Beauty
How Tolu Oye Pays Homage to Her Culture Through Her Hair
Tolu Oye is a designer and beauty brand owner known for her head-turning braids. She opens up about learning to love her braids and her culture that comes with them…
“This hair style is called Irun Kiko. It’s done with a rubber thread. It’s a natural way to stretch your hair with no heat. It’s a traditional style that is not as common as before.”
Photo: Courtesy of Omofolarin OmolayoleTexture Diaries is a space for Black women across industries to reflect on their journeys to self-love, and how accepting their hair, in all its glory, played a pivotal role in this process. Each week, these women share their favorite hair rituals, products, and the biggest lessons they’ve learned when it comes to affirming their beauty and owning their unique hair texture.
Tolu Oye’s love of her Nigerian culture is apparent throughout her work. Oye is the co-founder of Oye Green, an African beauty and wellness brand which carries products like shea butter, specialty hair combs, and Cowrie shells. Most recently, she launched Oye Green Prints, an initiative selling prints by Black artists—60% of the proceeds go towards organizations and individuals working to end SARS in Nigeria. She also has a clothing brand, Meji Meji, through which she recently launched a hair protective, silk-lined bucket hat and face masks. “My inspiration is rooted in my identity and culture. It is displayed in everything I do,” Oye says. That includes her ever-inspiring beauty and hair looks, too: Oye rocks braids of all kinds; from those that are green dyed and cheekbone-length to cornrows that cascade into a billow of coils.
“I am inspired by the beauty of Nigerian culture,” the Lagos-born, New York-based entrepreneur says. “I use my hair as a moodboard to share a story about the past and the present. My hair is a form of art and my way of channeling my inner being.”
It took time for Oye to feel completely comfortable with herself, and her hair. Growing up in Ohio, “I was often the only person of color in the room, and when I wasn’t, I was the darkest shade,” she recalls. “I had to toughen up really quickly. For so long, I did not identify myself as beautiful. I hated the skin I was in.” In the 6th grade, her teacher made her read The Skin I’m In. “I saw myself in the main character, Maleeka. That book was a turning point for me. From that day forward, I spoke with my head up,” she says. “To this day, I always hear my mother’s voice in my head, saying, ‘Tolu, you’re Black and shine!’ I had to learn how to love every piece of myself.”
“Me and my mom. She’s been braiding my hair since she gave birth to me. It’s amazing how we still bond over me sitting in her salon chair or on a pillow on our living room floor. Sometimes I even travel back to Ohio just so she can run hands through my scalp and play catch up. If my mother isn’t doing my hair, it’s my friends Helena Koudou and Chinna Njoku.” 
Her mother, a cosmetologist who worked in a braid shop throughout Oye’s youth, has been a strong pillar throughout her hair journey as well. “It is through her that I found my love for braids,” Oye says. But around 6th grade, Oye began dreading getting her hair braided, wanting to assimilate into her Ohio surroundings. It wasn’t until she went back to Nigeria in 2016 that she found her love for traditional African braid styles again. “I started expressing myself through braids. I started yearning to learn about conventional Yoruba braid styles and Nigerian culture as a whole. A [missing] puzzle piece within my life was finally here.”
Now, as her daily reminder, she reads the message engraved on the Oye Green comb she designed: “Irun ré ni òge re,” meaning: “Your hair is your glory.” For further inspiration, she looks to hairstylists Jawara and Fesa, photographs taken by J.D. Okhai Ojeikere, Rihanna, and books like African Hairstyles, Styles of Yesterday and Today by Esi Sagay. Oye loves to recreate old hairstyles “with a modern twist,” she says. “Braids are heavy symbolism and a fashion statement. Each braids style represents a form of societal status, tribe, age, marital status, wealth, power, and religion,” she explains.
Her go-to hair products include the Oye Green Rubber thread, a traditional method of stretching hair without heat. Oye notes that one of the oldest methods, “Irun Kiko,” or hair threading, is a traditional African hairstyle that originated among the Yorubas. “The sculptural style was once used to depict wealth and class, and to commemorate events, but is also a very effective method of stretching and protecting hair without heat and excess manipulation,” she explains. She also often reaches for the Oye Shea Butter: “It’s an all in one product that can be used as food for my skin and food for my hair.” She also uses it to nourish her edges. Kera Kare Dry and Itchy soothes her scalp when she has braids in, while Shine ‘N Jam is perfect for hold and Murray’s Edgewax shapes her baby hairs.
Up next, Oye is working towards adding a shampoo and conditioner to her line, while also expanding her Meji Meji collection for 2021. Otherwise, she’s focused on finding time for self-love and softness. “Self-care is important to me because I am always working,” she says. “When the pandemic happened, my body didn’t know how to react to the stillness. But especially during this pandemic, my value for self-care increased.” Whether she’s working on her beauty and fashion brands or planning her next hairstyles, she’s staying afloat through positive self-talk. “If you affirm great things, they will indeed come to pass,” she says. “Love yourself, talk to yourself, and tell yourself how beautiful you are daily.”
