Olusola David-Elegbede is a devoted mother, businesswoman, and an advocate for inclusive beauty. As the founder of MummyMo Haircare, she has created a brand that caters to all children’s hair, including those with special needs. In this exclusive LagosMums feature, she opens up about her parenting journey, the inspiration behind MummyMo Haircare, and why every child deserves to be seen and celebrated.
Please tell us about yourself. Can you share more about all the hats you wear?
My name is Olusola David-Elegbede, founder of MummyMo Haircare, born in Lagos around the mid-eighties but originally from Abeokuta in Ogun State. I originally trained as a nutritionist (my first degree) at the then University of Agriculture Abeokuta, now known as the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. I later became an investment banker, earning a degree in Investment and Finance from the University of Brighton, United Kingdom, in between stints at two different investment banks. Along the line, I trained at the prestigious BMPro makeup school as a professional makeup artist, a craft I practiced for a couple of years even during my investment banking days.
Today, I am a practicing and certified (by the International Association of Trichologists) Hair Practitioner and a children’s (Afro) Hair Coach and Consultant, founder of MummyMo Haircare. I am a daughter, sister, friend, wife, mum, and business owner.
Share one unexpected thing about you
I love listening to classical music.
Tell us about your beautiful family
We are a family of four: my husband, two beautiful daughters (aged 10 and 11), and myself. We currently live in Nairobi, Kenya, where we have been since the beginning of 2021.
How did you meet your husband and how long have you been married?
We first knew each other back in university in early 2002, where he was in his final year while I was in my first year. We met by chance again around eight years later, reconnected a year later, and got married a couple of months after. In short, I have known him for 23 years and we have been married for almost 13 years.
Do you and your spouse have the same parenting style?
We agree on the major values we employ in parenting our children. I am a bit more lenient, but we find balance. He has even taken on some of the parenting styles I adopted over the course of building our family.
Can you tell us one of the funniest things your children have done?
There was once I asked them to complete idiomatic expressions and they gave all sorts of funny answers. For example, when asked, “The grass is greener…,” one daughter said, “than yesterday,” while the other said, “when you are kinder.” When asked, “Don’t count your chickens before…,” one said, “before buying them.” It was shockingly funny
What has motherhood taught you about yourself?
That there is grace for the journey. Each time I think something is too hard or I think I have messed up in some area, I find after a while that if I just give it time, leaning on the grace of God, things eventually work out.
What have you learned about preparing children to thrive in the future?
I have learned that in preparing my children to thrive in the future, I need to be okay with the fact that I will not cover all the ground 100%. Despite being intentional in teaching skills and values, some things they will have to learn and experience for themselves. The most important thing is that they have the ability to bounce back if the experience is unpleasant and to find the learning point.
What are some ways that children and parenting are different now from when you were growing up?
There are so many ways things are different now. Children are much more exposed and able to express themselves and their opinions more freely. Back then, you kept your opinions to yourself for fear of negative repercussions. Parenting now is also more deliberate and engages children more. With my children, I allow the freedom of choice in many things like shopping for clothes, books, picking movies, and activities. We talk a lot about so many things. This, I didn’t experience as a child.
How are you raising your children to be ready for an ever-changing world?
In getting my children ready for the world, I allow them to think through their issues and make their choices. They come to me with their issues, friendships, disappointments, sibling rivalries, academic frustrations, etc. My first approach is, “Okay, what do you think you should do?” and “What do you think you can do better?” They need to be able to think through on their own.
Another thing I do is train them to decipher: “This new thing, this new app, this new trend, is it something you really need or do you want it because everyone else has it?” Things will keep changing and they need to decide if the latest trend is something they need to embrace or something they can do without.
How important is a support system for a mum?
This is extremely important. I didn’t realize it at first, so it took me a while to embrace the concept. I don’t think it is emphasized enough before one becomes a mum, like no one actively tells you that you need it until you begin to struggle.
