For those who believe that African women can’t have long hair, not to mention thigh-length hair, here is something to clear your doubts. A YouTube blogger, Miss Sahel shared the information she gathered about the long black hair of Basara women. The Basara tribe is an African ethnic group that live in Chad. The women from the Basara tribe have perfected a hair regimen that works perfectly in helping them retain the length of their hair. Read on the discover the secrets of the long black hair of Basara women.
They use a mixture of some local ingredients available to them to keep their hair well moisturized. They practice a method you and I are familiar with when it comes to moisturizing- the L.C.O(Liquid, cream, oil) method. When doing this, they apply water first (L), then instead of cream, they use a finely grounded powder made from local ingredients(C). They then seal in the moisture with an oil or butter(O).
The main ingredient is called ‘Chebe’. The other ingredients include Mahlaba (Cherry kernels), Samour (Mastic Gum), Clove & Sudanese Khumra Perfume oils. The name of the plant which they refer to as ‘Chebe’ is the Lavender Croton. It is a shrub and it is actually grown primarily in West Africa, mainly Ghana, Nigeria, Gambia and Burkina Faso.
Hair Lessons from the Basara Tribe Hair Care Routine
- Moisture is key: After watching the video, there were a couple of things I noticed that doing them will improve the health of my hair & maybe eventually give me the length of the Basara Arab women of chad. Firstly, before applying any other products, the women apply some water to their hair & then their ingredient mix to keep the hair hydrated & moist. These women know that keeping hair well hydrated actually helps to reduce breakage & promote hair health.
2. Do your hair in sections: Did you also notice that they separated their hair into manageable sections so that each strand of hair receives the proper hair care it deserves? The texture of the hair of Basara women is not as kinky as the 4c type hence the 4-5 sections they have. if your hair is thicker, you may have to work your hair in about 8-9 sections. Ever since I started to wash & deep condition my hair in sections, I realized that I have lesser tangles in my hair & my wash day is faster.
- Protective styling: After applying the Chebe powder in their hair, they do their hair in about 4 plaits. Then they repeat the entire process every 5 days.
4. Use natural ingredients: You will also notice that all the ingredients used in the Chebe mixture are all natural, including the Khumra fragrance they added to it. This goes without saying about the huge benefits we get from using natural products in our hair. Now that we are here, let’s talk about the ingredients & how they make the Chebe powder. The ingredients are very specific to Chad and Sudan, meaning that it’s probably hard to find in Western countries. However, if you want to buy chébé mixture you can follow @miss_sahel on Instagram for updates. Ms Sawel Paterson who is a blogger from Chad shared how she prepares the Chebe mixture.
Ingredients for a small jar:
- 3 tablespoons of Chéwé/Chébé/Shebe powder
- 1 tablespoon of Mahalaba
- 1/2 teaspoon of cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon of incense resin (Misik)
- 1 teaspoon of Humra perfume
- 3 tablespoons of virgin coconut oil
How to Prepare the Chebe Powder
- Roast all the ingredients except the Humra & oil. Blend or pound the mixture so it turns to powder. Then sieve it.
- Add the oil & Humra.
How to use the Chebe Powder According to the Video
- Moisturise your hair first using water.
- Apply the Chebe mixture from the root of your hair to the tip. You can try smoothing it to your hair the way the women does in the video.
- Next, comes the protective styling. No intricate braids and twists, the women just install jumbo plaits and wrap the hair into a huge bun at the back of their heads to protect the ends. This style is kept for five days until it’s time to repeat the routine.
Don’t feel sad if you are unable to get these ingredients, keep in mind that long & healthy hair is not just by the product you use. You need to have a consistent hair regimen that works for your hair & maybe someday you will have the long black hair of Basara women.
Does Chebe really grow hair? Please share your thoughts in the comments section
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