Where to Buy Natural Hair Products in Abuja, Nigeria

I have had trouble in the past finding some of my natural hair products and was saved only by product stands at meetups (Capital Naturals) and hair summits. I decided to make a list to help those that may be having the same problem.

Top spots for finding Natural Hair Products are as follows:

• Invivo (2nd Floor Ceddi Plaza)

Invivo

• Keeks Pharmacy- Bright Star Plaza, No 50 Ebitu Ukiwe street, Jabi.
• Perfect Trust Cosmetics- Shop 7, ASG Shopping Complex, Adetokinbo Ademola Way, Wuse 2, opp. ASCON Station
• Lumo Naturals- F101, Concept plaza, beside Emirates hotel, 5th avenue, Gwarimpa.

Lumo Naturals

• Shea Organic Beauty- Shop 35, Block B1 Aliyu Modibo, Garki Int'l Market 
• CasaBella- Grand Towers Mall (Shoprite), Apo
• Sahad Stores (Garki)
• Spar (Ceddi Plaza)
• Park & Shop (Wuse 2)
• Natural Nigerian (Ahia) {Online Store}
• The Kinky Apothecary{They have Physical Stores in Lagos-Online Store for Abuja Residents}
• Vanity Oils {Online Store}
• Olori {Online Store}
• African Naturalistas {Online Store}

Here are some useful links to finding Natural Hair Salons and other natural products as well:

• The Kink and I (Products)
• The Kink and I  (Salons)

Hope you find this helpful.

Toodles!XooX

Lumo Naturals Salon *4th Time's a Charm* Major Upgrade!

*insert Beyonce's 'Upgrade you' here*

Reception Area

View from the Wet Room

Lumo Naturals has moved to Concept Plaza and i believe this was part of what they needed to take their services to the Next Level. 

I have not been to the salon since August 2014, i reviewed them twice before, read here and here. The 1st post i was a super unhappy customer and expressed my opinion about the salon and things that could be changed and the 2nd post was an update. I honestly did not do it to spoil their business, just to create awareness of where they were lacking from a neutral customer's point of view. 

I'm really glad they have stepped up their game and can now proudly say i don't quite mind making the trip to their salon in Gwarinpa to get my hair done. 

Here is the list of things i highlighted in my 1st post and i think all of them have been addressed:

• The salon arrangement
• The scheduling process for customers
• The seating provision for customers
• The no. of staff
• The no. of appliances,shoulder towels, shower caps, etc. for customers to use
• The customer service
• The provision of entertainment for waiting customers (can be looped Natural Hair Youtube videos-hairstyles, advice, products, etc.)
• The storage of hair products for sale (against theft)

Gwarinpa is totally out of my way and i probably would have not visited Lumo Naturals if not for my friend Tutu, she was visiting from outta town and getting her hair washed though so i decided to meet up with her and see how the salon was doing. I initially went to their old location but got their new address from their website, luckily it was walking distance. I was very impressed when i got there and was rid of the bitter taste in my mouth from my previous experience there. They had a reception area and a spacious, well arranged and nicely furnished salon. They also had natural hair videos playing on the TV and the staff seem to have been well trained to handle natural hair as they required no supervision. 

I really like the Ankara decor, mirrors, pot plants and the Product Shelf. It was a breath of fresh air.

They also have a fridge to buy refreshments.

Product Shelf

My friend was well catered too, she had her hair washed, conditioned and steamed, there is now a dedicated 'wet area' for washing your hair, etc and it has 2 separate wash basins and you have the option of warm water. 

The owner came in at a point and was quite warm this time and we had a nice brief  hair chat with her, which was nice. I believe they have a manager's office in the salon.

The Manager was really nice and i liked that their price list (really decent prices for a natural hair salon) is framed and in view at the reception.

This time around i had a very pleasant experience there and i wasn't even the customer, i have been super-busy and super-tired from work lately so i'm gonna put DIY on the backburner this week and go there to get my hair washed, steamed, etc. I'll add a quick update to this post after that, as a customer.

Price List

Lumo Naturals
F101, Concept plaza, beside Emirates hotel, 5th avenue, Gwarimpa.
08094823173 | 09-2911727 (They actually work!!)

My Experience (Update)

I got to the Salon on a Friday around 5:30pm after calling to book an appointment and i was done by 7:46pm which was a satisfactory time gap for me. If you've read my other posts you would understand why.

