There is nothing wrong with your hair; it is beautiful.

Angel Agbo, a beauty content creator based in Abuja, Nigeria, celebrates the unique beauty of type 4 hair. Her mission is to help others see the beauty in their natural hair and learn how to grow and love it.

She has a BSc in mass communication, a Master's in international relations and diplomacy, and a PhD in international relations and diplomacy in view.

What does Afro Day mean to you, and what is its importance on a global scale?

My entire identity on social media is about my Afro. I am an afrocentric person. The fact that we have an entire day set apart to appreciate our hair is so important because our hair has been neglected for a long time, even until now. We're trying our best to change the narrative, but unfortunately, it's still there.

What made you want to be a natural hair influencer, and what has been the most rewarding part?

Turning natural wasn't intentional. I was influenced by my sister. She had just turned natural, and then I saw her hair flourishing. I thought it was really beautiful. One of the most rewarding things is to hear people say I inspire them to go natural or help them navigate how to take care of their hair.

Do you experience any criticism towards your hair choice? And if you do, how do you handle criticism?

The criticism is often from a standpoint of ignorance, and so I try to explain certain things to them if they are confused. However, some people just don't care, and others are just out there to dim your light. I try to delete as many negative comments as possible.

What should a naturalist wash routine look like, and what products are best for full, thick hair? How often should natural hair be washed? 

This depends on the person. An average naturalist should ideally wash their hair once a month. I know a couple of naturals that wash their hair weekly, and their hair is thriving.  I like to keep it very simple because we make it too complicated. Everybody's hair is different.  I would say you have to do a pre-poo. Technically, I would advise you to do so the night before your wash day. Use a conditioner to take down your hair, whatever hairstyle you already have, and detangle properly in sections. Start using Ayurvedic mix pre-poo. Ayurvedic helps, especially when mixed with a deep conditioner.

Is it normal for some people to have itchy scalps?

Yes, itchy scalps are normal; as long as you don't have lice or any medical conditions, they are natural. 

Do natural remedies like adding okra and onion to the hair work? 

Some do, some don't, and some cause more harm than good. DIYs helped me a lot. I had just finished school and didn't have the money, so many of these DIYs helped me, but I will say don't go for everything you see. Be very careful, and constantly research.

Do you have any products or hair care recommendations?  

I actually do! I love to use Nigerian products. You can see their hair and see that it is working for them. I love brands like Abey Naturals Hair Basics. I love EJ More. Roses Lavender will make your hair thick. I also use Bells Stars.

Is there anything like slow hair growth? 

Some people mistake hair growth for hair retention. If you braid your hair and leave it in for a while, if you lift up the braid and you can see the new growth under your hair, then it's growing. Even if it is slow, it doesn't matter as long as you can retain length. 

How long have you been natural?

By February 2025, I would have been natural for five years of my natural hair journey.

How do I grow my hair and maintain the growth process?

The first step is to ascertain that your hair is actually growing. Always ensure that your hair is in a protective style. If your hair does well in twists, make sure you're always wearing twists. If your hair does well in mini braids, do mini braids.

What are the things I need for a wash day? 

You need a sulphur-free shampoo, a good conditioner with slip, a spray bottle with water, and hair growth oil.

I have thin hair and want to keep my natural hair. How do I make it fuller?

Ayurvedic herbs are lifesavers. Also, ensure that you're wearing protective styles because our hair usually gets very thin due to over-manipulation. 

How do I know what kind of porosity my hair has?

There are so many porosity tests, but one of the easiest ones is to first wash your hair, make sure there are no products on it, take a strand of your hair and put it in a glass of water. If it's still at the top after about five minutes, that's low porosity. That means moisture doesn't get into your hair strands easily, and your cuticles are very closed. If your hair gets to the middle of the glass, that means your hair is medium porosity, and if it goes all the way down, then know that you have high porosity hair; your cuticles are open and absorb moisture.

From the definition you gave for low, medium, and high porosity, does that mean that for low porosity, you need more products and a more intense wash for them to penetrate your hair, or is it the same for high porosity?

Not exactly. What it means is that for low porosity, you need fewer products because if you're bombarding your hair with so many products and your hair is not absorbing them, you're just wasting your products. You just need really lightweight products.

What temperature of water is best for washing type 4 hair?

Don't use hot water. Use lukewarm water. Using hot water to wash your hair too frequently can cause heat damage in the long run. It is best to use warm water. Warm water is something that your hand can comfortably sit in, and for us low-porosity girls, it just helps to open our cuticles.

How do you deal with excess shrinkage?

Shrinkage is normal for us. That is how God has made it for us. People want to stop it, but there's nothing you can do. I'm sorry, sis, that's your hair.

Are protective styles damaging to the hair? If so, how damaging are they?

It depends on what you're doing. So, like I said earlier, I don't like to recommend extensions to some people because they can be very heavy on your hair and heavy on your scalp.

What is the right way to detangle and comb my natural hair?

Detangle your hair in four or eight sections with a conditioner that has a good slip. Never detangle your hair while it is dry!

For those with breakage and damage that has caused stunted growth, is it best to shave it off and start all over? 

It depends if the damage is bad. If you can't recover from it, then go ahead and cut your hair. I would always recommend a fresh start.

How can we embrace wearing our natural hair without feeling crazy or out of place? I find it weird that black women are the only demographic that typically does not wear hair that grows from their scalp.

There is a deeper underlying problem to this issue. It has been embedded in us as black women. We have been told a lot of things about our hair, from it not being beautiful to it being rough and looking crazy. And we have been made to believe these lies. 

As a collective, we need to take our time and heal. I thought I was not affected until sometime last year. I had been planning to go to school and was thinking about what to do with my hair. I decided that I would wear my afro, and then I whispered to myself that I didn't want to look crazy. The realization dawned on me, and I said to myself, “Angel, you've been natural for three years, and you're talking about looking crazy.” It is a deep wound in us that we need to heal.

The best way to begin the healing process is to go through with it. Just go out with your afro; your hair is gorgeous, whatever type you are.  There is nothing wrong with your hair; it is beautiful.

Another way is to understand and appreciate the versatility that the Afro has. Learn to style your hair beautifully. That's why I love to create hairstyle content. I have a lot of hairstyles that will make you very comfortable because they are so beautiful. Just do it.

How can we effectively preserve and promote the cultural heritage and significance of Afro-textured hair in modern-day society?

It is important for us to put it out there. The more we make it seen, the more people are interested. When I began my natural hair journey, I was able to learn how to sustain my hair by watching videos. Natural hair content creators and interviews like these are important to help us sustain it. With time, the narrative is changing. Transparency is also important. When you have setbacks, say it. Do not lie or sugarcoat it. Let us tell our hair stories the way they are.

What message would you like to share with those who are just starting their natural hair journey?

I would say be patient with hair because I know that it's hard to see a lot of girls online with very long and thick hair. I have been natural for five years, and I've had a lot of setbacks. These setbacks are normal.  

It will grow. It takes time. Research as much as possible. Get to know what your hair is and what it likes, and give it what it needs. Even if you're relaxed, to be honest, your hair is beautiful. If you are low-cut, your hair is fine, even if you're in that awkward state. I always say that if you cut your hair, the first six months are kind of difficult. Those six months can be a little awkward because there are styles that you can't do; just be patient with yourself and love your hair at whatever point it is. Because, to be honest, if you're trying to grow out your hair again, you will never get to that point again; you're going to get past that stage. So enjoy your hair. I always say this: It's so important to be calm and patient with your hair. Just relax, okay? It's really not that deep. Love your hair at every stage. It's so important.

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