From Nigeria With Love
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- June 21, 2021
For eons, Nigerian women have practiced beauty rituals that kept their skin glowing. I remember about 13 years ago, I was up north for my NYSC and a friend of mine who like me was posted up north from Lagos, whispered that she had tried a beauty treatment and that I had to give it a shot. I proceeded to call the lady for an appointment, and although I only booked the wax and body scrub package, by the time she was done with me, my skin was so smooth, and it had an extra glow to it. More recently, especially with social media, the traditional northern bridal beauty treatment has become quite popular in other parts of Nigeria, and many more traditional beauty spas are opening across the country. The result, beautiful skin that leaves people asking what products you use. So before you purchase your next jar of face cream made out of caviar from France, try some traditional (Nigerian) beauty treatments. What’s more, it is inexpensive.
Camwood Polish
Camwood as a beauty treatment is used in different parts of Nigeria. It is derived from the African camwood tree. I remember a long time ago, my mum who is from Rivers State mentioned that it was used in her hometown of Eberi-Omuma in Echie local government area, on brides to polish their skin.
Charcoal
For ages charcoal has been used to whiten teeth, I remember growing up, lots of people talked about this. Now it has become quite the thing amongst Europeans.
Coffee Facial
A coffee paste(very smooth, liquid-like) is made using coffee, of course, then slathered on your face, and left to dry. After that, the coffee is removed from your face using sugar wax.
Dilke Scrub
A beauty treatment borrowed from Sudanese women but practiced by the women in northern Nigeria, this beauty ritual works both as body polish, and a body scrub, which exfoliates the skin. It consists of potatoes, turmeric, and essential oils, among other things.
Shea Butter
This product needs no introduction. It has been the go-to beauty secret for ages, and a lot of Nigerian women use it to moisturize their skin. It comes from the shea tree.
Halawa Wax
A kind of body waxing (hair-removal) formula also from the north, made up of a mixture of sugar, lime, and honey.
Native Chalk in The Fattening Room
Popular among the Calabars in Nigeria, the fattening room is a place where a bride-to-be is kept in a room for about a month. During this period, they go through an assortment of beauty treatments using native chalk and some other traditional ingredients, which leave their entire body supple and glowing for the big day.
Turmeric Treatment
A beauty treatment using turmeric on the face or body. Turmeric gives the skin a brighter appearance. It is also popular in the north.
A lawyer by training, Onah packs over a decade of experience in both editorial and managerial capacities.
Nwachukwu began her career at THISDAY Style before her appointment as Editor of HELLO! NIGERIA, the sole African franchise of the international magazine, HELLO!
Thereafter, she served as Group Editor-in-Chief at TrueTales Publications, publishers of Complete Fashion, HINTS, HELLO! NIGERIA and Beauty Box.
Onah has interviewed among others, Forbes’ richest black woman in the world, Folorunso Alakija, seven-time grand slam tennis champion, Roger Federer, singer Miley Cyrus, Ex Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio while coordinating interviews with Nigerian football legend, Jayjay Okocha, and many more.
In the past, she organised a few publicity projects for the Italian Consulate, Lagos, Nigeria under one time Consul General, Stefano De Leo. Some other brands under her portfolio during her time as a Publicity Consultant include international brands in Nigeria such as Grey Goose, Martini, Escudo Rojo, Chivas, Martell Absolut Elix, and Absolut Vodka.
Onah currently works as the Editor of TheWill DOWNTOWN.