I had not combed my hair in forever, i just left it in a bun so it needed serious detangling. The hairstylist that attended to me was Fatima and i thoroughly enjoyed the service.

She sprayed my hair and put a mix all over it for some mins before proceeding to gently detangle my matted hair in sections, it was practically painfree, i couldnt believe it, afterwards my hair was shampooed in sections and washed with warm water, it was quite delightful. When i DIY i'm to lazy to heat up water for my hair.

She then applied a mix to my hair and a showercap over it with a paper wrap to prevent water dripping out and ear muffs to protect my ears. This was without a doubt my most comfortable steam. It lasted about 45mins i think before i had it washed off then she applied conditioner to my hair and i had it on for about 5mins then she combed my hair in sections before my final rinse with cold water (seals the hair cuticles) #bestfeelingever!

I loved that my shoulder towel was changed after my steam session and a dry microfibre towel was also used on my wet hair after conditioning.

I requested to have my hair dried with cool air, 'cos i did not want my scarf to get wet (it cost #500) and also told her i did not want any product with coconut oil used on my hair ('cos my hair is protein sensitive) so she used shea butter instead. My hair was dried and 'buttered' up and put in loose chunky twists. I love how my hair smelled from the fragrance of the shampoo and conditioner-very yummy.

Proper tools were used on my hair and i liked that (wide tooth comb,shower caps,ear muffs,soft microfibre towels, hair clips, etc.)

I entertained myself during my hair session by reading (Lupita's Vogue Edition) from their selection of magazines, that made time go by faster.

I paid #4,000 via PoS when i was done which is definitely a very decent price for the service i got (hair products & tools used,light-gen,water,services).

The Salon was quite full and i did not notice any customers waiting as they now have quite a good no. of staff. 

I noticed a sign at at he reception stating that MEN are not allowed in the main salon, most likely because of muslim women that may be getting their hair done, which is understandable.

Regarding my Past Review of the Salon-Honest Feedback from customers on services/products is important though most Nigerian businesses are not used to it, they should embrace it as it will ultimately improve their business; although mine was written laced in anger hence the tone, it was mostly constructive criticism because of the perceived potentail. 

I think its a plus to have been able to win me back.

I can now confidently recommend this salon to my fellow naturals. Call and book ahead though so you can avoid waiting, they were fully booked for Saturday.

I have ZERO complaints this time around, i got my money's worth, TLC for my hair and a break from DIY.

Toodles!XooX

SPN hair salon review

Eyes on za hair :)

I haven't done a hair post in a bit, because i just haven't had the zeal. Earlier in the year, i started an in-depth draft post for new Naturalistas and Transitioners, it was supposed to be a go to guide with links to more info on all you need to know about natural hair as a newbie. Long story short, i did not know my internet connection was down and all i had typed and linked did not save as a draft, before i could rectify this, my Google Chrome browser crashed and restarted but without all the content i had spent time and energy. Pissed is an understatement of how i felt, i just closed the laptop and went to bed (i did learn a lot while drafting the post though) and just haven't been able to getting around to re-doing the post.

my three-strand braids for keeping my hair stretched

I have given myself a haircut or 2 since my last post, mostly focused on my ends, i have also stuck to washing and taking care of my hair by myself at home, wigs have also waltzed into my hair routine , my hair has grown out quite some as well as the bald spot (traction alopecia) i got on my hairline,from tight braids(Halleluyah!!) and much more hair jist, watch out for a post on this *covers face.lol. I decided after my plenty DIY to visit a  salon to get my hair washed, i have 2 friends who are also Natural and they recommended SPN salon to me.

2 days post-salon visit. I had to moisturize with water n rosewater to style

SPN (Snow's Purely Naturelle) Salon are supposedly Professional Natural Hair Stylists and located on the 2nd floor in Centrepoint Mall on No. 35, Adetokunbo Ademola Cresent, Wuse II, Abuja (close to Chloe's Cupcake). I had almost forgotten to do this review till i read that of fellow blogger Achenyo.

