This archive report was first published on 22 July 2019.
Agony of Kenyan Women with Unwanted Hair ¶
Published on July 22, 2019
For many women in Kenya, having unwanted hair on their faces, chins, or bodies is a source of deep anxiety and low self-esteem. They often hide their condition from friends and lovers, and spend a lot of time and money trying to find a solution.
Charity, a 24-year-old woman from Nairobi, has been dealing with hirsutism since her teenage years. She has to shave and wax her beard regularly, but the hair always grows back. 'It's a struggle, and only the afflicted know the anguish it causes,' she says.
Charity's experience is not unique. Brenda, a 28-year-old businesswoman, has been suffering from hirsutism since she was 16. She has had three boyfriends, but none of them have been able to accept her condition. 'I have always kept my dress or shirt on, even during sex,' she says.
According to Peris Mbuthia, a medical aesthetician and the CEO of Timeless medical spa, most of her clients with unwanted hair are women who suffer from hirsutism. 'Most of them, about 90 per cent, are women,' she says. 'But some are women who just want to be less hairy.'
Sheila Wachira, a marriage and relationship psychologist, says that hirsutism can result in low self-esteem and discriminative behavior. 'In our society, hirsutism is not quite a normal thing,' she says. 'A lady will, therefore, face discriminative behavior: like being stared at or being avoided by men.'
Connie Aluoch, a fashion stylist and image consultant, agrees that hirsutism can affect a woman's branding. 'Speaking realistically, in the world we live in, first impressions matter,' she says. 'It is not normal for a woman to have male-pattern hair.'
For women like Charity and Brenda, dealing with unwanted hair is a daily struggle. They hope that one day, they will find a solution that will make them feel confident and accepted.
