Some Abuja residents say hair braiding makes men look irresponsible, describing the practice as alien to Nigerian culture.

Hair braiding or weaving is popular among African women as they use it to maintain their natural hair textures.

Some Nigerian men have lately also adopted it as a fashion statement, especially footballerers and those in the entertainment business as a way of creating a unique identity for themselves in the society.

But a cross section of Abuja residents interviewed by NAN on Sunday in Abuja say hair braiding should be restricted to women alone, as it is their exclusive reserve.

Vincent Chukwuebuka, a resident of Wuse 2, said that the society sees men who engage in hair braiding as people who deviate from societal norms and values as such have nothing to offer to the society.

“People tend to see them as being irresponsible in society, because they tend to look rough and unkept.

“The African culture does not accept men braiding their hair, men who braid their hair are mostly moved by the trends just to fit in.

“Though braiding was once seen as a social act in Nigeria, our present culture does not accept it.

“I personally do not like judging people by the way they look, but I think we should follow the rules guiding our society,’’ Mr Chukwuebuka said.

Collins Okoroafor, a resident of Kubwa, supported the claim, adding that the reason why men braid their hair is to copy from the celebrities.

He…