Afro textured hair was often viewed as a cultural and spiritual symbol in ancient African civilizations. Kinky hair was also seen as a reflection of physical beauty in ancient African circles. The popular R&B song with lyrics, “I am not my hair, I am not this skin, I am not your expectations, no” probably would not have rung true for ancient humans in these circles. To them, hair was a physical embodiment of who they were and all they hoped to be. Their hair was an outer expression of their social and relationship status in society. Certain hairstyles reflected age, their connection with the divine as well as the power that was imbued within.
During the historical days of slavery, specific cornrow braid patterns were created by slaves to provide roadmaps that illustrated pathways to freedom (Vargas, 2003). Those enslaved would use cornrow braids to hide maps and to give directional guidance to other slaves concerning how to escape regions in the South during the era. The distinctive patterns and bows in the braid also hid secret meeting places that slaves would congregate in during the Atlantic trade. Ancient African leaders encouraged women to use seeds in their hair designs so that they would be able to grow crops and feed themselves and their families once they reached freedom.
Ancient humans of Yoruba background would braid their hair in different patterns as a way to connect to the divine. These people believed that hair represented a woman’s beauty or “Irun ni ewa obinrin.”
Afro textured hair held such strong meaning to ancient people of african heritage and even those from our more recent past. In the 1960s, textured hair, most specifically the afro, represented empowerment and activism in the fight against racism. Black activists and artists like Angela Davis and Nina Simone wore their hair as an afro to represent empowerment and pride for their cultures (See our Angela afro wig here). At times, it was often also symbolic for rebellion against the status quo.
When the natural hair movement became prominent amongst individuals of Afro heritage in our modern day society, some of the meaning that was once treasured by the ancients began to be reclaimed. However, there are many women who still hold negative attitudes or thoughts about the texture of the hair that grows from their heads. These attitudes have become so engrained within their worldview that they continue to opt for ways to alter their hair whether it be through chemical processes (i.e. perms, gigi curl) or wearing weaves or wigs made with hair that mimics the hair of other races.
Content creator, Tatiana White, released a video recently discussing black women’s choices regarding non-textured weaves. She proclaimed to women that “Your beauty is actively stolen every time you wear a non-textured weave.”
Thick, or thin, long or short--hair should be sources of pride, beauty and identity. Whether real or synthetic, hair options should be culturally inclusive and empowering to the wearer. Individuals shouldn’t be made to feel so insecure about the texture of their hair that they only wish to wear the textures of women of other races.
At Essence Wigs, we always seek to empower women with afro heritage and to provide hair choices that are in line with their natural beauty and cultural heritage.
Afro textured hair is beautiful, presentable and luxurious. It’s so versatile and transformative that it can be worn in a myriad of ways. We appreciate the beauty of afro textured hair and we celebrate it always.
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Alvarez, L. M. V. (2003). Poetics of the Afro-Colombian hairstyle. Mayor’s Office of Bogotá DC, District Institute of Culture and Tourism.
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