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MIA Speaks Out on Alleged Plastic Surgery Advice from Jay-Z
Authenticity is a form of resistance. MIA, the trailblazing artist known for her unapologetically bold and innovative individuality, recently dropped a bombshell about her time working with Roc Nation. In a candid online post, she recounted how Jay-Z, upon signing her to the label, allegedly suggested she consider getting plastic surgery. While many might feel pressured by such advice from a major music mogul, MIA stood firm in her authenticity, choosing self-acceptance over conformity.
She recalled, “Even when I met Jay-Z and I signed to Roc Nation, the first thing he told me to do is get plastic surgery.” For MIA, this moment attests to her strength and confidence that have been key to her successful career. Rejecting the notion that she needed to alter her appearance, she explained, “I’m not insecure because I would have got plastic surgery… What women do you know who hasn’t had plastic surgery around you? All of them have. I’m the only one who didn’t.”
Her words strike a chord in an industry that often prizes perfection over individuality. Now at 50, MIA proudly acknowledges her age, rejecting societal pressures to chase youth through invasive means. “I’m totally fine with the fact that I am [50], because guess what? I f*cking took off when I was 30,” she declared. “I was making something interesting happen that wasn’t f*cking happening before.”
Fans rally behind her bravery, celebrating her refusal to compromise her values despite alleged pressure from one of music’s most prominent power players. For MIA, the choice was simple: she wouldn’t let external voices dictate her self-worth or identity. This isn’t the first time Jay-Z has been called out for his interactions with artists. Recently, J. Cole revealed in his Inevitable series how Jay-Z once suggested Drake should provide him with a hit track, an awkward moment that stunned those in the room. These narratives shed light on the challenges artists often face when navigating their careers surrounded by immense scrutiny and expectations from influential figures.
MIA’s stance reminds audiences that true empowerment originates from within. At age 50, she exemplifies self-assurance in a world that often demands conformity. By actively resisting such pressures, she sets a precedent for others to prioritize self-love over societal expectations, presenting a meaningful statement from an artist who has always danced to the beat of her drum. Jay-Z’s silence on the issue speaks volumes, leaving fans and critics alike to ponder the realities behind these public revelations.
Celebrity
Chloe Bailey Sparks Mixed Reaction to Her Crush Confession – Being “Convinced” She’d End Up With Kendrick Lamar
Chloe Bailey has always been unapologetically authentic; the multifaceted singer and actress recently made waves in the social media world, revealing a piece of her past celebrity crush that sent fans into a frenzy. During an Instagram Live session, Bailey casually shared that she was massively into Kendrick Lamar phase, the famous rapper a few years ago, so much so that she was “convinced” they would end up together. While this might seem innocent, her candidness about this youthful dream of a romantic connection with the Compton rapper has sparked a mix of reactions online, with some fans swooning and others raising eyebrows.
Bailey, who has long been a huge fan of Kendrick’s music, confessed her admiration in a nostalgic and heartfelt way. “About eight years ago, I had a whole Kendrick phase, and I was convinced I was going to be with him,” she shared, reflecting on how deep her fandom ran. She added, “I’ve been a die-hard Kendrick fan from day 1. So I haven’t just hopped on the bandwagon.” Bailey had been captivated by Kendrick’s artistry long before he became a superstar.
The polarizing conversation speaks volumes about the nuanced dynamics of fandom and celebrity culture. Her comments quickly caught the attention of online critics. While it seems her feelings stemmed from a past crush, many people questioned the appropriateness of joking about it, especially considering Kendrick’s public relationship with longtime partner Whitney Alford. One Instagram user disapproved, stating, “He’s married, so why would you even post this? SMH.” Others echoed this sentiment, questioning Bailey’s respect for Kendrick’s relationship and accusing her of crossing a line.
But many fans came to Bailey’s defense, reminding the critics that crushes on celebrities, even married ones, are nothing new. “So y’all don’t have crushes on celebrities that are married? Method Man? Idris Elba? Denzel Washington? Come on now,” one follower humorously pointed out. Another fan calmly pointed out, “She said 8 years ago!” emphasizing that this was a memory she shared, not her present-day fixation.
Central to the discussion is an inherent truth: celebrity crushes are a universal phenomenon. Chloe’s admission was probably a lighthearted memory peek into her younger years, admiring one of hip-hop’s most extraordinary talents. Whether she was crushing on Kendrick Lamar or another prominent star, it’s evident that the notion of distant admiration is a sentiment many can identify: signifying a harmless crush is a totally normal part of being a fan and nothing to take too seriously!
