’d survive without social media?

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Let me share what I learned from my experiences. Trust me, I had a lot to write in my diary.

1. Our Brain Actually Works Without Google

At first, I wanted to Google everything: “Is this edible?” “How to wash bitter leaf without crying?” But without the internet, I started doing something that’s worked for centuries – asking people. Conversations turned into mini-lessons that made me discover how intelligent the elderly aunties around me were. They’re living encyclopedias.

2. Time Slows Down – and That’s Not a Bad Thing

Without the constant ping of notifications, I noticed birds, sunrises, laughter, and silence. Time no longer slipped through my fingers – it strolled beside me. I learned to enjoy stillness. Who knew boredom could be so beautiful? I even used the opportunity to reflect deeply about life’s true essence.

3. You Can’t Curate Real Life

In the city, we filter everything. Online, even our meals need soft lighting and symmetry. But in the village, life is messy, unfiltered, and refreshingly real. I helped pluck chickens. I had a sunburn. I wore the same wrapper for three days. And I felt free.

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4. People Talk. Like, Actually Talk

Evenings weren’t for Netflix or expensive dinner hangouts. They were for stories under mango trees. The village kids told ghost tales, and elders shared family histories. There were laughs, debates, and moments of pure connection. They didn’t tell these stories for likes or retweets. It was just vibes and beautiful memories.

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5. Not Everything Is Urgent

One of the biggest lies the internet tells us is that everything needs our attention right now. In the village, I learned that missed emails won’t end your career. I came back and replied to them days after they were sent. And guess what? It didn’t change anything.

6. Nature Is the Ultimate Reset Button

Without screens, I synced with the sun. I woke up with the crow of a rooster and slept under a sky filled with stars, not LED lights. My eyes rested, my skin breathed, my soul exhaled. I connected with nature and life itself. It was finally good to learn that there’s life outside the daily chaos we’re used to in most urban areas.