So here’s a story
I got infected by hair lice one time, if you haven’t gotten lice before just count yourself lucky and try to protect your hair at all costs as getting infected by lice is not funny.
I didn’t know I had lice, my hair was itching me more than usual, I thought since it was getting old and I did walk under the rain a couple of times not until I was told by my stylist “IB you have lice” My heart sank. I know we were taught about lice in elementary school but for years I didn’t see anyone get it and so I told myself and everyone who cared to listen that lice didn’t exist and our teachers were only lying to us not until I was faced with it eyeballs to eyeballs.
When my hairstylist was treating my hair I saw pepper like the pain was so unbearable. Getting rid of the lice was not close to the aftermath of the whole lice drama.
I got traumatized, that day I didn’t sleep at my house, I sprayed all the strong insecticides that I knew, funny how my house did not go up in flames because I fried it that day, I just wanted to get rid of the lice.
Going back to my normal life was hard as I saw everyone as a carrier, I don’t just put my head anywhere, and I don’t let people touch my hair, if you want to touch my hair in admiration I’d simply beat you to your game as I would immediately shift but in a nice way that wouldn’t hurt you, I don’t touch people’s hair, etc.
Before the incident, I usually took some of the basic things I needed to the salon but I didn’t pay attention to how it was used but after the lice incident I watched my stylist like a hawk.
So my hairstylist was already used to me, she would wash her hands before touching my hair and would always be careful not to mix my combs with hers. So on this particular day, I wanted to braid my hair, my friend was having an event, and my stylist was out of town, I was worried, so worried and everyone advised me to wear a wig, I refused as I am not really a fan of wigs.
I took a leap of faith that day and walked into Emperior's Salon, I silently prayed to God that things go well.
"Good Morning Ma'am" I greeted the owner.
"Ohh customer, Good morning, welcome" she replied enthusiastically.
So I observed the salon, there were a couple of ladies there, I called the lady aside and explained to her about my fear of lice and pleaded with her to please just cooperate with me, at first she glared at me and I knew she was thinking "who is this one" but after some persuasion, we seemed to be on the same page or so I thought.
So as she was about to touch my hair I politely told her to wash her hands, if looks could kill I would have probably died that day as the lady shot me with her eyes without missing, she went straight to wash her hands quite pissed but I patted her on the back that I was sorry.
She started braiding my hair, at first she was sticking to my comb and all the other things I brought before I knew it Aunty used another comb on my hair and I didn't know when I screamed and startled everyone,
"Madam please kindly use my comb, thank you. I said annoyed
"Oh sorry o," she said sarcastically. She did the same mistake three times and each time I would immediately shake my head and she will correct herself, in my head, I knew my hair was already infested with lice and nobody could tell me otherwise.
The fourth time I shouted and warned her against using her comb on my hair, she apologized sarcastically again, while this drama was going on I noticed she started dragging my hair and the braids became tighter, so tight, it was like she was paying me back for telling her what to do and I don't do well with pains.
My head started aching me, but I kept quiet, I didn't want to be a nagging customer. while I was enduring the pain I didn't know when tears started dropping from my eyes and before I could wipe it away a four-year-old that was watching the whole scene started telling me sorry.
"Aunty sorry, Aunty please stop crying, your hair is fine", at this point I didn't know if I was to tell the baby thank you or laugh, as she was saying sorry with so much emotion, while she was saying it, she was rubbing my legs.
The lady acted oblivious to what was happening, not even a sorry came out of her mouth instead she added more pressure and the pains became unbearable, when she mixed the comb again with annoyance I shouted " Madam stop! stop! everyone turned to look at me. I immediately packed my things gave her a quarter of her money and said
"May God forgive you, may God have mercy on you",
I used my scarf to tie my hair and stomped out of the shop, at that point I didn't care about what I was going to do with my hair I just wanted to go home, just when I thought I was going to my safe haven, as soon as my sisters sighted me from the gate with the scarf they started laughing and trust my father’s children to do the most and that was just the trigger I needed to let the flood gate out, I started crying.
