00:06In Abidjan, Isabel Alliman is reclaiming her natural hair after nearly a decade of hiding
00:13it under wigs. She says years of artificial treatments left her natural hair damaged and
00:19unable to grow. Yet she eventually decided it was time to return to her natural hair.
00:25And it's a decision she is very proud of. Ever since I've been wearing my natural hair,
00:32I feel like I've been reborn. I feel like a real woman. I feel African. I'm proud to wear it
00:38because
00:38there is nothing quite like it. Before we used to straighten it because we found it difficult to
00:44comb because it's hard. But now when you have your own hair, it's a source of pride.
00:50Isabel isn't alone, of course. Many women through the years have gone through the same process.
00:56Experts say they're paying the price for a lack of proper treatment, but luckily there's a solution.
01:03We realized that 80% of women living in Cote d'Ivoire suffer from alopecia of various kinds.
01:09This refers to abnormal hair loss. To address this issue, we have opened these centers to help women
01:16understand their hair and to make treatment easy. Natural hair is closely linked to identity.
01:24While repeated artificial treatments can contribute to hair problems, the sudden shift is creating
01:30opportunities for local businesses. Most salons in Abidjan are no longer selling wigs or extensions,
01:37but only products designed to moisturize and care for Afro-textured hair.
01:43Hair represents our identity, yet artificial treatments are pushing natural hair aside
01:48and causing damage to our people. We want to empower women to embrace their natural hair
01:54and protect its health. Already, local manufacturers have come up with brands
01:59set to address this challenge. I wanted to solve an urgent problem of African women who are unable to
02:06maintain their natural hair or wear it as it is. Others are even ashamed to talk about it because
02:12they suffer from so many hair conditions. So for me, it was urgent to tackle this issue.
02:19For many Ivorian women, natural hair is no longer something to hide,
02:24but a symbol of identity, well-being, and renewed pride.
02:28For many Ivorian women, natural hair is a symbol of identity, well-being, and renewed pride.
02:28avoirtesiの苇いですが、サイズが渾らないようにするんです。もちろなしでしく
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