African American hair
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
African American hair, and African American hairstyles are the diverse ways
that African American men and women style their hair. Because many black people
have hair that is thick with tighter and smaller curls than people of other races,
unique hair styles have developed. In addition to this, many black hairstyles have
historical connections to African culture. Since hair is a distinguishing feature of
African origins, western beauty ideals characterized black hair, especially the hair
of black women, as un-attractive. The Black is Beautiful movement played an
important role in reversing these ideas in black communities.
that African American men and women style their hair. Because many black people
have hair that is thick with tighter and smaller curls than people of other races,
unique hair styles have developed. In addition to this, many black hairstyles have
historical connections to African culture. Since hair is a distinguishing feature of
African origins, western beauty ideals characterized black hair, especially the hair
of black women, as un-attractive. The Black is Beautiful movement played an
important role in reversing these ideas in black communities.
Origins
Since the beginning of African civilization, hairstyles have
been used to convey messages to
greater society. As early as the 15th century,
different styles could “indicate a person’s marital
status, age, religion, ethnic identity, wealth and rank
within the community.”[1] Unkempt
hair
in nearly every West African culture was considered
unattractive to the opposite sex and a sign
that one was dirty, had bad morals or was even insane.[2] Hair
maintenance in traditional
Africa was aimed at creating a sense of beauty. “A woman
with long thick hair demonstrated
the life force, the multiplying power of profusion,
prosperity. A green thumb for raising
bountiful farms and many healthy children,” wrote Sylvia
Ardyn Boone, an anthropologist
specializing in the Mende culture of Sierra Leon.[3] In
Yoruba culture, people braided their
hair to send messages to the gods. The hair is the most
elevated part of the body and was
therefore considered a portal for spirits to pass through to
the soul. Because of the cultural
and spiritual importance of hair for Africans, the practice
of having their heads involuntarily
shaved before being sold as slaves was in itself a
dehumanizing act. “The shaved head was the
first step the Europeans took to erase the slaves’ culture
and alter the relationship between
the African and his or her hair”.[3]
To Read More, Click here
*********************************************************************************
I was reading the book "Cozy's Complete Guide to Girl's Hair" by Cozy Friedman, of Cozy's cuts for kids, with Sheryl Berk, and i would like to share with you some of what i learned.....ENJOY
Fascinating facts about hair
- Hair is almost entirely made of protein: 91%
- Girl's hair grows slower than boys'.
Tips on how to handle African American Hair:
- For ease when shaping and styling hair, use moisture-rich products specially formulated for African American hair. A deep conditioner once a month is great for maintaining moisture.
- Use a moisture-based shampoo and be as gentle as possible ,- hair is at its weakest when its wet.
- Always use hydrating styling products and leave-in conditioners before blow-drying or using any other heated tool. These products coat and protect hair.
- When pulling hair back for styles such as ponytails and braids, never pull the hair too tight - it can cause breakage at the hair line.
Eating for healthy hair
Its not only the chemicals that you use that play a part on how well your hair grows and how healthy but its also what you eat. Here are some foods that can contribute for strong healthy hair:
- Peanuts, corn, and spinach contain vitamin E, which stimulates hair growth.
- Folic acid, found in foods like asparagus, peas, citrus fruits, and turkey, will help promote long locks by strengthening strands so they don't break.
- Vitamin B produces keratin, a protein that strengthens strands. Eat bananas, whole grain cereals, rice, and eggs.
- Dairy products like skim milk and yoghurt- as well as broccoli and strawberries- are great sources of calcium, an important mineral for hair growth.
