This study explores how socio-political-historical factors influence hair and professional identity construction among Black South African and Nigerian women professionals. Drawing on ten life stories, it compares the experiences in a settler and non-settler colonial context. In South Africa, the enduring legacy of apartheid and racial segregation continues to shape workplace dynamics. Black women experience pressure to conform to Eurocentric beauty standards, including hair straightening to regulate their hair, to appear "neater" —a term frequently used during their childhoods. The results indicate that South African women developed a racial consciousness from an early age They reflect ongoing struggles with internalized colonialism and efforts to gain acceptance in predominantly white corporate environments. Their professional identity negotiation involves navigating Eurocentric beauty standards and overcoming racial discrimination. In Nigerian women's life stories, tribal and ethnic identities assumed greater significance than race. Nigerian women started in childhood to contend with ethnic stereotypes, colourism, and patriarchal expectations. Nonetheless, colonial influences persist, manifesting in preferences for lighter skin tones and "professional" hairstyles, which include the wearing of wigs to project socio-economic success. The professional women in both contexts navigated complex intersections of ethnicity, gender, and class in their hair choices to conform to Eurocentric norms in professional settings. South African women encountered more overt racial discrimination, while Nigerian women grappled with ethnic biases. Hair emerged as a site of identity negotiation and resistance, with the women balancing authentic self-expression against career advancement. Natural hairstyles may be embraced as cultural pride or avoided due to discrimination-fears. The study offers insights into the varied manifestations of hair politics across African professional settings. It calls for more nuanced understandings of how colonial legacies together with specific local contexts continue to impact Black women's navigation of personal and professional identities in contemporary workplaces.