Make sure to read up on the particular ‘do that you want to sport, to give it proper justice. Wear it to work, to parties, or to get in touch with your heritage. More than a head-turning updo, they are a link to the past and a form of self-love. Many lovely styles are passed down through matriarchs in the family. Today, African American braiding studios help bring the community together by educating people on the significance of braids.īraided hairstyles are not only gorgeous, they protect textured hair from heat and humidity. Many singers and actresses wore braids to the red carpet, among them Janet Jackson and Brandy (Brandy Rayana Norwood). Singer and pianist Patrice Rushen liked to wear braids for her performances, too.īy the 90s, braids were considered cool. Celebrities helped to awaken this sense of pride by sporting their hair in eye-catching braids.Ĭicely Tyson for instance, wore cornrows for the movie, Sounder (1972). With the Black Power Movement, many African Americans wanted to honor their native roots. Women who tried to wear this hairstyle were shunned, ridiculed, or fired from their jobs.īut things began to change during the 60s. Braids became associated with backwardness and unsophistication. Most of them assimilated to city life by straightening or bleaching their hair. Related 60 Funny Pick-up Lines That Will Surely Sweep Her off Her Feet Pop culture and self-acceptanceįor years, many African American women wanted to leave behind the hard memories of their past. The plaits in their hair indicated messages, like where to find help or how many roads are there to freedom. The styles they created had another use: as a means of secret communication. Gone were the intricate and beautifully adorned hairstyles of their tribes. When they came to America, braids became practical. Colonizers shaved the heads of women, eliminating this valuable link to their heritage. Braids were more than a hairstyle: they were ties to family lineage, age, religion, and home. It’s difficult to discuss braids without also talking about trans-Atlantic slavery and the trauma of colonization.

Europe adapted crown braids sometime between 10. Every tribe wore their hair differently but the loose, rolled braids with accents were normally worn by single women. Pigtail braids were sported by Native Americans in the 5th century. Pharaohs and other men were also known to braid their beards.ĭuring the first century, halo braids became popular in Greece. Egyptians on the other hand, are credited with the afro box braids, worn by women to look beautiful and keep themselves cool.

The cornrow is perhaps the oldest braiding style, with evidence of it found in the Sahara desert. The wild and untamed history of braided hair Braids around the worldīraids go way back to the 3500 BC in the African continent. Thanks to social media, people from all ages and walks of life can now appreciate its rich origins.

The wild and untamed history of braided hairĬhic, timeless, and a guaranteed head-turner, braids have been a staple for centuries.

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