By Praise Odhegba and Oluwadamilare Omotosho
Was it not the ladies who used to say that what a man can do, a woman can do better? So, they began to challenge men in wearing trousers, pant suits, engaging in hard sports like wrestling that involve body slams, flings in the ropes and the corner buckles and aggressive boxing as well as kick-fighting matches, whether for medals or professionally for money.
Men are now turning the tables on ladies. In recent years, a noticeable shift has emerged in Nigerian society as more men embrace wearing earrings and braided hairstyles, reflecting a broader change in cultural and gender norms, with these once unconventional choices now becoming mainstream.
It is becoming almost normal to see men with braided hair and earrings. Men who wouldn’t have worn braids or earrings a few decades ago have embraced them. Though the trend is fast becoming popular and acceptable by the day, it is still majorly frowned upon in the Nigerian society as a whole. Thus, for many Nigerian men, the decision to wear earrings or braid their hair comes with a mix of excitement and anxiety.
One male undergraduate student of the Lagos State University, LASU, who declined to disclose his name or course of study, but obviously happy with wearing earrings said he was initially scared of the pain of piercing his ears, but noted that it turned out not to be so.
“When I decided to pierce my ear, I was initially afraid, because I imagined that it would be very painful. Don’t get me wrong, there is slight pain, but not as much as you think. If you just go to a legit piercing shop or tattoo shop, they will use a piercing gun to pierce your ear. It is fast and the pain only lasts like a second.
“As for the reason I pierced my ear to wear earrings, well, it was just down to me wanting a new look. Honestly, it is a nice style, and it makes me look dope. One of my friends began wearing earrings sometime ago, so I decided to explore the look. Though unlike me, he did not pierce his ear, he just wears magnetic earrings. That is what some guys do actually,” he revealed.
Another adolescent LASU student who wears braids explained that braiding his hair allowed for the fashion he craved for, but regretted that some people see it as a prototype of being a yahoo-boy.
“I decided to plait my hair, because I liked the style, especially when I saw it on Drake, the popular rapper. I am also a big fashion guy, so it looked nice for me. The thing is just that when you plait your hair as a guy, some people will just come with their stereotypes and think you are a yahoo-boy. Sometimes, it’s annoying.
“The truth is that men plaiting and braiding their hair is trending and becoming common. However, it is not accepted by most people. For example, if my parents found out I braided my hair, they would not allow me to come back home until I shaved my head clean. They would say I have become a rascal and following bad company. I am in university currently, that’s why I am doing this.
“Some people also usually think the reason for men braiding their hair is due to peer pressure, which is not true. If at all, it is celebrity influence or fashion trends that mostly make guys sport hair braids. Peer pressure only makes up like 15 per cent of the reasons,” he said.
In Bogije, a community in Ibeju, Lekki area of Lagos metropolis, a female professional hairdresser, who requested for anonymity, but runs a salon mainly patronised by ladies, shared with Sunday Sun her experience and thoughts about plaiting men’s hair, and how much she charges them for braiding.
“When guys come to my shop to plait their hair, it usually seems weird to some of my female customers, but personally, I am neutral on it. I won’t actually support my child plaiting his hair, but it doesn’t stop me from plaiting other men’s hair. Work is work,” she enthused, fully relishing every opportunity she gets to make good money from braiding the hair of male customers.
She said: “However, not all guys that plait their hair go to the salon. Some guys prefer home service, where the hairdresser will go to their house to do their hair. It is less stressful for them. However, the price for home service can be a bit high, depending on the case. Most times, if not all, home service is more expensive than plaiting the hair in the salon. If guys come to my salon to plait their hair, they usually pay from N3,000 to N4,000 depending on the hairstyle, and then they will pay like N5,000 for workmanship. In the case where workmanship is N5,000 at the salon, home service can be like N8,000 or N10,000.
“The pricing actually varies depending on the location and hairstyle. In some places, braiding men’s hair is more expensive than women hairdressing, while it is the other way around in some other places.
“The reason I think men plait their hair is just to look good and different. It is mostly for fashion, and showcasing of style. If it’s not style, then I think they are yahoo boys.”
In addition to her salon services, she also provides ear piercing services. When asked about her experience piercing men’s ears and those that wear earrings, she said: “It is the same when guys come to plait their hair in my salon. My female customers either find it weird or just ignore it when men come to pierce their ear. They also pierce their ear just for fashion, and the price for piercing is N2,000, while in some other areas it costs more. It varies depending on location.”
The trend of men braiding and wearing earrings is growing very fast and shows no signs of slowing down, culminating into broader social implications.
In a Lagos neighbourhood, an elder statesman expressed his view on the trend.
“Men who braid their hair or wear earrings are just irresponsible, because the African lifestyle and culture do not accept it, even in terms of religion. The normal rules guiding our Nigerian society do not approve of men braiding their hair and wearing earrings. Those are for women. It connotes a wayward life or poor upbringing,” he posited, adding: “Even if they are responsible, the braiding of hair or wearing of earrings gives other people the wrong impression of them. In some cases, this lifestyle by men is inspired by celebrities or fashion icons, which reminds us as a society to be mindful of the influences and trends that we assimilate, especially in this 21st Century.”