How Hair & Public Health Quietly Intersect with Lynda Osadebe

Unraveling the Knots

Unraveling the Knots
How Hair & Public Health Quietly Intersect with Lynda Osadebe
Sep 30, 2025 Season 2 Episode 72
Ganiyat S

What if your hair routine was also a public health conversation? In this episode of UTK, we sit down with Dr. Osadebe, an infectious disease epidemiologist, veterinarian, and public health consultant with 17+ years of global experience, including work with the CDC and WHO. She shares her personal natural hair journey, from relaxing to transitioning to her natural hair, and connects it to her expertise in public health. Together, we explore why hair is more than style, it's considered a social determinant of health.

Dr. Osadebe unpacks the hidden risks in common products, the lack of regulation in the beauty industry, and why Black women often face unique hair-related health challenges. With powerful stories and science, this episode bridges the gap between self-care and public health, inspiring us to make safer, informed choices. 

Tune in to discover how your hair is both personal and political...a reflection of wellness, resilience, and community.

Send us a text

Send your questions about Afro-textured/coily hair to utkinhair@gmail.com.

Check out your natural beauty hub, ÈYÍ DÁRA Naturals for natural hair care solutions.

Follow us on instagram @utkpodcast