From rice water, to avocado and eggs, we’ve all seen and received countless amounts of advice when it comes to caring for our tresses and securing luscious, healthy hair. All the YouTube influencers with waist-long hair and thick heads full of hair all seem to have conflicting opinions on what we should all do with our hair. Are we meant to oil our scalps? Do we detangle our knots hanging upside down? The onslaught of information can be overwhelming but luckily, we have one foolproof thousand-year-old secret that the women of Chad have put us on to. For centuries, Chadian women have used chebe powder to reduce shedding and hair breakage and it has worked like a charm, and this is a major reason why they are known for their long and healthy hair.
The Ingredients Of Chebe Powder
According to Ghanima Abdullah a licensed hair expert and cosmetologist, Chebe is “an ancient herbal formulation curated specially to promote hair growth and prevent breakage”. Contrary to unpopular belief, chebe is not a magic potion mixed in a cauldron. It is a hydrating hair product made from cherry seeds, resin tree sap, lavender, stones, and cloves. Drying and mixing these promote length retention and hydration, and this in turn increases the chances of hair growth.
Chebe Protects
Hair growth is not something that happens without time and patience, on average we grow six inches of hair in a year and a great amount of this is lost to poor management. Chebe powder acts as a barrier between your hair and all the things that could cause your amount of hair retention to lessen.
It Favors Thicker Hair
While Chebe is a lovely solution for people with thicker hair types such as 3C to 4C, it might not be the best solution for people with thinner hair types as they are more prone to break off under the weight of the powder as it is mixed into a paste using coconut oil and small amounts of water before being applied to the scalp. According to hairstylist Annagjid “Kee” Taylor, this ancient hair growth ritual is performed once or twice a week by Chadian women themselves, they often make it into a paste by applying water and oil before working the paste into their hair and braiding it to seal the moisture in.
It Helps To Retain Moisture
According to Taylor, Chebe powder on its own will not promote hair growth, it does, however, help the hair to retain moisture and ultimately strengthens the roots and shaft of the hair. It is important to watch out for fakes and dupes. Natural chebe powder will be dark brown before it is mixed with oil and water. Make sure that the paste never dries out once it's in your hair because this can make it difficult to rinse out and cause breakage. Above all, consistency and patience will always yield the best results.