His headwraps defy gravity at every turn. In Houston,Texas and around the world, Hakeem Oluwasegun Olaleye, known to most as Segun Gele has made an art form out of tying a gele. He whips around 2 feet of fabric making it do things some of us could only imagine. Working the fabric is the only job he’s known since he came to the U.S. from Nigeria in 2003.

       In various cultures, the graceful folds represent everything from wealth to social status. From hand woven to metallic fabrics, this is trademark of Nigerian women. As a child, he’d do his best to help his sometimes frustrated Mother tie her gele so they could get off to church on time. Hi creations were always stunners adn people began to notice. His Mom was grateful!

    Olaleye says when he moved from Lagos to Houston the gele was not that  popular because, like his mom, women were having a hard time making fierce folds hold.  

     But his headturning skills shined a wedding he did for a friend. Guests were so taken that he decided to show women how to twist and turn pieces of fabrics into admired adornments at various house parties and events. At first, he was charging $7 a wrap, but the demand became overwhelming.
     "I think I had about 20, 30 people standing in the line to have their hair tie tied. But it got to the stage where it was overwhelming."

     Now, Olaleye now charges $650 a wrap and offers wedding packages that include limousines and hotel rooms. He has flown everywhere from California to Massachusetts Brides in the know reserve him a year in advance.
      Now a headwrapping trainer, people pay to train with the master, flying in from around the U.S. and London. Just amaziing!