The History of Black Hair: Is it that Important?

The history of Black hair goes back centuries. Most people believe that it all started with the Egyptians as they wore dreadlocks in their hair, but Black hair has a history all on its own. Not only is Black hair seen as a way of expressing oneself, it is also seen as a journey that each Black women and man partakes in to define themselves. Black hair has an identity all on it's own. It is super versatile, and you will probably see a Black women change her hair several times over the course of a year. It can be straight one day, in an afro the next day, and in braids the week after. Black hair is art, but unfortunately society does not see it that way. This issue of Black hair being seen as nappy, unacceptable, not beautiful, and undesirable started way before the 21st century era. This has been an issue for a very long time, and still remains an issue today. This is why so many Black women go to great extremes to straighten their hair, and spend thousands of dollars a year on weaves and artificial hair to be seen as more acceptable in the workplace. The issue with a lot of these mechanisms is that they are very damaging to Black hair if not done correctly, and the average person cannot afford to keep up weaves that cost thousands of dollars. This becomes a vicious cycle, because Black women have also started to believe the lies that White society has been trying to brainwash us with for years. This lie is that Black hair is not desirable, and should be kept away at all cost, or straightened to look more European. The truth of the matter is that Black hair is not meant to be straight. It is meant to stand tall, coil up, curl up, kink up, and be free. This ties into my first topic.

                     Black Hair Doesn't Grow 

Have you ever heard someone make an ignorant statement that Black hair just never grows. I have one word for people who say that SHRINKAGE! Yes, shrinkage is real, but it should also be embraced, because it is a sign that Black hair can obtain moisture and most importantly is healthy. This is why Black women who choose to go natural usually obtain more length than someone who is relaxing their hair or getting it straightened constantly. Black hair comes in all textures and curling patterns, but if you have 4a, 4b, or 4c hair than your hair is going to have the most shrinkage and kink to it. 4c hair has the tightest curl pattern, and this is why their curl is so tight that it may appear that their hair is not growing if not stretched out. The truth of the matter is that someone with a 4c hair texture may have an afro that only touches their shoulders, but when pulled straight, their hair could be down to the middle of their back or longer. The average rate of hair growth is 6 inches a year, but you will only see the results in you are retaining the length, and this is where a lot of Black women struggle. Our hair is very fragile due to our curls and kink, and direct heat is not a Black hairs friend. Our natural hair can be very dry due to the natural oils from our scalp not being able to go down the strands of our hair like women who have straight hair. Due to this, we have to constantly moisturize our hair to reframe it from becoming brittle and falling off. So Black hair DOES GROW. It is just that a lot of black women loose their hair and edges from tight braids, weaves, relaxers, constantly flat ironing already dry hair, and the list goes on and on. With that being said, why do Black women do these things if they know the end results? Let's move on to the next topic to find out.

                                                       

                    The Black Hair Struggle 

Let me first start off by saying that it all starts off with Black women educating themselves on their hair and what it needs to be healthy and strong. A lot of Black women depend on their hair stylist to care for their hair, but do not have a clue on how to care for their hair in their natural state. I too was one of those people before I became natural and started to care for my own hair. When the time arises that your stylist can't do you hair, and you have to take out your braids, you are almost scared as to how to tame this mane on the top of your head. It makes me happy that a lot more Black women are embracing their natural kinks now, and their hair is thanking them for it. Relaxed hair can grow long too, but it will never be as healthy as natural hair that has its kink, because elasity is a Black hairs friend. With this being said, Black women can go most of their lives not knowing how to care for their own hair, and this can become problematic and most importantly expensive. The Black hair industry is a billion dollar industry, and we as Black people make a lot of people rich. Most Black women see Black hair as time consuming, too much work, and just not manageable. The truth is that our natural hair can be just as manageable as another races hair, but we have to know how to care for it to make it manageable. This "struggle" that you will hear Black women say about their natural kinks, is something that use to be seen as a pleasure to have in African tribes before we were forced to cut off our hair during the slave trade. This moves me into my next topic.

                                                                

                African Tribes in the 14th and 15th Century 

Before Africans were forced to come to America during the slave trade, they were known for their elaborate hairstyles that they were able to create amongst themselves. They would do braids that stood up in the air, and would create other amazing hairstyles using mud and other elements that you would find outside. They were very creative, and their hair was seen as beautiful and always admired. Hair during this time period would also symbolize if someone was married, single, fertile, social class, and so much more. Hair was really a symbol for a lot of things. It was not until the slave trade begin, that Black women's hair was seen as nappy, to wooly, and not appropriate. Due to this, Black men and women would have to cut off all their hair off to not threaten the Europeans, even though there is a lot of evidence that explained that European women were actually very fascinated with Black hair and jealous, and therefore wanted it to be cut off, so that they could take aways pieces of their identity. This eventually lead to Black people believing through the generations that there was something wrong with their hair. This is when the invention of the hot comb came out by Madam C.J. Walker, and then you started to hear the terms good hair vs bad hair. Unfortunately, this mindset still lingers on to our current day, and this brings me to my last topic.

                         I Hate my Black Hair

The natural hair movement is becoming more and more popular, because Black women are tired of spending lots of money, loosing their hair, and not ever feeling like they can embrace what grows out their scalp, because it is not seen as desirable by White America. There are still a lot of Black women who are afraid to wear their natural hair in fear that they will not be accepted in the workplace, will not be seen as attractive, and Black men will not accept them. Just to be clear, there are still Black men who do not like natural Black hair, and feels as though it should be tamed, even though they are Black and have Black textured hair as well. They unfortunately have become brainwashed by societies lies as well, and hopefully will grow out of their foolishness. Regardless of this sad pity, Black women go through a lot to be seen as beautiful. Some women even go to the extremes of not working out or going for a swim, because of the fear that their natural kinks will show. My hope is that this I HATE BLACK HAIR STRUGGLE will turn to I LOVE WHAT GROWS OUT MY SCALP BECAUSE GOD DID NOT MAKE A MISTAKE 😊☺️.

                       Last Thoughts 

  I felt led to write this blog, because I use to be a Black woman who did not love what grew out her scalp. It was not until I started to experience hair loss from wearing styles that were too tight, heavy, and never wanting to give my hair a breather because I too felt it was to unmanageable, that I decided that enough was enough, and that I would learn to take care of my natural hair and love my natural kinks. It has definitely been a journey thus far, but there is a new found freedom that you find from wearing your natural hair. It is kind of like putting your middle finger up to what society thinks and how they feel as though you should look. How could what grows out your scalp ever be a mistake? I pray that whatever my beautiful Black sisters decide to do with their mane, they will always know that what grows out their scalp is beautiful, and most importantly that they are Black Melanin Queens. 👑👑👑