A Nigerian woman has taken to social media to express her deep frustration and disappointment after being refused service at a local hair salon, all because she had recently given birth.
The new mother, identified on TikTok as @mummy_taliah, shared a now-viral video recounting her shocking experience, which has since sparked widespread conversation online about the myths, beliefs, and health concerns surrounding postpartum hair care in Nigeria and beyond.
In the emotional video clip, the woman explained that she visited a neighborhood salon with the simple intention of getting her hair washed and styled into cornrows. According to her, this was a small but meaningful attempt to reclaim her sense of identity and self-care after the demanding process of childbirth. To her surprise, however, the hairstylist refused to attend to her.
“I went to the salon today to wash my hair and make cornrows just to get my spark a bit. The lady legit refused to attend to me. Cause I just gave birth o. She asked me to go back home,” the visibly upset mother narrated in her video post.
Her experience immediately caught the attention of TikTok users, triggering a flood of reactions, comments, and personal stories from other mothers and social media users familiar with the cultural beliefs about postpartum hair care. While some sympathized with her ordeal and shared their own struggles, others defended the stylist’s decision based on long-held beliefs surrounding maternal health and hair grooming after childbirth.
Reactions concerning postpartum hair care
One TikTok user, @CAKE VENDOR IN BERGER/LAGOS, shared a similar experience, commenting:
“I relaxed my hair a week after delivery and I almost ran mad. I washed the hair immediately the lady took her hands off it and I suffered hair loss.”
Another commenter, @nma-is-kind, also weighed in, recounting:
“She likes you oo. I made my hair a few weeks after delivery. Omoh! All my front hair disappeared to God knows where.”
On the flip side, some users challenged the belief entirely, arguing that hair loss after childbirth is a natural hormonal response and not necessarily connected to hair treatments done during the postpartum period.
A user identified as @officialpeacey wrote: “I think that’s a superstition… If you’re going to have postpartum hair loss, you will have it whether you make your hair or not.”
Others also commented that it should be the personal decision of the new mother whether to make her hair or not, emphasizing the importance of supporting women in their postpartum recovery journey rather than restricting them based on age-old beliefs.
The conversation continues to stir mixed opinions online as more mothers and hair care professionals share their experiences and thoughts on the subject.
Watch the video below …
@mummy_taliah [/p]
I’ve heard too much since I got pregnant 😩 #newmomtok #pregnanttiktok #motherhood #postpartumrecovery
♬ original sound – Chella