The Hairpolitan Magazine Vol-1 August-Sept 2016

SPECIAL FEATURE
WE ARE
HAIRPOLITANS
By Wambui JL
I have for a long time now believed that the Kenyan
Natural Hair community needed a publication that
spoke to our ever-growing lifestyle. Finally, the time
has come when we have our own space where
African women can share their authentic stories, which
will change the narrative of perceived and acceptable
standards of beauty and success on our continent.
The concept came to mind out of a conversation i
had while sipping tea with two dear friends by a
warm fireside in the middle of our
equatorial winter three years ago.
The idea begged to answer some
“
questions that were swirling in
our minds. Why was all the
information anyone needed
about being natural, both in hair
and lifestyle, stuck within the
infinite walls of the Internet? Why
couldn’t there be a physical and
tangible magazine that we could
hold while we beautified
ourselves in salons & parlors or
read in traffic as we wondered
about our stagnant lives or as we
waited for a dear friend to join us
on a coffee date?
In December 2015, the name
Hairpolitan popped into my head
in the middle of the night, so I
woke up, grabbed my notebook
and started writing ideas down.
Everything suddenly made sense.
The name Hairpolitan is a portmanteau of the
words “Hair” and “Cosmopolitan”, the latter
being defined as “ familiar with, and at ease in
many different countries and cultures.” (Online
Dictionary, www.Dictionary.com). Hairpolitan,
therefore, seeks to define a person who is familiar
and at ease with, and respectful of the different
curls and kinks on different people from natural
backgrounds. It can also come to mean, “a
collective of a Naturalistas found in one place”
which is what the magazine aims to become.
Our mission at the Hairpolitan Magazine is to
promote the Natural Hair & Living lifestyle &
culture in Kenya and beyond. We will focus on
those who are interested in keeping natural hair,
using natural remedies and products on their hair
and skin, eating organically healthy food, and
keeping fit.
ONE DOESN’T
HAVE TO ONLY
ADORN NATURAL
HAIR TO BE
DEFINED AS A
HAIRPOLITAN.
Contact Person: Wambui JL
Brand/Business: Idea Agency Limited
Email: wambui@ideagency.co.ke
www.instagram.com/simplywambui
www.twitter.com/simplywambui
“
We shall consolidate stories
from within and without, that
talk of people living or those
aspiring to live the natural life.
We commit to being a platform
that profiles people in
society who are already living
this lifestyle, who can both
encourage and be role models
to those who already are in it or
are aspiring to live it. The
magazine will be a vessel to
inform individuals about
existing Natural Hair & Living
principles, available services &
products; and will encourage
interaction among those living a Natural life in an educative,
creative and inspiring way.
Incidentally, one doesn’t have to only adorn natural hair to be
defined as a Hairpolitan. I’d like to believe the Hairpolitan
individual is one who seeks her own truth based on knowledge
and healthy principles; and when they find it, they have the
conviction to live by it then teach those around them. As Maya
Angelou once said, “Once you know better, you do better” so
my question to you is: Are You A Hairpolitan?
The Natural hair community in Kenya has always been a
welcoming sisterhood and I have personally have met the most
awesome and shockingly inspiring women in our country and
beyond because of the state of our hair. Many are ready to share
their stories and experiences with each other. So the question still
implores, why must we keep this discovery to ourselves? Why
can’t these wonderful people be showcased to the world and be
celebrated for their achievements?
My desire is also for our young daughters, those born and yet to
be born, to grow up surrounded by information that encourages
them to know and seek their true selves first before being
influenced by the world; and any decision they make thereafter
would be based from a point of knowledge.
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