Himba woman and her child (photo courtesy of Flickr- " David Siu " under the CC by 2.0 ) In northern Namibia (Africa), there exists a group of semi-nomadic people with red hair and skin called the Himba people. The Himba people's beautiful hue and unique way of life have caused them to gain global attention. I've also noticed a few ways in which their culture is similar to American culture. The orange red color of the Himba women's hair and skin is due to a paste called otjize in which they apply to themselves daily. Otjize is comprised of red ochre, butter, and fat. Sometimes, scented herbs are added to the mixture to give it a pleasant scent. The otjize paste gives the Himba woman's hair the appearance of clay tendrils. Approximately 2 inches of loose, straight textured hair is left without the otjize. Researchers have stated that the Himba women use the paste for sun and bug bite protection. They also use it to protect their skin from the dry...