Hair is an essential element of weekly routine among all women and a good ratio of men in Ghana. Irrespective of class, washing hair and changing hairstyles is almost a weekly affair. As natural hair becomes expensive, plastic and synthetic alternatives offered by cheaper salons with simple setups have sprung everywhere in the country.

"What's in a hair?" Lately, in Ghana and across black communities around the world, there are lots of buzz around keeping ones own natural hair, especially among young females. The trend, been televised on various social media platforms, have patrons, both male and female sharing images of their hair styles, washing routines and journey with hashtags and buzz words like 'naturalista', 'kinky hair', 'black girl magic' and many more. A friend once told me the trend will one day discourage the wearing of artificial hair.

The artificial hair market is hugely growing, present and accessible in Ghana and across the world. On the streets of Makola market, the biggest market in Accra, the capital city of Ghana, a bundle of artificial hair; weave could be sold at GHC5.00 (about $1).

Despite the buzz of the natural hair movement, naturalistas; people who keep natural hair, employ the artificial hair as substitute; wigs for 'bad hair days', weaves, braids for protection from 'bad weather', for different looks, etc. The artificial hair has become an everyday commodity for beauty, protection and enhancement for natural hair growth.

This series explores some of such conditions under which the cheap hair is used and how women still try to maintain their hair dignity through them.

All pictures taken by Kobe Subramaniam ©