written by Marietta Iyinbor
Lagos, the city of big boys and bigger girls, is home to some of the most talented hairstylists in Nigeria.
Now, I am not talking about big in the sense of the size of a person, but big in the sense of the size of the person’s wallet and spending habits.
From braids to weaves to wigs, Lagos hairstylists are known for their creativity and expertise. But lately, there’s been a buzz on social media about Lagos hairstylists only serving rich girls. Is this really the case? Well, let’s take a closer look.
My inspiration to create this article begun when Twitter user, @its_wendyy said she was ready to move to Owerri where she could have a frontal done for just N5k compared to Lagos where wig installs run customers up to N140,000.
She said
To install frontal in Owerri is 5k and the hair stylist is too good.
Maybe I will just move there because this Lagos is for big girls.— Ada Ukwu Daddy💗 (@its_wendyyyy) October 15, 2022
it made me wonder, Is it fair to compare these two cities though?
First of all, it’s important to note that Lagos is a cosmopolitan city with a high cost of living. So naturally, the prices of services and products in Lagos tend to be higher compared to other cities in Nigeria. This includes hairstyling services. So, it makes sense that the high cost of rent, electricity, and other expenses in Lagos can make it difficult for hairstylists to offer affordable services.
But @its_wendyy is not the only person complaining about the price of hairstyling in Lagos.
@bethfayemi and @theMonijesu have also raised concerns about price increases in the Lagos hair market.
You people are paying 140k to install your frontals in this Lagos?????
TikTok would make you see things
— Beth (@bethfayemi) January 4, 2023
Why is it so expensive to install a frontal on the island / in this lagos. Wth.
— kekere awo (@TheMonijesu) January 30, 2023