`Yoomo' dying out slowly`

An Accra File survey of the patronage of some traditional items at most markets in the city revealed that markets for the locally made hair dye, which is normally called 'Yoomo' has totally dropped.

Initially, when one mentions “yoomo” it was one of the items that are highly patronised on the market, and mostly within the communities of Accra.

But, now it is even difficult getting sellers of these hair dyes, than to talk of people who patronise.

It was known that the Ga-Dangmes normally call it “Adamah,” but it is called by all and sundry 'yoomo' which is the Ga word for old woman.

This reason for those names is because most old woman prefer to use it in dying their hair.

Old men and women are mostly users of this dye, and sometimes parents compel their children to also dye their hair with it for one reason or the other.

This was because most parents cannot afford the foreign dyes in the barbering shops, when the hair begins to turn grey or becomes dis-coloured. “Yoomo” has been in existence from the ancient days.

According to Mama, a seller at the Kaneshie Market she has no idea of where this dye is acquired and that all she knows is that it was brought to shops and stores for sale.

She explained that the dye is in the form of a stone and is ground into powder before use.

With the “yoomo”, she buys the stone and breaks it into smaller sizes, then resells it according to size.

She told this file that the amount she sells ranges from Gp40 to GH¢1.

When she grinds the small pieces she adds a hydrogen solution.

This solution is normally added to darken the hair when applied. She pointed out that when dye is applied on hair, it takes the maximum period of one month before the dye totally fades out.

To her, business is not going on too well because of the modern dyes being adopted.

Mama stated that she took over the selling the “Adamah” from her grandmother.

“By then I follow my grandmother when I was about 15 years to sell around our area and to apply on the hair of interested persons, especially her friends who were as old as her, until my grandmother died, when I had to do the business myself,” she added.

She said she normally goes round from house to house to sell, but because there is no business these days, she has a permanent place at the Kaneshie Market where business is better.

She said that it was so sad, because most of her friends whom she begun the business with, had stopped due the low patronage. Also in a conversation with Mina Osei, a hairdresser also based at Kaneshie, she said even the old women now patronise the modern hair dyes.

To her, the locally made hair dye weakens the hair because of the hydrogen solution. “Most of these sellers pour in lots of hydrogen solution, and this damages the hair. It brings about breakages and makes the hair lighter,” she added.

She explained that with the modern dye, special substances and solutions have been added to strengthen the hair and prevent damage.

It was noted that when she applies it to hair, she charges from ¢3 upwards depending on the type of dye being used.

The same applies to when buying the dye, there are so many types ranging from GH¢4 up holds. So they charge according to the type of dye one buys.

She said even though the dye is expensive, people buy and use it due to its high quality and how it helps the hair.

She further warned users against imitations which damage the hair.