I went to the salon on the 4th of December and its a small space with about 5 or 6 chairs, i noticed it had just one wash basin and one hair dryer and it was full of clients. I was warmly welcomed by one of the stylists and the owner of the salon, i spoke to the stylist about washing my hair and i was told it costs #1,500 (i felt it was on the high side but i also know detangling can be stressful), and i asked if my hair could be blow-dried afterwards and they told me, they do not blowdry or stretch Natural hair and clients hair have to air-dry huh?? I was confused, i had thought as 'professional hair stylists' they'd give me the option of a cold blow dry or they would have temperature regulated straighteners and heat protectants or suggest i go with any of the heat free stretching options. I told the stylist straight up that i was not ok with having my hair air-dried 'cos i get almost 85% shrinkage and would end up with tangles and knots, even when i do my wash at home, i work with two-strand twists or braids to help stretch my hair while it air-dries in a microfibre towel head wrap. After much back and forth, th owner of the salon intervened, i explained my stand to her and she told the girl to put my hair in two-strand twists after conditioning. I was ok with this though i wasn't pleased i'd leave the salon with damp hair. 

I asked how much it would cost to get my hair in medium kinky braids and i was told it costs #6,000 and one pack of the attachment costs #2,500 (it costs 1k5 in the market by the way) and i would need 3. OK. She said they do not open on Mondays and i'd have to come on Tuesday if i wasn't doing it after my wash, she also said i wouldn't have to pay for my wash if i got my braids done there right after my wash. I told her i had other plans and that will not be possible so i'd stick to just washing and conditioning and having my hair in two-strand twists to go. I had prepped my hair before going to the salon, detangled and cornrowed into four. While i waited for the wash basin to free up, the stylist took down my cornrows and did some detangling while the owner and i conversed, she had asked me how long my hair was and i told her 'i don't know', which is the honest truth. I do not length check, my only goal is to have healthy hair. She saw how long and full my hair was when taken down, asked how many years i had been Natural, other customers got interested in my hair journey, regimen, etc. and we all conversed. She told me she had been trained abroad, i told her i usually don't go to salons and prefer to cater to my hair myself. I enjoyed the conversation and told her i avoid using products with coconut oil because my hair is protein sensitive (check here, here and here for details on this) and they make my hair brittle, stiff and hay-like especially when used in excess. She was surprised when i said that and said her hair loves coconut oil. She offered me and the other customers fruit cake at some point and i felt really comfortable.
My hair was properly washed, although i did not like that i couldn't tell the brand/content of the shampoo or conditioner because they had been put in a bottle without labels, it was dried with a t-shirt (which is normal for natural hair) though i'd have preferred a micro-fibre towel and it was around this time that the owner of the salon left. I sat in the chair and the stylist said she was going to use their leave-in conditioner in my hair, i told her i'd rather use just shea butter and she sed they did not (what natural hair salon has NO SHEA BUTTER) have any so i had no option but to use the conditioner. She had already put the conditioner (A LOT) in my hair before i remembered to confirm that it did not have coconut oil in it and it did. *sigh. She did some light detangling and put my hair in very loose two strand twists which basically defeated the aim of me getting the twists (which was to reduce my shrinkage). I was pissed! I asked for a t-shirt and wiped as much of the product out of my hair as possible and did a firm three strand braid in place of the twists to help stretch my hair. The stylist sat down throughout and watched me do all this without offering to assist, apologising for using a product with coconut oil in my hair and in excess; as far as she was concerned, she was done and i should pay up and leave. I paid the #1500 and as a first time customer, i was not impressed with the service and i noticed they were not polite to the two customers in the salon with me who had complains about how their hair was being styled.
I had to re-moisturize my hair with a mix of water and rosewater the next night after my salon visit and the night after (hubby's bday) before i could style it o get rid of the stiffness and hay-like feel the coconut oil had given it. I ended up having breakage, damage to some of my ends and basically lost some hair 'cos of how strong it was and difficult to manipulate, even simply taking down the braids it was in.*big sigh* I doubt i will be patronising the salon anytime soon and if at all for ONLY styling, gonna stick to my DIY home hair-care that has worked so far.

1 day post-salon visit. Check out my hairline (no bald spot) :D

1 day post-salon visit. I took out d braids.Hair was stiff & Hay-like

The owner of the salon seems like a warm person that does understand natural hair and her stylists seem well behaved when she is around but when she leaves they switch and they definitely need more training on how to handle natural hair. I agree with Achenyo's post on the improvements they need to make. They really can do better.

