The Tribune

By Felicity Ingraham

Take a stroll along Bay Street or in the Mall at Marathon and take a good look at the hair lines of women. You will notice that many of those hair lines are receding, thinned out, or non-existent. You will also notice that you can actually see them.

There was a time when all the wig-wearers wouldn’t dare leave the house without their covering.

But today thousands of Bahamian women are really getting into hair care. So those edges are airing out and getting lots of sunshine and special hair care products to revitalise them and re-grow thick hair in damaged areas.

For this reason, scores of Bahamian women in search of the best products to strengthen and grow natural and processed hair turned up to the Organic Root Stimulator (ORS) Hair Care Weekend held over the Christmas holidays.

There were those seeking help with their processed hair, others trying to gain length, and many others with serious scalp conditions.

Many of them were introduced to the newest line from ORS, the monoi oil line, to treat breakage issues. Two international hair experts from ORS flew in for a series of visits to some of the main beauty supply chain stores in New Providence.

Andreen Bennett, ORS Caribbean manager, was also in town to participate in the promotional events hosted by the Commonwealth Drugs and Medical Supplies (CDM) beauty division, which teamed up with ORS here in the Bahamas.

The hair care experts, Karl Richmond of Jamaica and renowned American hair technician Chris Smith, conducted sessions that allowed them to test customers’ hair with tricholoscopes, magnifying their scalp and roots, and properly advising them on how to treat and protect it.

“Lots of ladies are using weave or are over-processing their hair,” said Tabatha Porter of the CDM beauty division pointed out. “We want to assist them in getting the right advice and utilizing the products that will give them the results they are looking for.”

For centuries, monoi oil has been utilised by natives of Polynesia to achieve extremely strong yet silky and shiny hair. And for several decades now, monoi oil has been used by the elite who could afford a bottle of the sacred oil.

Most of the patrons expressed satisfaction in the clinical results given by the technicians. Many said they were surprised at finding out that they had various allergies after their hair analysis was complete. Just by cutting out certain foods, they were advised, they could increase their chances of longer, healthier hair.