Fong Kong Hair

This Nobasonto wig* became an instant hit with women across the country. It was a bigger fashion than the G-string. I told myself early on that I would not wear the fong kong hair that looks like a cap turned backwards.

A good friend, who I consider to be in at the forefront of fashion, wore Nobasonto to death. I wondered what was wrong with her and so did her man.

Her man, who prefers a more natural look (like so many black brothers), questioned why she was wearing a wig at such a young age. I believe his precise words were "Why, uzigugisa?" (why are you making yourself look old?).

Back in the day, wigs were worn by glamorous retired nurses and teachers. But now, who is without a wig?

My friend denied it was a wig, saying it was bonding (extensions). He, being a man, couldn't understand the difference between wig and bonding anyway, but looked on as his girl put on what looked like Indian hair.

My friend paid for her lies for a couple of nights. Sleeping with a wig on is not as easy as eating pap and vleis. She eventually gave up the scam when she got tired of waking up in the middle of the night to check if the wig was still on.

So popular was Nobasonto that girls who were wearing it were not safe on Durban streets. The corner of Leopold and Field was one of the many street corners where girls were left in tears and in shame after tsotsis hijacked their wigs and resold them for quick cash. My friend SMSed me this warning: "Don't b cort wearn iphondo on West street, bayaphucwa!" (they take it!).

I too have fallen victim to wearing them. I own more than one wig – four, to be exact. Some days I look like a Bollywood star and other days I look as if I should be committed to a psychiatric ward.

A relative who is umzalwane (a born-again Christian) admires my wigs. But out of fear that God would not recognise her should she die while wearing a wig, she chooses her own beautiful relaxed hair.

Wigs complicate our lives, especially new romantic relationships. Let us face facts: boys are puzzled by our hairstyles. In the evening he meets "Nerusha" or "Shanrica" but he eventually wakes up with Nomsa or Ntombenhle.

It is not only men who are against wigs but nature as well. If there is one thing that a woman hates when wearing a wig, it is strong winds or a taxi travelling at 120 with windows that can't close. This wind threatens to expose the disturbing evening plaits neatly hidden away under a mop of synthetic hair. A mild wind is fine – it feels like you are running on the beach with your hair blowing like on Baywatch mos.

Why do we insist on wearing wigs? Are we hiding more than just a bad hair day? Are we just scared of being seen for who we really are? Maybe it is not about having a different hairstyle every day. It could be about seeing Western or Eastern beauty as more powerful than our own shaved heads or rope-thick plaits.

What do you think?

* Cleo Khuzwayo (nicknamed Nobasonto), played by Linda Sokhulu, is a character on Generations who wears a bob-like wig that caused a fashion movement when it first appeared. To find out what will happen on Generations this week, click here