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| Kenyan singer Wahu Kagwi |
Kenyan singer Wahu Kagwi, wife to artist Nameless and mother of three, recently shared why she prefers not to braid her youngest daughter Shiru’s hair.
She explained that Shiru’s hair is quite short, and braiding it would cause unnecessary pain. “Shi’s hair is not long…so kushika is not easy…and even if I were to try, it would be such an unpleasant experience for her because she is the sort of child who can’t stay still for more than 5 minutes,” Wahu wrote on Instagram.
Wahu further shared that her daughter doesn’t like sitting still, even when being fed. “We even gave up feeding her on high seats…ju sooner has she sat, then she wants to get off. Kids are different…”
Comparing her two younger daughters, Wahu mentioned that, “Nyakio for sure was not like that. She was (and still is) very calm when getting her hair done.”
She also highlighted that she doesn’t want Shiru to develop anxiety around haircare. “I don’t believe getting your hair done should be unpleasant…If she has an unhappy start to doing her hair, it may give her anxiety which is not what we want.”
Reflecting on her eldest daughter Tumiso, Wahu recounted how Tumiso didn’t enjoy getting her hair done until she was around 9 or 10 years old.
“I remember when Tumi was a baby, she also couldn’t sit still…and I was told, ‘Ni kawaida mtoto kulia kwa salon’ (I didn’t have afrosiri then). Oh, how I wish I didn’t listen to this. Tumi didn’t start enjoying getting her hair done until she was around 9 or 10…and even then, it wasn’t enjoyment…more like tolerating. I wish I had just let her be.”
Another reason Wahu gave is that Shiru’s hair texture makes it challenging to maintain. “Shi’s hair is extremely soft so even if we were to go through the entire process, it will be untidy in 5 days…then we have to go through the whole discomfort of, keti nikubomoe, all again with a baby that struggles to keep still.”
Wahu shared her gentle approach to Shiru’s hair care routine: “I wash, condition, treat, moisturize, finger comb or brush with a soft brush. Every now and then we shuka big matutas, but that’s it. All the products I use on her hair and skin are organic, because she is highly sensitive with her allergies.”
Recalling her late father’s words, she shared, “My dad, Mr. Kagwi (RIP), told me when I was young, ‘A woman’s hair is her crown,’ so wearing it should be comfortable, pleasant, and a source of joy, not anguish.”
Wahu concluded by reflecting on her experience as a first-time mother, “If I could go back in time, I would slow down on the braiding thing with Tumi…now I know better.”
by HILDA KANINI