Why Do Black People Braid Their Hair: Braids and Black Braiders History (2024)

FAQs

Why Do Black People Braid Their Hair: Braids and Black Braiders History? ›

Not only is hair braiding an expression of fashion and style, in the 1500s, braids were a mode of communication between various African societies. Your style of hair was a way to reveal your identity, indicating things such as your tribe, marital status, beliefs, and beyond.

Evidence suggests that Afro hair braiding started with the Himba people in what is now modern-day Namibia. It's believed that across the African continent, braiding patterns were used to identify tribe, age, wealth, marital status and religion.

African Americans can trace their hair roots to the countries of West and West Central Africa including Senegal, Sierra Leone, Ghana, and Nigeria. Among the societies of the Wolof, Mende, Mandingo, and Yoruba, hair was integrated into the fabric of the culture. It conveyed multiple meanings and held spiritual powers.

In some cultures, they convey messages about background, tribe, and status, and document life events such as childbirth, war drafts, and funerals. Hair care and styling define Black identities by allowing individuals and groups to express their personal style.

The practice of wearing braids and dreadlocks in Africa dates back to 3,000 BC in the Sahara Desert. It has been commonly thought that other cultures influenced the dreadlock tradition in Africa. The Kikuyu and Somali wear braided and locked hairstyles.

Enslaved women would braid each other's hair, incorporating intricate patterns and designs, which not only celebrated their heritage but also served as a way to communicate messages and escape routes for those seeking freedom. In the post-slavery era, hair braiding continued to play a vital role in Black communities.

Braiding was and still is an important cultural tradition among many Indigenous American tribes. While each tribe has its own relationship to braids, many see braiding as a spiritual act, with the three strands representing the body, mind and spirit.

Black hair is often associated with strength and authority. It's seen as a dominant color that exudes confidence and determination. In many Asian cultures, black hair is considered particularly beautiful and is associated with health and youthfulness. It's important in Asia for hair to look healthy and strong.

African hair is seen to be much thicker and more dense meaning that the hair follicles are larger. Density represents the amount of hairs that grow from the head, with denser hair resulting from more hairs growing closer together from the scalp. An individual with high-density hair creates a fuller appearance of curls.

Black women had been using Bantu knots as a protective style and heatless curling method for many, many years. "Bantu knots have been worn for centuries, dating back to before the slave trade," says Byrd.

Why is African hair short? ›

Black women have shorter hair when compared with other types of hair, even after a prolonged period without cutting. This is explained by the fact that Afro-ethnic hair grows more slowly than Caucasian hair (0.9 cm/month and 1.3 cm/month, respectively).

Hair was also thought to be a source of personal and spiritual power. As the most elevated part of the body, some communities believed it connected them with the divine. In Yoruba culture, for example, people would braid their hair to send messages to the gods.

African American hair is typically coarser and has a thicker texture than Caucasian hair. It also tends to have a higher density, giving it a fuller appearance.

“Braids have been impressionable throughout history,” says Sims. “The origin of braids can be traced back 5000 years in African culture to 3500 BC—they were very popular among women.” “Braiding started in Africa with the Himba people of Namibia,” says Pace. “These people have been braiding their hair for centuries.

In pre-Columbian America, Oceania and Africa dreadlocks were used as a social and cultural symbol often associated with shamanism. This hairstyle represented a connection with the divine and with the spirit realm, and was often a symbol of strength and integrity for warriors and chiefs.

Ancient Egypt and African Indigenous Cultures

Braids are thought to have originated in Africa, with many cultures adopting the style and making it their own. One of the earliest examples of braids can be seen on the Lady of Aguilafuente statue dating back to around 4,500 BC.

In Africa, braid styles and patterns have been used to distinguish tribal membership, marital status, age, wealth, religion and social ranking. In some countries of Africa, the braids were used for communication. In some Caribbean islands, braid patterns were used to map routes to escape slavery.

Indigenous people, like many other cultures, express identity, spirituality and individuality with their hair. For Indigenous people, our hair connects us to our heritage and our ancestors, but also to the creator and earth. Braided hair is symbolic of strength, wisdom and honouring ancestors.

The Vikings did not invent braids. Viking hair braiding can be traced back to the Viking Age (793 AD-1066 AD), whereas the origin of braids can be traced back 5000 years in African culture to 3500 BC with the Himba people of Namibia.

The main difference between cornrows vs box braids is the way the hair is braided. Box braids involve braiding the hair into individual sections, while cornrows involve braiding the hair in a continuous pattern along the scalp. Box braids also require the use of synthetic hair extensions, while cornrows can be made ...