Nigerians React to the Surprising cost of Cornrows hairstyle

 

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Cornrows (also called canerows) are a style of three-strand braids in which the hair is braided very close to the scalp, using an underhand, upward motion to make a continuous, raised row. They are considered a traditional hairstyle in many African cultures.

Cornrows, also known as the humble All Back, used to be the ultimate low-maintenance style and very cheap. But currently, they are luxury-priced and are sparking a wave of social commentary online.

At some point, All Back, the style your cousin used to braid for you while you sat on a stool in the backyard, got a glow-up. It’s now “cornrows,” it’s fashion, and it’s not ₦1,500 anymore.

On Twitter, Nigerians are reacting in real time to the price shift, and it’s a mix of shock as to “how did we get here?” Once the definition of a low-budget hairstyle, cornrows are now clocking in at ₦10,000, ₦40,000, and even ₦80,000 at premium salons. People are asking the important questions: Is it the economy? Labour costs?

Some think it’s the language. “The moment they started calling it cornrows was the moment the price went up,” one person tweeted. Others blame the settings. Soft lighting, scented oils, and music.

The nostalgia is strong for those who remember walking into a salon with ₦1,000 or ₦2,000 and leaving with neatly parted braids and some pocket change. Now, people are joking that if cornrows cost ₦40,000, there had better be some small chops and wine served while braiding the hair. “If I make cornrows for 40k, it had better come with a good breakfast and lunch,” an online commenter tweeted.

 

CREDIT TO: Bellanaija