This is a braiding shop I just happened upon while having something made by a neighboring carpenter. No, there aren't any Egyptians in there doing this wonder weaving. They’re Africans and they legit looked like they snatch, and I mean snatch those edges. it looks like any shop you would find in the hood. I was completely surprised... I don’t know why for whatever reason I feel that by coming to Egypt I have fallen off of the earth or something and these things won’t be here... perhaps because I see so few black people or maybe it’s because weaving is haram. Something inside reads “Taboo... tisk, tisk, not here”. But it’s here, alright... in color and varying lengths, they do it all. But it was in the tuck guys. I went into an area that doesn’t even show up on google maps, just to go to this carpenter when I saw this place. No one is just going to find this. Even if I wanted to send you there, so you could get hooked up with some Iverson plats (yes the basketball player), I would literally need to take you to the door by hand. Next time I’m going to have to get a few price quotes just to satisfy my curiosity on what a weave or straight backs would cost when paying in pounds. But if you wanted it... they got it.
The Product Hunt:
You know, the original title for this was “Natural Hair, Don’t care”. Honestly, it would have been a more suitable title, but I thought it came off too negative to start. The truth is there is little to no Natural hair care products to be bought or used here in Egypt. You can sometimes find a few brands particular to the black hair community like “motions” or “Shea Moisture” at Hypermarkets like LuLu’s, but if you do see them... don’t look twice. Don’t text a friend. And do not take a picture... Grab ALL of them, and by that I mean the two or three that you found and put them in your cart. Don’t look at the price tag and consider your budget. Just top up! Listen, if you ever happen upon six or seven, take them too. No, I’m serious. These products are very infrequently imported and it’s very likely that the next non-noobie sista’ to see this gold mine will recognize it for what it is, and she won’t leave one behind, I assure you. Sure, they’re going to cost you no less than 150 EGP a pop. But, the combination of naturally dry hair, living life close to the equator, desert heat, water so densely packed with calcium, chlorine, and heavy metals; that any plausible solution is worth paying for... mater of fact... maybe worth killing for. Whatever the case, remember what I said. When you see it, but it and buy it all. And when you don’t listen to me and you inevitably go back for more... you write me a comment saying “you told me so, but I didn’t and you were right... cuz there was no more” lol 😆
The Natural Disappointment:
Okay, maybe you think your safe because you’re one of those sista’s that thinks... well I’m not dependent on branded products. I’m all natural. My hair lives off of butters and oils. Okay, well it will hit you even more, because, as a naturalista, you would imagine you can find Shea butter here...well, no. Alma oil...no... castor oil... hummm refined down to water, maybe... other natural butters and oils... sure, they’ve got olive oil, that’s everywhere. But even with that said, would you believe they are bootlegging the olive oil! The typical olive oil you stumble on is the quality comparison of what can be found in a dollar tree in America... it’s downright sketchy. I try not to think it’s vegetable oil with food coloring lol. Look at any olive oil with the eye of suspision unless you bought a bottle an imported bottle of green gold. But honestly, these natural products can be found... its just stores in Egypt arent bursting from the edges with the like we might think. You'll need to put up a good search, high and low to finally stumble onto some Shea butter or even something similar. like anything else that's difficult to find in this country, the price will be 5 times higher per ounce than it is in America. It’s insane! I mean, if you have the luxury of living off of the dollar here, then all of this is fairly insignificant. But when you realize the cost of hair care products is approaching the cost of your rent (slight exaggeration lol)... But, it can be considered a ridiculously high expense by comparison.
Regardless, remember... if you find what you've been searching for, just buy them all!
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