Toodles!XooX

Caring for your hair while braided

I thought i should share this post as i have been looking for tips on how to care for my hair while its braided to reduce breakage and dirt buildup and luckily i came across this post which is very informative on Kemi Lewis' blog. She owns a beauty bar in Lagos (KL's Natural Beauty Bar, 29C Ikorodu Crescent, Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi) and i first got to know about her while researching on natural hair stylists for my wedding hairdo but due to her location i opted for a different hair stylist based in Abuja who's also really good.  I have found a lot good reviews online regarding her salon (especially with regards to 'crochet braids') and hopefully i will be able to visit her salon when i'm in a Lagos to experience the service for myself.

Check out her IG for hairstyle ideas and inspiration. Don't forget to check out her post on caring for your braids! I'm definitely gonna try it when next i have braids in. Next article i'm looking for now is how to care for my hair when i have a weave on. Wish me luck, i'll definitely be back to share my findings.

Toodles!XooX

Lumo Naturals Salon Updated Review (Lvd it!!)

Read my most recent post (Oct 2016) here.
Everyone deserves a 2nd chance or 3rd chance or umpteenth chance that is if they want that chance though and i have to say i'm greatly pleased to have given this salon another chance. I'm proud to say they have now found a customer in me and i will gladly make the trip to Gwarinpa for their service because they have proved to be worth the effort and my hard earned cash. Is this the same gal with no good things to so about Lumo Naturals salon in her last post?  Yup!! Na the same me o my beautiful people! I really do appreciate growth and improvement when i see it displayed and do my best to commend such in order to promote more growth and even much more improvement. 

I called out the salon in a post i wrote in April after 2 visits (late December/early January which i specified in that post) there and getting extremely unsatisfactory service. There was no feedback initially after the post before all of a sudden in July, comments came in on the post and then i got a buzz on whatsapp from the owner of the popular Nigerian blog i had mentioned in the post where i had read up on the salon before my disappointing visit, she asked what was going on between me and the salon and pleaded that i remove her blog name from the post because of some legal thing or smtn like that was being brought up and she did not want to be involved which i perfectly understand. I really wondered why a big fuss was being made about my post since it was about my experience there and i had written it a while back also specifying the period of my visit.

I eventually found out the cause of the fuss. I had forgotten the address of the salon as i was preparing to make my 3rd visit (for the updated review) and decided to google the salon to get the address, as i scrolled down the 1st page of the results, there it was, the cause of all the drama! My post on the salon was on the 1st page of the google results!! No wonder! I had absolutely no clue of this 'cos after my visits to the salon and putting up my post i had more or less written them off, forgotten about it and moved on. I scrolled through to see the other results from Google and found another interesting post, this time from the Lumo Naturals blog and it was a rejoinder to my post (explaining the reason for the service described i my post and being overwhelmed and some other stuff) and that was honestly also my first time seeing their post. The only feedback i had noticed were the comments made on my own blog to the post and the only one i took seriously was that of the Salon Manager who apologized for the service and asked that i pay them another visit nothing about the rejoinder was mentioned in her comment . Anyways all that one don pass, lets move to the koko of this post make i no bore una with my long tori.

I kid u not, this salon is now the ish!! I'm not one to succumb to pressure and though some of the 'commenters' tried to bully me with their comments, i honestly didn't give ahoot about them, i made up my mind not to do an updated review till i visited the salon again for myself especially for the sake of the salon Manager who had commented on my previous post and though it was a bad review was courteous in her comment. Every single item under my 'What can change' list in the 1st review i did on them HAS changed!!! like really really changed and for the better! (i'm sure its not due to my post though as they said they were transitioning to the salon the times i visited, i had no knowledge of this till i stumbled on their rejoinder to my post)

Below is the closing comment that i wrote in the 1st post/review i did about the salon

"I'm furious at this salon because it has a lot of potential, i don't know any other 'Natural Hair' salons and there is a high natural hair community in the FCT from the last NITC meeting i attended. 

What can change?

The salon arrangement

The scheduling process for customers

The seating provision for customers

The no. of staff

The no. of appliances,shoulder towels, shower caps, etc. for customers to use

The customer service

The provision of entertainment for waiting customers (can be looped Natural Hair Youtube videos-hairstyles, advice, products, etc.)

The storage of hair products for sale (against theft)
I believe these changes will take the salon a long way!"