Having a support system can mean the difference between having the wrong motherhood mindset of thinking you are alone, which we all know is unhealthy, and having the right one which is usually, “I am not alone and I don’t have to have it all figured out on my own.”
My tribe is made up of my husband, my mum, my sisters, and a handful of tight-knit friends. With them, I have emotional support, spiritual support, and a sounding board for all the challenges I have to think through and get through. They are able to tell me the truth of whatever I am going through without judging me. Their encouragement, especially when I am down, means everything to me.
What do you love the most about your work and all the many expressions of your purpose and passion?
What I love the most about my work as a MummyMo Haircare is the human connection. Being able to help people brings me joy and developing a relationship with my clients on a vulnerable subject like hair is precious to me.
Share with us what you love most about your work as a Hair Care Practitioner
When a mother sends me a message about how her child’s hair care has transformed, how much progress she is seeing, how happy her child is, and even how impressed the father is, that is all the motivation I need to keep up my work. The fact that they choose to trust me to help them is a privilege.
How does your service help mothers when they see the quality of their hair?
My services do more than just help. They transform. When a mother sees that her child’s hair can actually become manageable, fuller, and longer, there is a mindset shift. There is a shift in patterns of behavior, from inappropriate, misinformed, and sometimes complicated practices to simple, effective, healthy hair care practices they can commit to over time. There is also the transfer of natural hair acceptance from mother to child, which means that the old narrative that Afro hair is bad and should be hidden away will over time change.
Use one word to describe one thing that should not be missing from every home
Laughter
Share one self-care tip. How do you relax and spend time with yourself?
Prioritize yourself. In as much as this is advice I am sharing, I also have to tell it to myself over and over. What relaxes me the most is to light scented candles, have a hot cup of tea with some cake or dessert, and watch a crime thriller.
https://lagosmums.com/celebrating-motherhood-the-power-of-unmasking-and-caring-for-ourselves/
Burst one motherhood myth!
Myth: Motherhood is too hard.
To be honest, motherhood is too hard when you believe you need to do it all by yourself. Motherhood is to be shared, with your husband, with your own parents, your sisters, friends, the teachers in your children’s school, tutors, and the housekeeper. Literally everyone who interacts with your child can help you in one way or the other. You just need to ask for and accept their help.
Can you tell us how you stay stylish and your beauty routine?
I think staying stylish means staying comfortable and happy in what you wear. For someone, that could be having every trending item in their wardrobe; for another, it could be a representation of their cultural heritage.
For me, staying stylish is representing my cultural heritage while being comfortable. I do this by choosing to wear clothes made from Adire and clothes which give me freedom of movement while staying modest. I also make sure to pick clothing which fits and flatters my body shape.
My beauty routine:
Morning: Cleanser, salicylic acid toner, vitamin C serum, face gel, face moisturizer, and sunscreen
Night-time: Cleanser, tretinoin, and moisturizer
What advice would you give to other mums?
There is nothing you cannot do or achieve, whether it is for yourself or someone else. You just need to know that there is a time for it. Plan for it. Upskill for it. Don’t force some things because it may just not be time for it. Its time will come (Ecclesiastes 3:1–8).
What do you love about LagosMums?
I love the information you share, especially about parenting in this digital age. I am currently enjoying the Digital Parenting Masterclasses Yetty started holding this year. This digital age is very new terrain for us parents, so having someone to guide and provide resources to help us is a big blessing.
https://lagosmums.com/things-to-know-about-parenting-in-the-digital-age/
Trivia
N1 Million or more sleep?
Sleep please, lol!
Would you prefer to go on a shopping spree or an all-expense-paid trip to your dream destination?
All-expense-paid trip please!
Homeschooling or traditional school?
Traditional school
A spa day or eat out?
Eat out. The foodie in me is too strong, lol!
Inspired by Olusola’s journey? Dive into more Mum of the Month features on LagosMums and connect with a supportive community of parents. Find stories, insights, and resources to help you navigate motherhood with confidence!