I was very detailed in my last post and i owe it to u guys and it is only fair to the salon that i be just as detailed in this post. I would have taken pictures also but i didn't want anyone to come on here and start commenting about unauthorized pics and what not so i'm gonna put a pic of my hair instead, hopefully the salon manager will take some cool shots of the salon at some point and post it on their blog so i can link it up here and you guys can get a visual of the changes, then again you can just opt to visit the salon and see it for yourself.

I called the phone no. i found online to book an appointment, the person was courteous and noted the time and day i will be coming and also told me how much the hairstyle would cost after i described it to her. I received a call from their landline about 20mins to my scheduled appointment to confirm if i would still be coming (i was very impressed by this). I got to the salon at around 3:30pm on Thursday, it was a nice sight for my previously sore eyes, the salon was refreshingly light and airy,a beautiful beige/eggshell off-whitish wallpaper was at a section, while the rest of the walls had an off-white paint color to it that blended very well and made the salon space seem more spacious and airy. There was a 2-seater sofa in the corner with a small table, a TV was up on the wall, the hair dryer has been replaced with a wall mounted mount one that can be moved to where the customers are seated. The main customer section is now fitted with 3 mirrors with drawers attached leaving enough leg room space. I also spotted a pot plant in the corner, the chairs where mostly green or orange with just about 2 black ones in the mix, these colors added a very nice touch to the space and y'all know green is my fave color anyways. There were 3 staff clad in work aprons in the salon while i was there and they were extremely courteous, 1 of them picked the attachment while the other 2 braided my hair, this was the part i enjoyed the most to be honest 'cos i'm not a fan of picking attachment and i was able to enjoy my novel (Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie). I was also given a consultation form to fill which is a good thing as this will aid feedback from customers and help build a relationship with them if properly reviewed. There were about 3 wall shelves, 2 of which contained the hair products for sale (Jamaican black castor oil, Natural Nigerian products, Shea butter, Argan oil and much more) while the last shelve was close to the washing area and contained mostly products for washing. There were also wall hooks with hair bands/scarves, Spritz bottles, combs and similar hair accessories for sale. I also noticed that they had hair clasps and ankara bangles for sale. My favorite feature of the salon has to be the Natural hair quotes hung on the walls and the centerpiece lighting, it was too gorgeous!!! The lighting was a dangling 3 step cube with colorful yarn of turquoise, red and yellow spun randomly with a different color on each cube, it gave the salon the nice finish that it needed. The salon was also kept clean as the floor was swept as soon as i was rounding up with my hair. They also had an air-conditioner installed and two wall fans and there was also a generator and there's enough ventilation through the window and 2 screen doors in the salon. There's also a fridge although i don't know if they sell refreshments as i did not ask for any I took a look at their general rates and they were very reasonable and affordable.

A proper towel was around my neck while my hair was being braided, i had already washed my hair and de-tangled at home before heading to the salon, i bought my attachment from the market closest to the salon as the salon does not sell extensions or weaves. 2 people braided my hair while the 3rd picked the attachment and asides for a customer i initially met there, once she left i was the only customer there till i left. My hair was started around 3:50pm give or take after the attachment had been pick and cut and they were completely done (trimming and all) by 6:58 pm  ( i looked at the time to be certain) which is approx 3 hours and very good timing for the braids i did. I paid 3k for the braids (which is really affordable for Abuja even if i add the cost of transportation to/from the salon) and filled the consultation form and left a very happy customer! I do not know their closing time, i'm guessing it depends on customer traffic but they closed shop after i left as i was the only customer there. I will definitely be referring this salon to my friends (both naturals and otherwise) henceforth. My braids are extremely neat, they were also very careful with my front hair. I'm glad i got to do this updated review and at the changes in the salon. Great customer service and prices! What more can a natural gal ask for :D Keep up the good work! 

This is not a sponsored post and i was attended to just as any other customer would be, as my identity was anonymous and i also paid in full for the service rendered. Naturals in the FCT! this is where you wanna get your hair done! Call to get an appointment, their land line 09-2911727 works and they give preference to customers who book an appointment over walk-in customers, You can visit their blog for more info on them. Avoid unnecessary antics to get u to relax ur hair  from regular salons because the stylists think your hair is too hard or any of that annoying stuff!!

Change is the only constant thing, Embrace it.

Toodles!XooX